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OPINION: Harper performs prorogation sidestep
The recent decision of Prime Minister Harper to prorogue parliament is disturbing enough on its own. This prorogation not only stops the work of parliament, but also derails more than 30 pieces of the government's own legislation, including several justice and consumer protection bills. All of this legislation, declared essential by the Conservatives, will now have to start again from scratch, wasting not only the time and energy of the many MPs, committees, and committee witnesses, but also the tax dollars spent in the preparation of this legislation. But, Canadians should be even more concerned about Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue parliament for a second time in a year, as the latest act of a government that is increasingly unaccountable and dictatorial. The Honourable Joe Clark, former Progressive-Conservative Prime Minister of Canada, recently commented that he once was confident that all political parties, despite their differences, were working in their own way for the betterment of our country. He now laments that this common, deeply-rooted commitment is clearly no longer present in the current government. All democratic government systems rely on some form of checks and balances, to ensure that democracy can flourish not only at election time, but also during the term of a government. That is the reason our Canadian House of Commons is so vital. It is in the House of Commons that opposition parties can hold the government to account, and where the government is required to be accountable to the people of Canada. The unfortunate truth is that Stephen Harper's Conservative government prorogued parliament in late 2008 to sidestep that accountability and avoid a vote of non-confidence brought on by its refusal to focus on critical issues, economic and otherwise, facing our country. Similarly in December 2009, the Harper government again prorogued parliament in its desire to avoid accountability in regard to allegations that the government ignored the reported torture of Afghan detainees and to escape criticism for its failure to address the crisis of climate change in Copenhagen, on behalf of Canadians. Politically expedient misuse of prorogation is one of the ways Mr. Harper and his government have attacked the roots of our democracy: There are others: * They actively misled and misinformed Canadians in the last election when they blithely informed Canadians that there was no looming recession, and that our economy was safe and secure under Conservative rule. * They have systematically cut back funding on advocacy groups established to provide a strong voice for women, the arts, aboriginal groups and others. * They have actively worked to subvert the vital work of the parliamentary committees entrusted with the detailed work connected to effective legislation and policies. A leaked version of their handbook detailing for their MPs how to tie up and derail parliamentary committees revealed a government cynically working to concentrate power in the Prime Minister's office. * The Conservative Party has criticized and ignored any government overseer, like the Parliamentary Budget Officer, who has dared question their methods and policies; they have virulently attacked whistleblowers, such as Richard Colvin, because he revealed information about Afghanistan cover-ups. * Mr. Harper has cynically broken his promise to never appoint unelected Senators. The Prime Minister continues to pretend that he is not accountable to Canadians through their parliament. He cannot and must not be permitted to shut down parliament when it is politically expedient for him. Parliament exists to ensure that our democracy is preserved and that government works for the people and the nation, not for its narrowly defined self-interest. Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party of Canada have a minority mandate to govern. They emphatically do not have a mandate to dismantle Canadian parliamentary democracy. -- -- -- -- Irene Mathyssen MP London-Fanshawe |
| I couldn't agree more with this article. It's time for some of that openness and transparency Harper campaigned on! Actually, it's time for someone new. |
| By: Stephanie Shorter on 01/22/2010 |
| 100% agreement! Stevie is NOT accountable. Never was and he lies continually out of every side of his face. Canada, for goodness sake, let's finally really do something about the demise of our nation at the hands of this sad, minority government. He only has a minority. I think Stevie seems to forget that. We can beat this existing partisan political rat-race, but we have to all stick together and see it through. Who's with me? And Irene of course. :) |
| By: pessy on 01/22/2010 |
| I am totally disgusted with Mr.Harper's snide attitude to Canadians and yet bats his eyelashes like a smitten schoolgirl when in the company of President Obama and previously Bush..He clearly follows his own agenda and that of another country. Steven Harper does not have our best interest in mind and that is quite apparent. |
| By: Disgusted on 01/22/2010 |
| Everyday I read the paper at work (even if I could afford it, I would not pay for the it, what was once a solid community news source has degenerated into another Sun Media rag), and every night after dinner I read whatever catches my interest online and this is one of the clearest, most well articulated columns I have read about the proroguing of parliament. It far outshines the Liberal puff piece I read in the paper yesterday by the Liberal candidate in London-West, which was essentially about how the Liberals would be better. I don't see Irene spewing a bunch of partisan spin, she just sticks to the facts. She is also the first person I've read who raises the point about not only the wasted work, but the wasted tax dollars that went into that work. (by the way, I know some people think the NDP somehow=higher taxes and waste, but here is Irene looking out for our tax dollars again, after fighting against the Harper-McGuinty HST too) Irene, the 206,000+ and growing group of Canadians on Facebook agree with you! I also think it is interesting that Jack Layton is proposing legislation to restrict the power of a Prime Minister to prorogue, but Michael Ignatief is only saying he would use proroguing power differently. Given the Liberal record, I think I'll trust Mr. Layton. We've never had an NDP federal government, maybe it's time. It could NOT possibly be worse than what we got right now. |
| By: s.kent on 01/22/2010 |
| Bless Irene Mathyssen! As a First Nation man, I am living on one of the poorest Indian Reservations in Canada where our Pacheedaht Band Council, two of which are minimally educated, and one, the Chief Councillor is poorly educated, mimic PM Harper power-wise. The Pacheedaht Band Manager is in Hawaii right now (yes, people, Hawaii!) basking in the sun while we try to oust our current Chief and Council for a new one. This is the price First Nations people living on Indian Reserves pay, the grass roots Indians, for being under a system that legally oppresses Indian people of Canada. With the cutbacks, well, it is even worse. PM Harper, I wish we could recall you. |
| By: John Paul Jones (Port Renfrew BC) on 01/22/2010 |
| It's time to let Stevie know who is the government, the people. He is elected to serve us not himself. Hope his pay isn't carried on while he is out and when he gets back hope the other parties all get together and get another election. We don't need it, but it's the only way to stop this idiot thinking he can do what he wants when he wants. Time for change is now. He can then dilly dally all day at his own expense. |
| By: concerned on 01/22/2010 |
| London protest was excellent and your speech was right on. |
| By: paul on 01/24/2010 |
| I think that Harper has really pulled a fast one on us all! Everyone keeps saying that he prorogued parliament to avoid censure for the Afghan detainee issue. BUT what if it was because the Senate gutted his bills C-6 and C-51 and removed a lot that was detrimental to OUR privacy and security and sovereignty. NOW Harper gets to put it all back in and make it even worse and the Senate cannot change it because it had passed the point of no return. Check it out! That is what was behind prorogation. The senate had removed a lot of that and Harper had to get it back in. Now he can and they cannot remove it. They want that ability to search your home on a minor JP warrant, to take away your internet privileges and charge you for them and also to build bigger PRIVATE prisons to put you in for PROFIT!!! This is becoming like Hitler's Nazi Germany!! |
| By: Walt on 02/01/2010 |
| Well written article. Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament now has 220,000 members who share this opinion. If you are not a Facebook member, it would be worth joining to learn more about this issue and what everyday, non-political but angry Canadians are doing about the disgusting attack on our democracy by the Harper Conservatives, not to be confused with the former Progressive Conservative party which no longer exists. It is time to get rid of these radicals who do not represent Canadian values!!! |
| By: Mandy on 02/01/2010 |
| The bills can all be reintroduced at the same stage they are now at with a simple motion to that effect. If proroguing is really so bad, why do you feel compelled to lie about it to make it look worse? |
| By: Stan on 02/10/2010 |
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