What transpired at that committee was disheartening and outrageous.

Conservative MPs decided to obstruct the committee from conducting its job. They denied witnesses who were there at committee from sharing their experience or professional opinion. Instead, they hogged the microphone and spoke meaninglessly until the clock ran out. For two hours. Witnesses who travelled to Ottawa to inform Canadians and Parliamentarians were shut out completely. Bob Dechert, a Conservative MP who was at the meeting admitted that their deliberate plan was to exclude Canadians from speaking before the committee. Mr. Dechert explains the logic (if you want to call it logic) behind why he didn’t want to give Canadians the opportunity to speak: “They want to have the media attention to talk about how they were handled by the police…” Aaron Wherry, a MacLean’s magazine political reporter mocks Mr. Dechert here and his shocking explanation.

In response to that outrageous statement, I wrote a letter to the local paper, the Mississauga News which got published today. Here it is:

“Dear Editor:

(Mississauga-Erindale) MP Bob Dechert has demonstrated unimaginable arrogance by bragging about his role in denying Canadians the opportunity to speak in front of a parliamentary committee.

Mr. Dechert and his Conservative colleagues blocked credible voices such as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association from speaking in the House of Commons. Why?

According to Mr. Dechert, “They want to have the media attention to talk about how they were handled by the police.” I guess he believes he is the only one entitled to “media attention.”

I’ve heard of such restrictions in countries that are not known for their democratic values, but to see it happen in Canada is truly sad.

Arrogance and disregard of public interest will be the downfall of the Conservatives in the next election. Until then, we need to let them know that such behaviour is unacceptable.”

The purpose of the workshop was demystify politics and breakdown the misconceptions about access to being able to participate in the political landscape. Most people, particularly youth, perceive politics to be a distant world disconnected from commons sense and the needs of people. It is considered exclusive to the connected few and impossible to influence.

That is why these type of sessions are extremely important. We discussed fundamentals and the simple basics of politics. How is the government structured? How are governments elected? How does our political system work? Such elements demonstrate how accessible and open the Canadian political system is. People are generally surprised when they learn how simple our system is and how easy to reach are the tools for making a difference in politics and by extension addressing the needs of Canadians.

Politics is nothing more than an instrument to advance the well being of citizens. At times, it gets dominated by what appears to be inconsequential bickering turning people off and increasing their cynicism. This unhealthy trend, if not confronted, will continue to erode our democracy and our citizen’s involvement in choosing their destiny.

Our country becomes better when more citizens get involved in politics. By getting involved, I don’t mean, every citizen has turn into an activist. It means that we start demolishing any barriers (real or perceived) that stand in the way of people believing in their political system. That also doesn’t mean that one has to believe that our system is flawless. In fact, our system needs many improvements. However, these improvements will not happen if new ideas coming from concerned citizens are not put forward with vigour and commitment.

Politics is not just about campaigns during elections and it’s not just about winning. Those are all means to an end. The objective is to advance the interests of Canadians and politics is just the marketplace of ideas where policies compete.

Hopefully last weekend’s session (this was our third in less than a year) will inform people and empower them. The ideas circulating within politics will get stagnant and rusty if more people care less about them. The irony is that the less engaged people are the more politicians will be able to get away with things.

Get involved for your sake, the sake of your family, your neighbourhood, your city, your province, your country and the world.

During their reign, the Conservatives have proven that they are incapable of thinking big and that they have a narrow understanding of what the role of the government is. Their focus for five years has been on short-term transactions that any care-taker could deliver instead of formulating major goals. They have preferred to set a low bar of expectation and offered little to capture the imagination of Canadians.

Canadians understand that their government isn’t able to fix all problems. They know that there is no such things as a magic wand that would eliminate difficulties overnight. They also don’t expect “entitlements” or giveaways.

What Canadians expect and deserve is a government that is able to articulate their aspirations and dreams and deliver on them. That the reason why citizens pay taxes. It is because there is a collective understanding that when we pool our resources together we are able to accomplish much more than if we acted individually. However, when the government chooses to abandon its responsibilities to address major issues, Canadians are bound to wonder if they are getting their value out of their government.

This budget, like the previous ones, neglected to tackle the major themes our country is facing. Issues such as healthcare, infrastructure, environment, governance, poverty, education, jobs of the future, pension reforms among many others appear to have been slighted by this budget. This budget is timid and I don’t mean that it’s small. It actually projects another $54 billion deficit after the $56 billion for this year.

For example, the infrastructure spending that is included in the stimulus package in this budget was dedicated to small refurbishment projects instead of aiming to build new and much needed modern infrastructure that our country needs.

This budget is a disappointment especially at a time when Canadians need their government the most. What is even more unfortunate is the fact that the Conservatives promised Canadians a “recalibrated” government agenda as an excuse for shutting down parliament for 3 months. It’s difficult to reconcile what this budget delivered with what the Conservatives claimed was needed for shutting down parliament.

Canadians are entitled to be severely disappointed with this budget. The Conservatives appear like a tired government that has run out of steam.

The dryness of this budget is making me thirsty for new ideas.

One of the best examples for this trend is the Conservative’s party approach to the so called “ethnic” communities (as if some of us are without ethnicity). The media have been occasionally reporting on how active Jason Kenney, the minister of citizenship and immigration in reaching out to those communities. When following his activities, one cannot help but conclude that the Conservatives idea of seducing voters from multicultural backgrounds rests on one simple notion: Show up to their events, make some remarks opening with few words in their mother tongue, and voila! expect the audience and their families to automatically support you politically.

This over-simplification is frankly disturbing if not offensive.

Canadians are diverse culturally, economically, socially and politically. They deserve political leaders who demonstrate that they understand the depth and complexity of this diversity. That leaders are aware of the different needs and opportunities that face our country.

Multicultural communities share the same concerns with the rest of Canada. They want a growing economy, an accessible healthcare system, an affordable world class education, a sustainable environment, reduction in poverty, fairness in our society and judicial system and foreign policy that promotes peace and justice. In addition, they seek assurances for equal and full citizenship, respect and understanding for their faith and culture, safe space to practice their faith and culture, protection against stereotyping and discrimination, welcoming political leadership that would stand up for their equal rights and invite them to participate in society as full citizens.

Let’s examine the Conservatives’ record on the issue of multiculturalism:

Those are just examples of some visible practices. I can only imagine what is being done behind the curtains.

Democracy works when political leaders compete for serving the interests of Canadians. Attending celebratory events is important and useful, but it is not an end. Canadians deserve leaders who at their core understand our diversity and aspirations and demonstrate their understanding through policies.

To be fair, Conservatives don’t have a monopoly on having a simplistic and vacuous approach when dealing with multiculturalism or multicultural communities, but the Conservatives are unique in having a philosophical allergy to accepting the evolution of Canada as a truly multicultural society.

Ultimately, I suspect, Canadians from multicultural communities will support leaders who offer ideas for the broader issues. They will also support real policies that protect their rights and identities within our society.

Michael Ignatieff is touring the country visiting different campuses, soliciting input and engagement from citizens. He will be visiting Mississauga this Wednesday where students and community members will get the opportunity to share their frustrations and aspirations.

These type of discussions with Canadians are very valuable. They are helpful for Canadians who may feel disconnected from the political process. They give an opportunity to familiarize Canadians with a human dimension that at times appears absent when talking about politics or politicians. Equally important, such forums will connect politicians to what everyday Canadians outside the political sphere care about.

Some argue that citizen participation in town-hall meetings like these will have very little effect on politicians and political decisions. They try to tap into the cynicism that exist in each of us by telling us that we can’t make a difference and that politicians don’t care.

The truth couldn’t be more different. Yes, there are politicians who may not care or who are motivated by self-interest, but ultimately Canadian citizens are the employer of all politicians. Whether they like it or not, politicians have to be sensitive to Canadians needs and concerns. The ones who are at odds with those needs are counting on traditional apathy towards politics that would let them get away with their unaccountable actions.

Genuine political leaders are the ones who are putting themselves on the line in open and uncensored forums, combating apathy and encouraging Canadians to claim their rightful place in the political process.

Democracy is messy and is a system where different ideas compete. Change doesn’t come easy, but if we abandon fulfilling our role, change will never come. We need leaders who encourage Canadians to participate, not ones who say Canadians don’t care.

Part of Michael Ignatieff listening tour, is the launch of a new website that asks Canadians to submit their ideas for the future of Canada. http://your2017.ca  is an opportunity for every Canadian to offer their input. I hope many Canadians will take few minutes to participate in this exercise and offer their valuable ideas.

In the meantime, I am looking forward to the session with Mr. Ignatieff at UTM on Wednesday. Hope to see you all there.

Messy.  Inconvenient.  Frustrating.  Democracy is all those things.  But as Churchill said, it is better than the alternatives.

A minority Parliament can be messy but it can work if the Prime Minister wants it too.

Last week the Harper government announced the shutting down of Parliament.  The fact that this was done in the media “black hole,” just hours before  New Year’s Eve, says a good deal about Mr. Harper’s motivations.  It’s also a richly ironic statement about a government that was elected on the key plank of increasing transparency and accountability – but that’s another, equally sad, story.

Every newspaper in Canada – including this one – reported that the key factor in Mr. Harper’s decision was the barrage of criticism and tough questions his government has faced in Parliament over its handling – and apparent cover up – of the Afghan detainee torture issue.  Questions about the government’s truthfulness and its care of Canada’s reputation overseas.  Questions that go to the very heart of the government’s respect for democratic institutions and the rule of law.

Even more troubling, this shutting down of Parliament is not a rash or impetuous act.  It is part of a consistent pattern of behaviour on the part of Mr. Harper’s government.  Whenever Stephen Harper gets into political trouble, his first impulse is to steamroll over democratic institutions that get in his way.  Look at the record:

Just over a year ago, he prorogued Parliament just weeks after an election – in order to rescue himself from an unprecedented political and constitutional crisis of his own making.

He has lashed out at public servants – like Richard Colvin, in the case of the detainees – for daring to speak the truth, and cowed others into silence,

He fired Linda Keen, the head of the Nuclear Safety Commission, for blowing the whistle on the repairs needed at Chalk River to ensure the reactor’s safety.

He starved Kevin Page, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, of the necessary resources to do his job because he was critical of the poor management of our public finances under this Conservative government.

He let go the heads of both the RCMP’s Public Complaints Commission and the Military Police Complaints Commission.  Both were competent individuals, doing their job with distinction.  But both had a serious flaw in Stephen Harper’s eye: they were critical of the government.

He cut off public funding for the ecumenical charitable group KAIROS, despite their lauded work and broad public support, because, according to one of his ministers, they held a dissenting views from the government on foreign policy,

This approach to government – intimidating all who stand in its way – can have severe and corrosive consequences.  Look at our nation’s capital today: a cowed and demoralized public service and a constantly bullied national press gallery, both trying to serve a disenchanted public.

The Government’s behaviour speaks to a deep cynicism.  Mr. Harper is gambling that the public doesn’t care how it is governed.  In fact, in many ways it furthers his political interest to fuel public distrust about politics and depress even further voter turnouts in elections, since this strengthens the electoral impact of his “base.”

Last week’s shutting down of Parliament was a key moment.  A turning point?  Too dramatic.  In any case, too early to tell.  More important, it was one of those moments of supreme clarity.  The audacity.  The epic scale of the cynicism.  The arrogance of a regime that thinks it can get away with just about anything.  

What’s to be done about it?  Well, the sooner the House comes back, the better. But between now and then, we have to share our concerns with Canadians.  Mr. Harper may not want to face the public, but we will get out there and meet Canadians in universities, in town hall meetings and other public events from coast to coast to coast.  We will seek their views and exchange ideas.  We will go on doing our job of holding the government to account on the Afghan detainee issue, but also on their failure to act on climate change, on the growing youth employment crisis and retirement security for older Canadians.  

Shutting down Parliament has raised speculation about a spring election.  Certainly, there is no need for an early election.  Three in less than six years is enough for the next while.  In case anyone missed it, I got that message loud and clear from Canadians last fall.  And that message was not only addressed to me.

As I hear them, Canadians are saying:  get back to work in Ottawa, make this Parliament work and do the job we elected you to do.  We are listening.  It is time that Stephen Harper did too.

This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the role of Parliament in our democracy. Some may think that Parliament is a theatre of political posturing and does little to advance the well being of our country. That is exactly the perception that Mr. Harper wants to perpetuates hoping that Canadians would forgive him for shutting it down. That is why it’s important to remind ourselves how valuable Parliament is for Canada.

Members of Parliament get elected by their constituents in Canadian democracy. Governments are only formed based on the makeup of Parliament, making Parliament supreme. Parliament is where the government is held accountable (the prime minister must always maintain the confidence of the House of Commons). It is where new law proposals must be debated, questioned and voted on. It is where Parliamentary committees conduct public hearings on legislations and other important matters. It is where the government must face daily questions held in public on issues of concern to Canadians.

It is true that Parliament has a theatrical side to it that I wish we had less of, but we can’t dismiss the function it serves Canadians. Take just 2009 for example. If it wasn’t for Parliament, the Conservative government was going to ignore the economic crisis and offer no stimulus. It was Parliament that forced the government to improve Employment Insurance access during these difficult times. It was Parliament that helped Canadians abandoned abroad return to Canada despite a reluctant Conservative government. It is Parliament that uncovered inconsistencies in the government’s story in dealing with Afghan detainees. The list goes on. This happened in just one year.

Parliament may seem noisy and occasionally obsessed with political posturing, but if you cut through the noise you can easily see that our Parliament provides an invaluable service to Canadians.

Governments will always claim that Parliament is a distraction because it is easier if there’s less scrutiny. Governments may want us to believe that vigorous debates over issues are pointless, but the opposite is what is true. Competition for policies and oversight are essential components of any self-respecting and meaningful democracy.

While citizens in Iran are risking their lives by protesting in the streets for democracy and while our soldiers are risking their lives so Afghanistan can protect its infant democracy, don’t let Stephen Harper talk you into believing that Canadian democracy is a nuisance or a game.

Here is an example of how Canadians are reclaiming their democracy.

Stephen Harper is known for his vindictive nature. He never hesitates to treat his critics as enemies and is willing to go out of his way to undermine and demolish those who, in his mind, stand in his way. For a long time, many have argued, including myself, that Harper’s approach have poisoned the political debate and has reduced our political conversation into petty name-calling. That has been a troubling pattern. What is more disconcerting is that these vicious attacks have expanded beyond his political opponents. Attacks are being directed at our institutions.

Over the last four years, Mr. Harper have brutally attacked the independence of many government institutions that are expected to remain independent and to hold the government to account. The Court Challenges Program, the Immigration and Refugee Board, the Wheat Board, the Nuclear Safety Commission, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, the Military Police Complaint Commission, Elections Canada, the RCMP Complaint Commission, and even the federal court have been on the receiving end of a barrage of spiteful attacks by the Conservatives with little regard for their stature or responsibilities. Also targeted funding cuts to non-governmental organizations that have occasionally disagreed with Conservative policies are becoming part of our daily news cycle.

This trend should not be ignored or filed under normal political noise. Mr. Harper is single handedly eroding our democratic institution for his short-term political calculations. It was never unusual for government agencies to express criticism of government decisions. Previous Liberal governments received, deservedly, occasional criticism. That is how our country is governed. Various levels of checks and balances ensure that our government is adequately fulfilling its responsibilities. Undermining that tricky balance is not in the interest of Canadians.

Most Canadians may not realize the seriousness of attacks on our government institutions in the short-term as it may not appear to affect their daily lives. However, such behaviour will have major consequences on how political parties while in government are performing and by extension on the well-being of every Canadian.

That is why we need to expose the Conservatives attempts at undermining governmental and non-governmental institutions. We must not be intimidated.

We need to tell Stephen Harper that if he is to be the prime minister, he needs to expect frequent disagreements from others and that as a prime minister he needs to absorb and respond to them instead of launching mean-spirited attacks on them. The health of our democracy hinges on maintaining and respecting those institutions.

This is yet another example of how the Conservatives have been unabashed about using government resources to either promote their party or silence voices they disagree with. This pattern is alarming.

I have had the privilege of dealing with KAIROS on issues of importance such as combating climate change and promoting human rights on many occasions and found them and their volunteers to be passionately committed to improving the wellbeing of humanity. I am very disturbed by the decision to cut their funding.

Make no mistake about it. This move combined with other decisions such as cutting the funding of the Canadian Arab Federation, other funding decisions, and the vicious attacks against a Canadian diplomat who speaks up against torture will send a profound chill across the NGO sector that the Conservatives have no qualm with blatant political interference if they don’t like you.

Step by step, Stephen Harper and the Conservatives are incrementally trying to fundamentally change Canada in a way most Canadians would disagree with. They are, however, doing it quietly and subtly. Some Canadians may not notice the severity of these changes today, but if left unchecked, we will wake up one day where Canada is no longer the country many of us have been accustomed to.

KAIROS has issued a call to action raising awareness about what that decision will mean to the many projects they have been working on and asking all Canadians to write to the prime minister and their MP expressing their outrage with that misguided move.

Many of us have been regularly encouraging our youth to take personal interest in policies that govern our country. Justin Trudeau was in Mississauga on Monday calling on the youth to claim their rightful place in defining Canada’s priorities. Stunts like this one damages any enthusiasm our youth may feel towards taking ownership of our current affairs.

Not only are we borrowing these huge financial deficits from our youth, but we are also borrowing our planet and its resources from them. We need to take their concerns very seriously and treat them with the respect they deserve.

To the students at Woodlands and all youth: Don’t let others discourage you from pursuing your priorities. Many will bet that you will lose interest if they ignore you, but I know you will disappoint them. You have the strength and ability to make a difference by pushing for what you believe in.

The gun registry has been a flashpoint in rural Canada where many own rifles and shotguns for hunting and other purposes. In the early 90s after the Montréal massacre at l`École Polytechnique, that killed 14 women using a long gun on Dec. 6, 1989, there was a recognition that gun control would be one essential tool in tracking guns. The Liberal government at the time passed a law that would require all guns to be registered by owners when purchased. The purpose of this registry is not to treat lawful gun owners as criminals, just like car owners are not assumed to be criminals when asked to register their cars. It is about traceability and responsibility.

Like anytime new methods are introduced, there is some resistance and skepticism. That skepticism was exploited from day one by some the Reform/Conservatives who kept encouraging Canadians to reject the requirement to register their weapons.

By constantly amplifying that skepticism and repeating that citizens are being treated like criminals if they are asked to register their weapons, we failed to have an honest discussion about the value of registering one’s guns.

Every Canadian is required to register their car. They are expected to acquire a fishing or hunting license. They must register their pet. Why are the Conservative perpetuating the idea that registering one’s rifle is invasive?

What’s next? If registering a shotgun is too much, then would requiring gun owners to obtain a license to operate a weapon is too much?

As a society, we believe in gun control. Maintaining a traceable registry of weapons is in a way parallel to maintaining a registry of our vehicles. The registry would actually protect gun owners and society.

Just because the initial set-up costs went out of control, it doesn’t mean the system is not functioning properly now. Eliminating the long gun registry will have negligible cost savings but will deprive law enforcement agencies access to knowing where the weapons are.

The gun registry was never promised to be the only method to fight gun crime. We still have to deal with smuggled weapons and illegal guns. But if this new law passes, access to shotguns or rifles will become easier. Rather than tightening controls, this proposed law will loosen it.

If the current process of registering guns is too complicated, we should find a way to simplify it, but no one should be made to believe that registering their weapon is equal to criminal treatment.

It is not too late. Canadians can speak up and tell their MPs that they support the idea of maintaining a gun registry.

In speaking with hundreds of students, he explained that politics desperately needs the ingenuity and ideas of Canadian youth to restore purpose and passion to our political system. Mr. Trudeau talked at length about the importance of politics in shaping our future and the future of our country and discouraged the students from letting cynicism deter them from getting involved. He acknowledged that superficial political games could turn people off, but if we really care about dealing with the issues that face our society, issues such as the economy, climate change, poverty, human rights, etc, the youth can and must play a pivotal role in exerting pressure and influencing policies.

Justin, delicately remained above heated partisan rhetoric, but he didn’t shy away from discussing the various competing ideologies among the different political parties. He also spoke passionately about the need for having a conversation with Canadians about a large encompassing vision for the role of government in shaping our society and helping our citizens.

Overall, Justin’s contributions today were inspirational to Mississauga youth. They had a unique opportunity to hear first hand from someone who believes strongly in Canada. Mr. Trudeau’s confidence and passion will hopefully invite many youth to claim their rightful place in defining our priorities and needs as a nation.