THIS week we saw a shuffling of the federal cabinet. It was more a game of musical chairs than a real changing of the guard.
More newsworthy however, was some of the apparently required reading for new federal ministers.
Several news outlets reported the Prime Minister's Office also asked staff to include lists of "friends and enemy stakeholders" in the new ministers' summer reading lists.
This is troubling for a number of reasons. This is the same PMO that has become embroiled in constant scandal and turned into a full-time campaign machine that operates year-round at taxpayers' expense on deeply partisan projects. Dividing Canadians into "friends and enemies" indicates a level of government paranoia not seen since McCarthyism.
It also implies our federal government is no longer working for all Canadians, only for those whose ideological positions match those of the governing party. By using the divisive term "enemy," the government is leaving itself open to accusations that it is also actively working against some Canadians. It showcases an "us versus them" mentality.
So who is on the list? Other than a vague description that it may include environmental groups, non-profits, and civic and industry associations that disagree with the federal Conservatives, we have no clue. That too is a problem.
As much as this makes the ruling Conservatives look bad, this is also the stuff that drives cynicism, turns off voters and erodes Canadians' faith in the institution of government.
