2 FOR 1 : DEMOCRACY CHALLENGED & ANOTHER LOCAL OFFICER IN TROUBLE

I'm starting to get discouraged. I'm even questioning my own long standing beliefs that police officers who get in trouble need to be held accountable and it needs to be done publicly. Wednesday's Waterloo Region Record has a very short story telling us that an unidentified officer while off-duty has been charged with sexual assault. At this point it's an allegation, however he has been charged. I don't even want to start adding up how many local officers have faced either criminal or Police Act charges in the last few years. What the hell is going on?

Yesterday's Waterloo Region Record carrys an opinion piece by Carol Goar titled "Are we shrugging off PM's rewriting of the rules of democracy?". She is referring to the introduction of yet another federal government Omnibus Bill. The first was done last spring in regards to the budget yet contained legislation affecting environmental reviews, charities and so much more. This one just introduced, deals with free trade bills, exporting resources and business enhancing tax credits. These Omnibus Bills in a majority government situation make a mockery of democracy. There is not enough time for them to be carefully discussed and debated in the House of Commons simply based on their size and complexity. Prime Minister Harper is counting on Canadians being too worried about jobs and the economy to get involved. Those few who do make themselves informed will be dismissed as a minority of activists and troublemakers. Carol Goar is correct. Our democracy is under attack and not by terrorists or external forces. It is our own leaders and authority figures who continue to chip away at democracy in this country.