Why Is Carney Telling The New York Times Before Parliament?

Former Conservative MP Michelle Ferreri joins Stephen LeDrew to discuss Parliament, government accountability and whether too much political power has become concentrated around Prime Minister Mark Carney and the PMO. The conversation begins with Carney’s recent interview with the New York Times, in which he said Canada may eventually resume a “controlled increase” in population as the government prepares its next immigration levels plan. LeDrew and Ferreri ask why Canadians learn about significant government intentions through speeches and foreign media rather than through sustained debate in Parliament. Ferreri also draws on her experience as an MP to criticize Question Period and argue that parliamentary committees can provide much more meaningful scrutiny — through witnesses, testimony and detailed examination of government policy. That matters even more with the Liberals currently holding 174 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons, giving the government a narrow majority. The broader question: if Canadians want better government, where should the real accountability come from — Parliament, committees, the media or voters themselves? Topics Covered: - Carney’s New York Times interview - Immigration and government communication - Power inside the PMO - Parliament and political accountability - Why Question Period frustrates voters - The importance of parliamentary committees - Majority government and scrutiny - How MPs hold ministers accountable - Trust in political journalism - Voters’ responsibility to seek information * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.