In the thug gallery that passes for a federal government today this shouldn't surprise anyone, least of all parliamentary budget officer, Kevin Page.
On CTV's Question Period, Page revealed the price he had paid and the intimidation he received from the Harper gang for outing them on the F-35 costs.
Page revealed that he came very close to quitting after the Harper government cut his budget by one-third and demanded that all of his office’s work be kept confidential.
“It definitely was intimidation,” Page claimed.
His five-year tenure, which is about to come to a close, was also marked by some highlights. He called out the government for drastically low-balling the cost of the F-35 fighter-jet program, only to have his estimates largely confirmed in a subsequent auditor general’s report.
Question Period also aired a clip of him telling Ottawa public-administration students that parliamentary watchdogs are under attack. He mentioned that the situation is the worst that he’s seen in the past 30 years.
Page is one of several officials who've been vilified or fired by the Harper government for questioning its decisions.
Others include former RCMP complaint commissioner Paul Kennedy, former veterans' ombudsman Pat Stogran, former military police complaint commissioner Peter Tinsley, Statistics Canada's former boss Munir Sheikh, former nuclear-regulatory commission head Linda Keen, and whistle-blowing diplomat Richard Colvin.
Thugs is the correct characterization, Mound. Page is one of the few courageous men left in Ottawa.
ReplyDeleteFired, dismissed or forced out:
ReplyDeleteLuc Pomerleau, biologist, Food Inspection Agency for whistle-blowing.
Douglas Tipple, consultant, PWGSC, set up then fired for his advice on real estate.
David Rotor, consultant, Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC), set up then fired for his advice on real estate.
Arthur Carty, National Science Advisor, phased out.
Alan Leadbeater, Canadian Information Commission, dismissed.
Paul Kennedy, chair, Complaints Commission for the RCMP, term not renewed, mid-report.
Peter Tinsley, chair, Military Police Complaints Commission, term not renewed, mid-report.
Adrian Measner, Canadian Wheat Board, fired for disagreeing with Harper plans.
Deanna Allen, VP Canadian Wheat Board, fired by Harper appointee Arason following Measner's firing.
Johanne Gelinas, Environment Commissioner, dismissed for a scathing report.
Linda Keen, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), fired for doing her job.
RCMP Chief Supt. Marty Cheliak, dismissed, apparently for speaking in favour of the long gun registry.
Pat Stogran, ombudsman for veterans, dismissed for doing his job.
Robert Marleau, Information Commissioner, stonewalled, resigned.
Jean-Guy Fleury, chair, Immigration & Refugee Board, resigned out of frustration.
Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Elections Canada, stonewalled, resigned while investigating the Conservative Party of Canada.
Steve Sullivan, victims of crime ombudsman, term was not renewed, publicly took issue with the Harper government's tough-on-crime agenda.
Sheridan Scott, Competition Bureau head, ran afoul environment minister, quit after being told her appointment would not be renewed.
Bernard Shapiro, ethics commissioner, clashed repeatedly with Harper and quit suddenly.
Besmirched, muzzled, or set up:
Richard Colvin, diplomat, attacked viciously for telling the truth as part of his job.
Rémi Beauregard, Rights & Democracy, died, heart attack after cruel attacks from Harper appointees.
Louise Arbour, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, was refused support on 2nd term, publicly rebuffed.
Kevin Page, publicly rebuffed repeatedly, budget cut back.
Munir Sheikh, resigned because he refused to lie for the Harper government.
John Reid, Information Commissioner, refused extension to follow up on recommendations by Gomery, faced lies in court he was abusing his powers
Thugs indeed. Thin-skinned thugs. The worst kind.
ReplyDeleteThanks anonymous. I'll bet that's only a partial list of government abuse and intimidation.
ReplyDeleteKevin Page winds up and let's fly here;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.canada.com/news/Kevin%2BPage%2Bblames%2Bweak%2Bpublic%2Bservice%2Bserving%2BParliament/8106344/story.html
This isn't a democracy. It's certainly not a society of laws.
ReplyDelete