A Piece on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Decision to Prorogue Parliament
Photo Credit: Hamilton Spectator
The PM, proving to be quite uncreative when it comes to governance, has again suspended parliament. As The Economist put it (7 Jan 2010), “Stephen Harper is counting on Canadians’ complacency as he rewrites the rules of his country’s politics to weaken legislative scrutiny.” But the “gathering storm of media criticism” they forecasted is fading from the horizon, as Harper surely assumed. The PM is undoubtedly counting on (or planning) something else to fill up screens over the next months (Olympics, more shimmering stimulus projects, etc.). It is no coincidence that the he will drop the budget the day after parliament reconvenes on 3 March, sure to be filled with so many exciting goodies that we’ll go into a fiscal sugar coma, and the prorogation will hardly be a memory.
The PM has packaged his decision in various ways: as a well deserved respite for his MPs, and a chance for his administration to get more time to “consult Canadians” before parliament resumes and the budget has been released. I, for one, am still waiting for a phone call from the PM’s office.
People have alleged, and with reason, that the PM and his administration want to let the new controversy over Canadian deaths and the detainee scandal in Afghanistan blow over. Equally as much, Canadians are talking about the sheer despotic, anti-democratic nature of the move. But what’s funny is that Canadians’ representation, hanging precipitously in the balance, is not a talking point for commentators. In other words, agendas and accusations aside, a very basic issue is conspicuously missing from the buzz: Canadians have no voice at the federal level, and the country will be idling until March 3rd.
NoProrogue, an online and civic demonstration group created by Colin Carmichael, is petitioning MPs to return to parliament on the original date of January 25th, with the conviction that elected representatives should do what they’re paid to do- represent, negotiate and realize the interests of Canadians.
What can we draw from the fact that this provision still exists? How do Canadians feel that their laws are filled with archaisms, including old monarchist relics, that can be summoned from the annals of our legal tradition when they serve political interests?
Also, we must look at the interests that led the Governor General to agree to the prorogation. While her decision last year resulted from a lot of public deliberation and scrutiny, this time she was quietly compliant. Being a non-elected holder of a symbolic office, she wants to be as apolitical as possible. Can we even call it her responsibility or interest to serve Canadians? If her decision to sign off on the prorogation accords with her goal to be apolitical, she herself is sure of a Conservative majority on the horizon.
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Tags: apathy, complacency, prorogation, prorogue, stephen harper
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February 1st, 2010 at 2:06 am
[...] View original post here: A Piece on Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Decision to … [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:11 pm
My faith in Harper, is gone. Our Canadian Constitution, has been eroded by, our P.M, and no longer valid. Civil Liberties and Rights, have been taken away. Democracy and Freedom, is, null and void. Harper, lied to the people of Canada, saying, no to the HST, and then bribed the Premiers, to force the HST, on the citizens, regardless. I would like to know, from, Harper and Campbell, how, they expect citizens to pay? Campbell and Hansen, both lied to, the residents, about their promise not to impose the HST. They lied about the two deficits, Provincial and the Olympics. Campbell, has sold our BC Railroad to the Canadian National Railroad, which was also sold to the USA. He is selling our rivers. He bribed the Haisla Band, not to impede the sale of our hydro, to his business friends. Campbell, is selling our mills to China. There have been massive, lay offs, of mill workers. There were 300 more lay offs of mill workers, last week. There, will be 800 more, teachers laid off, because, of budget cut backs. A, lady I knew was admitted to the hospital, her bed was in the shower room. There was a floor shut down, because of, more budget cuts. Campbell, has the highest number of children living in poverty, in all of Canada. He also has the lowest minimum wage, in the entire country. So, how does Campbell and Harper expect, people who, have lost their jobs and homes, cope with the outrageous HST? Thousands of citizens will be homeless. Harper and Campbell, need to put a, 30% HST, on big business, where it rightly belongs. Government, is far too top heavy, so, should be cut back by, at least 35%. They must cut back on expenses, the limo bill is outrageous. In a recession, Governing officials, should, roll back their salary’s, by 20%. Campbells, salary should be cut by 53%. The Federal Parliament, is shut down, more than it is working, so, government should be, agreeable, to cut backs on their salary’s. Iggy, is another snake in the grass, he also, stabbed, Canadian citizens in the back. He also lied about the HST. Harper, Iggy, Campbell and Hansen, are the worst politicians, in the history of Canada. Harper, should level with Canadian citizens, about the NAU and, the role, NAFTA will play.