Stephen Harper is a despot. The decision to “padlock” Parliament is a cover-up designed to avoid scrutiny over the Afghan detainee issue. The Conservatives have a very thin legislative agenda and no new ideas to put forward.
Ralph Goodale, the Liberal House leader, was getting warmer as he groped for explanations for the Prime Minister’s decision, announced yesterday, to prorogue Parliament until early March.
While Mr. Harper may harbour aspirations of despotism, he remains, alas for him, the head of a minority government. The second prorogation in little over a year is unusual and, in large measure, unnecessary. But it is going too far to claim it is a debasement of democracy. There is a budget scheduled for March 4 and, if the opposition parties feel the Conservative government is acting undemocratically, they can bring it down. Noticeably, Mr. Goodale clammed up when he was asked if the Liberals would give vent to their outrage by voting against the budget.
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Notes:
Just read through Jim Travers column today and he’s crying in his beer. Can you just imagine if Harper called him up and said something along the lines of “Hey Jim. I just read your column and you really have me thinking. You’re right. I think I’m going to call an election and let the people speak. What do you make of that idea?”
“Yawn”
mid island mike
Any bets on opposition MPs showing up, with media cameras, at the HofC on Jan 25 and ranting about being locked out.
Hey yes, lets have an election on the detainee faux scandal. After calling said election, release all documents leading back to Chretain and Graham and other liberals.