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Sunday, April 18, 2010 | Categories: Episodes
Interviewed by host Rex Murphy on the April 18, 2010, program
"Amid the uproar of scandal, are MPs are working on the issues you care about?"
Rex Murphy's introduction to the April 18, 2010, program:
"Amid the uproar of scandal, are MPs are working on the issues you care about?"
We've had programs about civility in politics - how its absence detracts from politics, lowers respect for politics, discourages people, who other might, from going into politics. Well nothing intensifies people's desire to back away from politics - contributes more to the prevailing incivility and cynicism, than when politics is driven by scandal or the rumour of scandal.
Since Parliament reconvened it has almost been consumed with a couple of topics .. the Afghan detainee issue, and for the last week or so - the ever evolving story centering on Rahim Jaffer and Helena Geurgis.
Today we'd like to talk about that -- how scandal or the talk about it has ... been occupying the attention of of our members of parliament over the last week. The revelations about alleged business dealings involving ex-MP Rahim Jaffer and how they relate to his wife Helena Guergis ...the now ex-cabinet minister of the Harper government, have dominated question period for much of the week. One result is that Guergis is no longer in Parliament - but this story, which has yet to see any charges laid, or any formal investigation begun, let alone concluded--- has been the main business of the House and the media for over a week.
There are many ramifications to this topic, but one we'd like to see discussed today - is the effect of this kind of story on politics itself. Naturally, as well, we'd like your views on how you think the politicians and the media have been covering it. Are we absorbed by the tabloid features of it - has it displaced other, bigger issues. What way should such stories of scandal be covered - either in the House or in the press?
The other topic, about the treatment or mistreatment of the Afghan detainees was revived after prorogation, and it involves much more serious charges that the government and/or the military have been criminally negligent in allowing Afghan detainees to be tortured by Afghan authorities.
With the Guergis-Jaffer events and the Afghan detainee issue, there has been time for little else. Lost in the uproar have been a couple of other issues, including what Canadians frequently say is most important to them: health care and the economy; For example, Quebec has decided to start charging user fees for medical visits. And just a few weeks ago the economy was of such concern that many MPs wanted to put in extra hours discussing it.
We'd like to get your reaction to this. Have the cries of scandal drowned out other concerns ...or should those scandals rightly be the business of Parliament? Do they point to behaviour that is inappropriate and must be dealt with right away? Are there better ways of handling legitimate concerns about misbehaviour or unacceptable behaviour? Should our politicians wait until more evidence surfaces until rushing to judgment? Some would argue in the case of the Afghan detainees that the information will never come out without concerted political pressure.
What is the role of the media in this? Has tabloid gone mainstream? Is Canadian politics being consumed by scandal or seeming-scandal.
There's lots to talk about here and our question to kick it off today is: "Amid the uproar of scandal, are MPs are working on the issues you care about?"
I'm Rex Murphy ...on CBC Radio One ...and on Sirius satellite radio channel 137 ...this is Cross Country Checkup.
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