“It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they decided to prorogue Parliament... I’m sorry if I sound a little cynical. This is a government (for which) the rules of engagement don’t apply. They’ll move the goal post, change the boundaries and bribe the referee.”
- Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay commenting on unfounded rumours that the Liberal government planned to prorogue in 2005 (Nanaimo Daily News, July 18, 2005)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken the unprecedented step of shutting down Canada’s Parliament for nearly three months, until after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.Prior to Mr. Harper’s decision to shut down Parliament, the House of Commons had a scheduled break week from February 15-19, 2010 – during the first week of the Vancouver Olympics.
Let’s compare this with the last time Canada hosted the Olympic Games – in 1988.
The Calgary Winter Olympic Games were held from February 13-28, 1988.
In 1988, Parliament sat for four weeks from January 17-February 12, and then had a one-week scheduled break week adjournment from February 15-19 – coinciding with the first full week of the Calgary Olympics. Parliament then resumed sitting again on February 22 – which means Canada was able to govern itself at the same time as the Olympic Games were underway.
Then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney spent 10 days at the Calgary Winter Olympic Games, without having to shut down Parliament. He attended the Opening Ceremonies on February 13 and remained in Calgary for six more days during the scheduled break week. Mr. Mulroney then returned to Ottawa, before coming back to Calgary for the last weekend of the Olympics (February 26-28) and the Closing Ceremonies.
8 comments:
Parliament was set to resume on January 25 so let us not exaggerate by saying "shut down parliament for 3 months".
If there is to be a new Throne Speech in March when parliament opens what possible use would it be to sit for those 20 or so days in February during the Olympics hashing over old business that would be cancelled with a new parliament.
Are you saying the Liberal senators would pass all of the bills they are sitting on in those days?
That would be the only good thing for Canada that could come out of sitting- but then h ell would freeze over first.
Our "run and hide" PM!!!
It's time for the citizens to take action to protest this government's (in)actions...
What happened to the fragile economy?
What happened to talk about an "unnecessary, needless election"?
What happened to the government's "tough on crime" legislation?
What happened to accountability and transparency?
Yep, we have a "run and hide" PM.
The Harper-Mulroney comparison is instructive. Mr. Mulroney's own demons eventually did him in. But he understood and respected how Parliament worked.
Words cannot express how thankful that I am that you do what you do! Kady O'Malley is my Xena Warrior Princess.
Interesting how 22 actual sitting days becomes 3 months. Parliament was to start up on January 25th and have a week off in February. It's been delayed to March 3 and not the media is saying things like it's canceled for 3 months. I guess anything to make a story. Also, to imply that it means the MPs are not working is a bit ridiculous. If MPs only worked when in the house, they really don't work much at all and you better not bother your MP in your riding because, if they are there, they aren't working.
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