I haven't written a diary in years. And I've only written 1...but I have to spread the word...hope I did this right...
Many Canadians feel our democracy is being threatened...
"When a government starts trying to cancel dissent or avoid dissent is frankly when it’s rapidly losing its moral authority to govern." (Stephen Harper, Canadian Press, April 18, 2005)
"On December 30th Stephen Harper announced - without consulting anyone - that he will be Proroguing Parliament and suspending democracy until March 3. This is the second time he has done this in under two years."
Please, let me explain further after the jump...
The Economist, a right-leaning, respected, British publication, took Harper to task on his latest...
CANADIAN ministers, it seems, are a bunch of Gerald Fords. Like the American president, who could not walk and chew gum at the same time, they cannot, apparently, cope with Parliament’s deliberations while dealing with the country’s economic troubles and the challenge of hosting the Winter Olympic games. This was the argument put forward by the spokesman for Stephen Harper, the Conservative prime minister, after his boss on December 30th abruptly suspended, or "prorogued", Canada’s Parliament until March 3rd.
And the money quote...
Never mind what his spin doctors say: Mr Harper’s move looks like naked self-interest. His officials faced grilling by parliamentary committees over whether they misled the House of Commons in denying knowledge that detainees handed over to the local authorities by Canadian troops in Afghanistan were being tortured The government would also have come under fire for its lack of policies to curb Canada’s abundant carbon emissions. Prorogation means that such committees—which carry out the essential democratic task of scrutinising government—will have to be formed anew in March. That will also allow Mr Harper to gain immediate control of committees in the appointed Senate, where his Conservatives are poised to become the biggest party
Academics and Professors speak out in a joint letter...
As Canadian university professors dedicated to educating students about democratic institutions, we are deeply concerned by Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to use his power to prorogue Parliament for a second year in a row in circumstances that allow him to evade democratic accountability.
The prime minister is not only making cavalier use of the discretionary powers entrusted to him in our parliamentary system, but in so doing he is undermining our system of democratic government.
http://www.timescolonist.com/...
From our Facebook page...locations of rally's can be found here...
Proroguing means:
- All 37 bills being debated in Parliament are thrown in the trash. Discussion on bills starts from scratch in March, wasting months of hard work by all parties. These bills included new crime legislation, limits on credit card insurance rates, etc.
- Committees investigating accusations of torture of Afghan detainees stop working
- Discussions and decisions about the pension crisis affecting Canada's seniors stops
- Questions about Canada's inaction at the Copenhagen climate-change summit are silenced. Opportunities to move forward with Canada's plan for sustainable development are stalled for over a month.
- Your MPs cannot raise your concerns in Ottawa
Our troops in Afghanistan don’t get to take a couple of months off. You don't either. Why does Harper feel he can?
On January 23rd, 2010 you can stand up and make your voice heard Canada-and tell the government to get back to work.
Specific details for each city to follow soon, we are just coordinating details at the moment with various volunteers across the country. Generally speaking protests in major cities will be held at government legislative buildings, in smaller cities locations will be announced well in advance of the protest. Protests are peaceful demonstrations, generally with guest speakers, music and entertainment. These events are family friendly.
http://www.facebook.com/...
Democracy Canadian-style: How do you like it so far?
The Prime Minister is now in such command that he can get away with pretty much anything
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/...
As his reasons for closing the doors change they become more frightening...it seems democracy and debate get in the way of him getting HIS way...
In an interview on BNN yesterday, the Prime Minister suggested that prorogation gives him the opportunity to do the serious business of the nation without the distractions of democracy - Commons committees and having to answer those pesky questions from opposition MPs in Question Period.
Once the House returns, however, he said, "the games begin." And he wasn’t referring to the Olympic Games. Rather, his take on Parliament seems to be that it’s a bother and a barrier to getting his work done. "I think we’re the most, longest uninterrupted constitutional system in the world. I think the games begin when Parliament returns and the government can take time now to do the important work to prepare the economic agenda ahead."
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/...
New York City Rally- January 23, 2010 more info at link http://www.facebook.com/...
Petition to STOP proroguement...
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/...
Parliament closed affects our response to Haiti...can we get at the cash we need?
http://www.cbc.ca/...
A sign seen in Ottawa, Ontario...
http://www.xtra.ca/...