More on Kingsley's Resignation (Elections Canada)

A few days ago, I commented on The Resignation of the head of Elections Canada, commenting that it was awfully suspicious coming so close on the heels to yet another spat between Harper's Conservatives and Elections Canada over some basic accounting practices.

Well, it seems that Mr. Harper is playing out yet another "grudge match" with Ottawa. Harper's Comments about Elections Canada (and by proxy, Kingsley) over the years show us a few more aspects of the man who is currently playing at Prime Minister:

Comments made by Prime Minister Stephen Harper over the years about Jean-Pierre Kingsley, Canada's top elections watchdog who is now resigning:

-"Canada is recognized around the world for its commitment to democracy and its highly-evolved electoral processes. Mr. Kingsley served as ambassador for Canadian democracy."

-Harper on Dec. 28, announcing Kingsley's resignation departure.

-"During his long career in public administration, Mr. Kingsley has always served Canadians to the very best of his ability. The Government of Canada appreciates his contributions."

-Harper on Dec. 28.

-"The jackasses at Elections Canada are out of control," - Harper in a 2001 letter to solicit funds for a B.C. man charged with violating the election act by posting election results on the Internet before all polls had closed.

-"Not only will a successful court challenge restore a precious right to Canadians, it will also drive home to Kingsley that such iron-fisted bully tactics have no place in a free and democratic society."

-Harper in the same 2001 letter.

-"Jean-Pierre Kingsley is reacting more like a state policeman than a public servant."

-Harper in a 2000 news release issued by the National Citizens' Coalition. He was reacting to Kingsley's public musings about making voting a legal requirement.

-"What's next? Would Kingsley's police use the election register to go house to house to force people to the polls or arrest them? It's simply bizarre. Parliament should think carefully about whether this guy has the approach to elections administration that a 21st century democracy requires."

-Harper in same 2000 press release.

Yes, one can be "gracious" in victory (having pushed Kingsley out the door two years early), but it still reeks of revenge and the kind of grudge that small people insist on carrying about for years.

Two workers were charged with placing a newspaper ad that claimed a local lead in an Ontario riding, without disclosing that their own party had conducted the poll. The elections act forbids publishing poll results without providing basic methodological details about how the survey was conducted - or by whom.

"This is the kind of garbage we're getting into - and more shockingly the kind of garbage that Jean-Pierre Kingsley and people at Elections Canada increasingly think is their business," Harper said in 2002.

So ... you broke the rules, got slapped for it, and somehow now you want to take it out on the people charged with enforcing the rules. Typical of the Reform/Alliance/Conservative party - rules and standards apply to everybody but them.