I've talked to a number of Conservatives over the last few days, particularly those involved in campaign outreach and fundraising for the federal party, and if there's one thing that they all agree on when it comes to Helena Guergis is that the issue is no longer one that only the so-called 'elites' in Ottawa are talking about. The trials and tribulations of the minister of state for the status of women has broken through the Ottawa bubble and is now ripe fodder for talk radio shows and coffee shop gossip. Some of these Conservatives also worry that the Guergis situation has the potential to tarnish the blue-collar “we-work-hard-and-play-by-the-rules” brand that Conservatives have been particularly keen to cultivate. Party fundraisers are now being told by potential donors that no more cash will be forthcoming until Guergis quits or is fired.
And now, Guergis hometown paper, the Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin, has labelled her a disappointment.
Letters are a disappointment
Politics and election campaigns are one thing, but once the votes are counted and the declaration is made, the expectation is a Member of Parliament will represent all members of a constituency equally, not just those who may have voted for him or her.
The same goes for the member's constituency office. There's an electoral district association to represent the viewpoint of the party; the constituency office should be there as a non-partisan operation, as the main point of contact for a parliamentarian and his or her constituents — regardless of political orientation. Its staff are the member's representatives in the riding, attending events on behalf of the member. It is not there to act as a political shill for the member, rising to the member's defence to attack his or her critics – especially in the manner in which the staff for Helena Guergis have demonstrated.
A letters section in a newspaper is an opportunity for readers to be heard; a forum for free speech and the exchange of ideas on issues of the day.
Do we get letters from individuals who have a direct interest in the subjects being written about? Absolutely. And in many of those cases, the letter writer will identify his or her self and their interest.
For instance, we've had letters from Green Party candidates Stuart Starbuck and Peter Ellis — and they have always identified themselves as such. In this edition, Wasaga Beach mayoral candidate and former Liberal candidate Steven Fishman has a letter–and he has readily revealed his interest.
And we're certain we receive the 'fake grass-roots' letters, otherwise known as 'astroturfing'. These are usually churned out through a political campaign, or if there's a hot-button issue such as the environment or gun control. Never would we think such a letter would be produced by a representative's staffer, and done so in a manner in order to conceal the actual source of the letter.
It's somewhat telling the only correspondence we receive in support of the Member of Parliament would come from someone in her employ. And it's highly disappointing–and disturbing–those letters border on the saccharine in effusively praising the federal representative, while just as enthusiastically deriding anyone who dares to be critical of her…..
All in all, it is a another disappointing moment in the political career of our Member of Parliament.
Since when has the Progressive Conservative Government been ” blue-collar “we-work-hard-and-play-by-the-rules” brand that Conservatives have been particularly keen to cultivate” ; They have to be the most corrupt Political Party in Canada's history, seems every election the Political Parties get worse and worse. What we need is for stricter rules for our Politicians, zero tolerance for corruption or abuse of Power, backed up by Jail time and loss of pension.
Lets see “the most corrupt political party” –can't find a word on Google where the Conservatives stole hundreds of millions of dollars, (with still 45 Million somewhere unaccounted for, either in the Liberal Party or in the hands of their friends. Talk is cheap my friend–when you make such accusations you should back them up with facts.
l am a Conservative member and supporter but l do think this member is long past her due date and should go!
L.Millar
Try googling harder
The episode at the PEI airport was certainly disturbing but given the pressure on Guergis at the time can be understood if anyone in the media cared to give her a break. No what we have is a pile on like a pack of wolves. How many headlines have we seen excoriating Guergis both personally and professionally. Then we wonder why people don't want to run for parliament, particularly women. Guergis apologized and has spoken to the issue in the House but that's not good enough. She is a Conservative lower level cabinet minister and she needs to be brought down. Now that silly woman Marlene Jennings is demanding that there be an investigation to see if she got her mortgage on market terms. This is a slippery slope and I suspect the Ethics Commissioner will decline to investigate unless there is proof that the mortgage was granted on terms not available in the marketplace at the time. The Libs as usual are on a fishing expedition and they should be careful. The title on anybody's house can be searched and there are a few Libs who may not want their personal finances revealed.
The media in this country have becom unscruplous, devoid of professionalism and truly believe that they are the opposition to the government. However, Canadians no longer pay attention to the media and their outrageous headlines and torqued stories.
Letters … hmmm, an UNSIGNED editorial disapproving of letter writers who didn't divulge their connection to Ms. Guergis … and an ANONYMOUS letter [text available at Kady O'Malley's blog] sent by an Air Canada Jazz staffer, NOT to Transport Canada for an apparent contravention of airport regulations, but to a Liberal MP and to the media.
So, the word of an ANONYMOUS letter writer is accepted unquestioningly, that person's identity is protected — for all we know, the person could be a relative of the Liberal MP — but staffers defending their boss's reputation, though unwisely for not divulging all information about themselves, is to be condemned.
Oh, and there is no proof the letters written by Ms. Guergis's staffers were written at her behest. But of course, that's the assumption her critics have made.
Okey dokey, all's right with the media world.