Ottawa needs to respect provincial jurisdiction, Harper says
Last Updated: Thursday, January 19, 2006 | 10:53 PM ET
CBC News
"I'm not advocating any kind of radical devolution," Harper said Thursday during a CBC News Town Hall meeting hosted by Peter Mansbridge.
Harper said it's time for the federal government to "get on" with running its own levels of jurisdiction properly. He said Ottawa should be focusing on issues like international treaties, foreign aid, national defence and the economic union.
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Harper has been criticized by his political opponents for wanting to devolve powers to the province, thereby weakening Ottawa.
On Wednesday, Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Auto Workers union, appeared at a Liberal campaign event and told reporters that Harper's policies on federal-provincial relations were essentially separatist.
During the Town Hall, Harper also downplayed his comments about the civil service being stacked with Liberals. He insisted he's not planning a purge if he gets into power.
"Obviously if I win the election I'd have a lot of decisions to make in that regard. But I'm trying to resist the temptation of making them today and only. focussing on getting ourselves across the finish line on Monday."
Earlier in the day, reporters again asked Harper about his suggestion that some judges have Liberal bias.
"The fact of the matter is judges are independent and have been appointed mainly by governments of other parties.
