The latest attack on Parliament by Stephen Harper is explained away by the prime ministerial mouthpiece, Dimitri Soudas:

Government fully recognizes the authority of parliamentary committees to call for persons or papers as they carry out their work. However, ministers are accountable and answerable to parliament for government policies, decisions or operations... Ministers ran for office/accepted the role and responsibilities of being a minister, including being accountable to and answering questions in parliament. It's one thing for politicians to be tough on each other. But we draw the line when people who aren't elected, like ministerial staff, are humiliated and intimidated by members of parliament. (Globe and Mail)

Clip: Craig Oliver on CTV's Question Period grills Soudas.

Humiliated and intimidated? Oh please. These people are hired on to do demanding work and they are not fragile souls. If they are diligent and honest about their work, they will have no issues appearing before committee or any arm of parliament.

It goes without saying that some elected and unelected officials, of any government, have doubtless been engaged in frustrating legitimate democratic processes. Crap happens. Good people sometimes do bad things on orders from others, and sometimes bad people are put in a position to do anything they want. Delivering upon the promise of democracy demands as much transparency as the system can tolerate while still functioning normally. We should always err on the side of more openness than less.

If the public can get in an uproar over MP expenses, surely they would be upset to learn of the myriad antics played in the back-rooms of our government, whoever the government of the day happens to be.

It isn't up to the prime minister, or his cabinet, to decide who or who will not testify before parliament, and as the speaker of the house has recently ruled, parliament's right to call for records has been reaffirmed.

Parliament may call for any persons or papers be brought before parliament. Anything.

The most important question Canadians should be asking about Stephen Harper and his government is: what are you trying to hide?