X Marks the Spot

Harinder Takhar keeping a cabinet post?

You kidding me?

On Friday, July 27, 2007, just for fun, I emailed Mr. Harinder Takhar and wrote:

"Please, Mr. Takhar. Define "accountable" for me.

Here's the dude's 27 Jul 2007 response (I kid you not)

"I am sorry only the municipal govt. can do that for you."

Which was true, so I decided to turn stuff up a notch in a new email:

"OK, how about this use of "accountable" in your "The Legislative Page Program at Queen’s Park" flyer"

Now remember, this has become a series of emails trying to get Mr. Takhar to define "accountable" as used in his flyer.

Takhar's response?

"The sentence following “The role of the opposition parties is to hold the government accountable.” will be able to explain the previous sentence. Taken from The Legislative Page Program at Queen’s Park" flyer: “Opposition MPPs study and debate government legislation and spending, and question the Premier and Cabinet Ministers during Question Period.”

Well, I can't let THAT pass. So I emailed him again.

"I'll make it easy and focus on just one sentence. Please, Mr. Takhar, define "accountable" as used in:

"The act ensures that local councils are accountable to the public and that the processes for making decisions are transparent. "

Thank you."

And the response? Well, my "accountable" question was now handed over to Michael J. Miller
Executive Assistant-Constituency
Office of Harinder Takhar, M.P.P.

"We thank you for taking the time to communicate with our office. We have answered the question regarding the definition of accountable. Whether it applies to Federal, Provincial, or Municipal language, the definition is the same. All elected public officials are held accountable by the public at large. This means these men and women are to be responsible, answerable, and explainable to the public as suggested in your definition. If you have a specific provincial concern please feel free to contact us."

And that wasn't even the end of it. I pressed on. I'll share the FINAL email I got (not from Takhar --he ducked the "accountable" question altogether by then)

Hello again,

As mentioned before, the Minister and staff have always maintained that we are accountable to the constituents who elect him. This is just common knowledge for those who understand our system of democracy here in Canada.

"for those who understand our system of democracy here in Canada"...

HAHAHAHHHAAAA... cracked me up.

Needless to say I wish I was in Takhar's riding so as not to vote for him but I was in Delaney's territory.

I understand our system of democracy in Canada so I as a liberal I didn't vote for Delaney either.

Looks like next Lakeview meeting is a Must-Attend....

Sousa tried to steal the seat of a democratically elected MP Paul Szabo. Szabo is the elected candidate in Mississauga South for the Federal Government. His own Liberal party tried to oust him a few years and first in line to steal is seat was Charles Sousa. The man has no political experience and I have never seen at a public meeting in my life. He picked a seat in the easiest spot in Ontario. Peterson's floor crossing wasn't popular among Conservatives. Sousa is the last guy who should get a cabinet post but then again we are talking about McGuinty's Cabinet, not exactly the sharpest group around.