A letter to Tony Clement

Mr. Clement,

Today I read your remarks about “elites” and “chattering classes” being the only ones who care about this year’s prorogation of Parliament. You recently noted that you received “maybe three dozen emails” from your constituency expressing concern, and although I am not a member of your constituency, I would expect that this is one of many emails that you will have received in the wake of your remarks. For my part, I will encourage friends and family who are legitimately concerned about the latest prorogation to contact your office by email in the same fashion.

I am aware that you have since qualified these remarks, and that you do not wish to belittle or deny those among us with concerns. Today, you told the Globe and Mail that “on the Richter scale of upset, it’s somewhat different from last year.” If you are gauging the reaction of Canadians according to the feedback your office has received, then I might respectfully argue that a major part of the reason you have heard from fewer constituents than last year is simply because many of us have grown disillusioned with our government during the past year.

Many Canadians who are critical of the decision to prorogue Parliament again feel that it reflects an unwillingness to engage with the citizens it serves, and these concerns may be having a very real and negative impact on the belief among Canadians that their government is listening. You may simply be receiving less emails because fewer Canadians believe there is a point to sending them.

I do thank you for taking the time to listen to Canadians, in your constituency and otherwise, who have taken the time to contact you about this very important issue.

Sincerely,

Matt Blair
Toronto, Ontario

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