That sound of escaping air emanating from back East on June 18 was unmistakably the collective “phewww” from about 164 MPs and 60 senators who make up the Conservative caucus.
All are delighted to flee the constant grilling from the opposition parties during parliament’s Question Period, and from those in the national media whom the Prime Minister’s Office have long considered disdainfully.
Instead, the 224 torrid Tories are insanely happy to face the constant grilling on the rubber-chicken circuit at their summer fund-raising barbecues. Guess they hope it will be easier to butter-up their diminishing party faithful, who will be partaking of the gastronomic delights offered at their cozy get-togethers.
The seamy, sordid Senate scandal leaves many Canadians with a nasty taste in their mouths over how the nation’s business is carried out, especially in Ottawa’s dystopian Red Chamber. During the past few weeks, there have been many lows in Ottawa, with revelations that only got worse on a daily basis. In my humble opinion, the lowest-low came on May 21 when, just prior to jetting off for somewhat meaningless junkets to Peru and Colombia, the prime minister invited the media to the opening of a special Tory caucus meeting to hear his statement concerning the abrupt resignation of his chief-of-staff.
It turned out to be a pathetic non-statement, so media members attempted to do their job of questioning the PM, and obtain answers for a bewildered populace. Totally ignoring the cogent questioners, the PM sat tight-lipped and pouting like a petulant schoolgirl. That’s when the honourable members of his caucus turned toward the media assembled at the back of the room, and clapped ever so loudly in unison to drown out any more questions.
Would these Conservatives ever again be respected as representatives of the people of Canada?
Bernie Smith
Parksville
