Have we forgotten the Harper years

Dear Editor:

At no time in my recollection have I heard a cabinet shuffle referred to as a “firing.” Until now.

“Shuffle me? How dare you?”

If that were the refrain, the yelps of the shuffled would still be echoing from down through the political ages. Under the previous Conservative government alone, there were over 100 portfolio changes. Were they all “fired?” We enjoyed three justice ministers during that nine-year period.

As to the “remediation clause” (which this same justice committee examined and voted on in the fall of 2018), did the U.K. and U.S. “hide” this self-same legislation? Are these countries prostrating themselves, apologizing? Are we going to accuse them of “slipping’ it in?”

Narcissistic? Who said, “You won’t recognize Canada when I’m through with it”?

Who said, “Canada is a northern European welfare state in the worst sense of the word”?

Who said, “Where I come from, Western Canada,” when in fact his “old stock” (his words) forbears first appeared in the Maritimes. He was raised in Etobicoke and his “Western identity” began in the mail room of the Imperial Oil Company, of which his father was an accountant ... in Ontario.

Who featured in that astounding photo-op series “24/7” on YouTube, with patriotic music playing in the background as he climbed into his chauffeured-driving limousine? Who flew over Manitoba “inspecting” a flood zone wearing military garb?

If you answered “Stephen Harper” to all these question, you are right.

Do you really suppose, regardless of the former justice minister’s considerable qualifications, that there would be the furor, the posturing, the theatrics, the condemnation of a sitting government, had the former justice minister been “merely” a Canadian, non-indigenous male? I think not.

In reference to the Dan Albas commentary (Courier, Feb. 22), it seems that Albas doesn’t realize some of us were watching while Harper — “not hiding from scandal” — had a changing narrative that evolved from “no knowledge whatsoever” of the Mike Duffy subterfuge, to PMO staff that were there, weren’t there, heard nothing, left completely to Nigel Wright.

“Good to go,” quoting of scripture to back up his goodwill offering to Duffy, to offering resignation, to being fired, to interventions by then Senator Irving Gernstein, with Deloitte’s audit to Senator David Tkachuk of “roll over them” infamy, busily assisting with the whitewash.

Goodness, yes. No one “hid from scandal” — we saw them all and a sorry sight it was.

Speaking of the appointed, in 2008 Arthur Porter was appointed by Harper to the security intelligence review committee. Yes, that Arthur Porter. Then there was his close personal adviser, Bruce Carson who also faced criminal charges. Need I go on? Elaine Lawrence Kelowna