In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has successfully asked the head of state (the Governor General, representing the Queen) to prorogue parliament, to suspend all federal government activity for two months. This excellent diary outlines the situation on the whole, but only has a sentence-long update addressing the now-current situation.
What has transpired this morning in Canada is absurd. Not only is it an affront on democracy, it is irresponsible and dangerous. The world cannot afford for Canada to flail and flounder in the midst of an economic crisis which pounds on the Toronto Stock Exchange, growing stronger with the losses of every passing day. The trade relationship between the United States and Canada is the strongest in the world. So what happens to that relationship if Canada crashes all-out before parliament even has an opportunity to act?
Canada is not, and should never be, the 51st state. However, its effect on what happens in the US should not be understated. Prosperity in the north reenforces prosperity in the south. Harper has taken a change in American government with the possibility of unprecedented growth, and blindly squandered it. Obama, in turn, needs to speak out.
Of course, it lies outside of the responsibilities of an American statesman to make a bold political statement about another country. But shutting down government at the time when the country, and indeed the world, needs the government most is no government at all and needs to be addressed. We addressed the anarchy in Somalia with ground forces. Should not the anarchy of Canada get a mention in an address?
In touring Europe in the midst of a campaign, Barack Obama promoted himself as a world leader, somebody you don’t need to be an American to look up to and respect. I know he is a busy man, but this issue is crucial to the success of his presidency. He can’t even BEGIN to think about health care if his best trading partner is busy hitting itself in the face.
This goes beyond Canada. Suspending parliament in this time of crisis is an affront to the world, and the world should not stand for it.