The Irrelevant Federal Cabinet Minister
This blog is written mostly tongue in cheek, with some informative points. Please provide your feedback.
If you suffer from self-irrelevancy, please seek professional advice.
Hello. Yesterday, a motion was placed in the House of Commons to recognize 'Quebecois' as a "nation within a nation". Apparently the definitions of 'Quebecois' and 'nation within a nation' were unclear. The vote was a landslide in favour of the motion, with only 16 opposed. However, there was some fallout.
Michael Chong, the MP in my riding, resigned his cabinet post as Intergovernmental Minister. His reason was that, as a cabinet minister, he had to vote in favour of the motion, even though he personally opposed it. He therefore had to resign his position in order to oppose the motion.
Michael Chong, the independent cabinet minister, had become irrelevant. He did not fit into a system of compliance. I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Chong. I have more now. He could've towed the party line. Instead he took a step towards relevancy. And as a result, he has probably sacrificed his political career, at least with the federal Conservatives.
Gerard Kennedy, federal Liberal leader candidate, made a similar statement. He was running 3rd in the polls. He also took a step towards relevancy. It may also win him the Liberal leadership, but probably not. He will be seen by many of his party as a loose cannon.
Chong and Kennedy have shown that MPs are in a system that rewards irrelevancy. Garth Turner, former Conservative in Halton riding, now an Independent, pointed this out last month. It's better to stay quiet and collect your pay than speak out, which seems to be the opposite of democracy.
Good luck to both Chong and Kennedy. I hope their new found relevancy is worth the price.
Regards,
Irrelevant
If you suffer from self-irrelevancy, please seek professional advice.
Hello. Yesterday, a motion was placed in the House of Commons to recognize 'Quebecois' as a "nation within a nation". Apparently the definitions of 'Quebecois' and 'nation within a nation' were unclear. The vote was a landslide in favour of the motion, with only 16 opposed. However, there was some fallout.
Michael Chong, the MP in my riding, resigned his cabinet post as Intergovernmental Minister. His reason was that, as a cabinet minister, he had to vote in favour of the motion, even though he personally opposed it. He therefore had to resign his position in order to oppose the motion.
Michael Chong, the independent cabinet minister, had become irrelevant. He did not fit into a system of compliance. I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Chong. I have more now. He could've towed the party line. Instead he took a step towards relevancy. And as a result, he has probably sacrificed his political career, at least with the federal Conservatives.
Gerard Kennedy, federal Liberal leader candidate, made a similar statement. He was running 3rd in the polls. He also took a step towards relevancy. It may also win him the Liberal leadership, but probably not. He will be seen by many of his party as a loose cannon.
Chong and Kennedy have shown that MPs are in a system that rewards irrelevancy. Garth Turner, former Conservative in Halton riding, now an Independent, pointed this out last month. It's better to stay quiet and collect your pay than speak out, which seems to be the opposite of democracy.
Good luck to both Chong and Kennedy. I hope their new found relevancy is worth the price.
Regards,
Irrelevant
posted by Irrelevant at 3:44 AM
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