Radical Senators Have No Ethics? What?

It has been clear for some time now that Canada, or what was believed to be a real country, is now an unethical, lawless, and immoral wasteland wanting closer ties with China. There are no longer any laws or ethical conduct to be upheld, save for precedent that there are no consequences for unethical or immoral behavior and no laws to hold bad actors to account. Home invaders, south Asian extortionists, car jackers, murderers, child rapists, genocidal MAiDists, and probably most horrifying of all, the virtuous, suicidally empathetic politicians who approve of all of this, can no longer be held to account. Where once a $12 glass of orange juice or a parliamentary slap and tickle could topple governments and end careers, convicted Kalistani and other terrorists and pedophile AHS doctors live free and prosper, quite often with government subsidies.

Yet Another Letter That Yields Yet Another Automatic Reply :

Attn. Premier Danielle Smith and Blake Richard MP, Airdrie-Cochrane

The following letter is being directed to the Office of the Senate Ethics Officer as well as others that should be rightly concerned about how Albertans are being represented by elected and unelected public officials. 

Dear Sir/Madame,

I am writing in regards to the behaviour of Canadian Senator, Paula Simons who is currently the appointed Independent Senator that is to be representing all Albertans. Ms. Simons, in a recent interview with Courtney Theriault on CHED Radio Edmonton, uttered comments directed at millions of people who live and work in Alberta. These comments were expressed as her opinion of the legal and peaceful grassroots independence movement taking place in our province. 

Ms. Simon said the following:

“Well, I think, to be blunt – and I will be blunt – I think a lot of the emotion that’s driving the Alberta Prosperity Project is pretty ugly. It’s not about making an argument about access to tidewater and pipelines. It’s frankly xenophobic, it’s frankly racist, it’s frankly, ummm, misogynist, very anti-woman, it’s about taking Alberta back to some kind of imaginary 1950s world of, you know, women barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen, and I think it is virulently transphobic and homophobic.” She goes on to make comments about Jewish family and the Holocaust (suggesting that the independence movement is also anti-Semitic) and also stated that, “This movement begins with an argument of hatred”.

Anyone that attends any of the events, those lining up by the tens of thousands to participate in the referendum, or those involved in the movement can attest that Albertans of all ages, races, sexual preferences, and religions attend these meetings peacefully and in friendship. All are welcome. The ideologically or financially driven rhetoric and language being directed at Albertans is to be expected by the general public and social media trolls that are exercising their ‘free speech’ but to hear it from our public servants is unacceptable. 

From the webpage of your office, there is a code of conduct that must be upheld by all Senators.

General Conduct

7.1(1) A Senator’s conduct shall uphold the highest standard of dignity inherent to the position of Senator.

7.1(2) A Senator shall refrain from acting in a way that could reflect adversely on the position of Senator or the institution of the Senate.

Conduct: Parliamentary Duties and Functions

7.2 A Senator shall perform his or her parliamentary duties and functions with dignity, honor, and integrity.

Harassment and Violence

7.3 A Senator shall refrain from engaging in conduct that constitutes harassment and violence.

Use Of Influence

9. A Senator shall not use or attempt to use his or her position as a Senator to influence a decision of another person so as to further the Senator’s private interests or those of a family member, or to improperly further another person’s or entity’s private interests.

With reference back to the comments Ms. Simon’s made in public, it is clear that her comments violated  the code of conduct she must have pledged an oath to uphold. These comments are clearly of a highly biased nature and express a disparagement of a large and growing population of Albertans. The Senator’s comments reflect a personal bias and the ‘othering’ and hatred she projects on others. So often, as is being proven in other parts of this country and the world at large, hateful rhetoric has influenced citizens to commit acts of harassment and violence. If she holds these opinions of the people she is sworn to represent as Senator, she should at least keep them to herself and not use her bias to influence hateful sentiment against Albertans. Ideally, anyone in this position should have been screened for extreme bias. Senator Simon’s comments are a clear indication that her appointment was intentionally made perhaps because of her personally held beliefs. Whether her opinions and beliefs represent any segment or proportion of Albertans is moot when held under the lens of the code of conduct and the impartiality it requires. The point should be made that the comments from Senator Simons also violate portions of both The Alberta Bill of Rights and The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms that our public servants should be well acquainted with and have hopefully sworn to uphold.

Senator Simon’s behaviour and comments must not go unchallenged. This behaviour must not be condoned or encouraged. She must be held to account. As much as such actions are typically insincere, Ms. Simons should be required to retract her statements or apologize to all Albertans for her offensive, disparaging, harmful, and hateful comments. 

Premier Smith and Mr. Richards, as our representatives in legislature and parliament, Albertans will expect you to take issue with this Senator’s actions. Your actions in response to this violation in ethics and code of conduct should shine a light on all pubic servants at all levels to demand greater competence and accountability.

Sincerely,

Al Neitsch

Airdrie, Alberta