OT- PM Harper to request proroguing of Parliament

[Ham Ham]

PM to request Parliament be prorogued, suspended until March


The PM last December on his way into see the Governor General

 

[OntFamily]

We must have the least democratic democracy in the world.

Harper's legacy will be the showcasing of the need to have checks and balances on the power of the Prime Minister. With each subsequent Prime Minister, the power they have taken grows substantially.

 

[Cdn Gal]

I don't get it- why is he doing this??

 

[braddillman]

Sadly, I think he's doing it because he thinks few people care, and most will forget about his troubles (Copenhagen, detainees, deficit, etc.) after a couple of months. Although I do care and won't forget, he might be right.

 

[declansdad]

Too bad he didn't put as much effort into making Parliament work as he does in finding ways to keep it broken.

 

[Cdn Gal]

That's terrible! A 3 month break?? Nothing will get done...

 

[angela1044]

I seriously feel like each party needs to find a new leader and then have a new election. This is pathetic! Every bill that was supposed to go through is apparently canceled. What a waste of our money!

 

[torian]

That's terrible! A 3 month break?? Nothing will get done...

It actually amount to a little over 20 days, not 90. Parliament is recessed until Jan 25 for Christmas, and was not going to be in session during the Olympics (regarless of perogation).

 

[braddillman]

Well, 20 sitting days (thought it was 28?) is quite a bit when the average parliament sits a little over 100 days/year. Years ago, I think the average was well over 150.

See here.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

I'm sure that whether they work or not, they will be well paid! How convenient!

When I don't work - I don't get paid!

I wonder if they would change their tune if it would hit their bank accounts?




Jan

 

[momof2gr8kids]

I'm sure that whether they work or not, they will be well paid! How convenient!

When I don't work - I don't get paid!

I wonder if they would change their tune if it would hit their bank accounts?

I don't work for an MP, however, just because they're not "sitting" doesn't mean they're not working. There's meetings, committee work, travelling committees to get public input on legislation, etc. They're not "on vacation".

 

[DisFan2]

The first thing they'll do when Parliament resumes is to table a budget. If the opposition really believes that Harper's been acting "undemocratically", they should bring the government down.

Chances of that happening? Right around zero.

 

[weewuvvdisney]

Momof2gr8kids,

I know that they are busy working at home in their own riding. I just find it bizarre that they can just cancel things like that. You know, they probably can do more work in their ridings compared to all the arguing and stuff in Parliament.



Jan

 

[declansdad]

Momof2gr8kids,

I know that they are busy working at home in their own riding. I just find it bizarre that they can just cancel things like that. You know, they probably can do more work in their ridings compared to all the arguing and stuff in Parliament.



Jan

The arguing that we see on the news happens during question period, which if 60 minutes max per day (sorry I don't remember the actual time but I know it isn't more than 60.) There is lot of work done during the rest of the day.

My issue here is Harper uses this tool to avoid things. The typical bully who runs when he is pushed.

 

[OntFamily]

It actually amount to a little over 20 days, not 90. Parliament is recessed until Jan 25 for Christmas, and was not going to be in session during the Olympics (regarless of perogation).

Not exactly. While Parliament would not have sat the entire time, there were many committees (where the real work gets done) that would have met throughout the three months. All committee work has been suspended.

 

[OntFamily]

The first thing they'll do when Parliament resumes is to table a budget. If the opposition really believes that Harper's been acting "undemocratically", they should bring the government down.

Chances of that happening? Right around zero.

Why? The two concepts are mutually exclusive (budget and suspending parliament). While it is undemocratic, it is legal. We need to take steps to make it not legal (like what Stephen Harper used to advocate back in the '90s, before he got a taste of power).