Like Lee Harvey Oswald, he was acting alone
An update to the story about the Conservatives appointing "local representatives" in ridings that had the temerity to elect opposition members of Parliament.
For those of you who haven't been following this, the chair of the CPC's BC caucus, the appropriately monickered Dick Harris, announced earlier in the month that residents of the riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, BC, having made the terrible mistake of returning the NDP's Nathan Cullen to Ottawa, were being given a second chance and that if they really wanted to get anything done by Kanada's Gnu Gummint they should go through their newly ordained representative/liason/go-to person Houston mayor and CPC candidate in the next election, Sharon "Northern Exposure" Stone Smith.
Naturally, some people disapproved of Dick's efforts to make government efficient and business-like. Especially, the elected member of parliament, Nathan Cullen, and apparently the CPC itself, which is backing water like a canoeist who hears the rumble of Niagara Falls around the bend in the river:

"He just kind of did that himself,'' government spokesman Ryan Sparrow said of Harris's move.
"(Smith) is the Conservative candidate in the next election. That's her only official capacity.''

Need we point out that this is not a government that has generally allowed its MPs to just kind do stuff by themselves? If there is one consistent thing about the CPC it has been that it is run from the top with an iron hand. MPs are not supposed to so much as comment on the weather or confirm that they think water is wet without checking with the PMO first. This was not just some backwater MP running his mouth, this was the head of the provincial caucus.

From the press release:

Harris said, “As Chairman of the BC Caucus of Conservative MPs, I am pleased that Sharon has accepted this role, and I know the constituents of Skeena-Bulkley Valley will derive a huge benefit from having direct contact with government, something that they have not had since 2004.
I and other BC Conservative MPs will work closely with Sharon Smith as she represents constituents of her riding to the government members. It will be a bonus for people of Skeena-Bulkley Valley to have direct representation to the government on so many issues,” continued Harris
Harris concluded, “Having an MP from the fourth party in the House just doesn’t cut it when it comes to actually getting things done for the folks in Skeena-Bulkley Valley . Sharon Smith with her direct government contact will ensure that things DO get done. The Terrace water infrastructure, Smithers Airport expansion, and Houston event center’s new “green” system are just a few examples of what can be accomplished when you have a direct link to government.

And it isn't the only time its happened from the looks of things either. There is reason to believe the same has been done in ridings in the Arctic and Vancouver Island North Riding.

If Dick Harris has "just kind of did this himself" I'd like to know what the Prime Minister intends to do about it. If not, when will the Prime Minister apologize for trying to make an end run around democracy?

Update: Alison has found another one, this time a failed candidate in the Sea-to-Sky West Vancouver riding who acts like he was the one who was elected.

Go to blogs on this: A creative revolution, Dawg's Blawg, and most of the Canadian Blogroll.