Our democracy is dependent on many components that allow it to function properly. Various levels of government and institutions are in constant negotiation and competition to ensure that our country and our citizens are served best. Sometimes it is not pretty and at times it appears complicated, but those competing elements protect us against major mistakes that may appear to offer some satisfaction in the short-term but are quite damaging. Checks and balances are essential for any democracy even if they appear cumbersome at times.

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.