Harper Doesn't Have a Hidden Agenda...

He's got one he doesn't talk about openly.

Last week, we learned by fiat of ministerial policy that Canada's government would no longer engage foreign governments when Canadian citizens found themselves sentenced to die in those lands. Given the errors our own judicial system has made time and again over the decades this is a deeply troubling stance for Canada's government to take.

Today, we find out a couple of interesting tidbits that go a bit further on the death penalty discussion. There is a resolution before the UN calling for an international halt on executions. Traditionally, this is something that Canada would stand for, both by voting for it, but also by actively sponsoring it.

As this open letter from Amnesty International to the Canadian government indicates, while Canada appears to be willing to vote for the motion, our UN representatives have been directed not to be active in sponsoring the motion itself - which is a subtle, but significant shift in Canada's stance towards the death penalty.

Am I surprised by this slimy little maneuver on Harper's part? Not really. The Reform/Alliance crowd has always been perfectly willing to engage in this most bloodthirsty of practices. So I'm not too surprised by it at all.

Harper has been implementing social conservative policy by fiat for quite a while...