PM seeks Parliament shutdown until March

[Posteritatis]

Source: CBC News

The Conservative government plans to shut down Parliament for two months, until after the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Prime Minister's Office announced Wednesday.

The announcement triggered immediate condemnation from opposition MPs who labelled the Conservative government's move as an "almost despotic" attempt to muzzle parliamentarians amid controversy over the Afghan detainees affair.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper's spokesman Dimitri Soudas said a speech from the throne will be delivered on March 3, followed by presentation of the budget the next day. The session had been scheduled to resume on Jan. 25 after the holiday break.

. . .

Opposition parties have already warned that prorogation would disrupt the inquiry of a parliamentary committee looking into accusations that the government ignored warnings about the torture of Afghan detainees. Strategically, prorogation also prevents question period criticisms from the opposition parties during the Olympics.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2009/12/30/parliament-prorogation-harper.html

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Arghgoddammitgimmeanelectionalready.

[RedSock]

1. and iggy says he's cool with no election for awhile

... and the liberals seem happy to let harper continue with his majority government (since they offer no opposition). and since iggy supported torture it's no surprise he does not care about the investigations.

harper is a piece of shit and the ever-worthless ignatieff makes dion look like a hard-line statesman.

[Spazito]

16. While Layton continues to kiss Harper's ass....

he's even MORE worthless than Ignatieff, go figure eh!

[whosinpower]

2. If they are not working for two months in session

They should not receive any salary for that period.

So this is the new strategy - shut down parliament every time something controversial happens. Pathetic and cowardly.

[Posteritatis]

3. And if they're forbidden from working they should do something about their boss

I reaaaaaaally want an election for my birthday in February...

[TrogL]

4. they come "home" and work with their constituents

...which is my area is a complete waste of time. He simply doesn't understand the issues.

[Newsjock]

5. Harper to shut down (Canadian) Parliament

Source: The Globe and Mail

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has shut down Parliament for two months, killing a pesky inquiry into Afghan detainees, stalling government bills and allowing the Conservatives to take control of the Senate.

... Wednesday's prorogation of Parliament sets up a number of confidence votes in the spring, at which point the opposition will determine whether Canada will go to the polls for the third time in slightly more than four years.

The Liberal Party slammed Wednesday's action as a politically opportunistic way to avoid scrutiny, but government officials said it is a routine move allowing for a two-week parliamentary truce during the Winter Olympics in February.

... But the opposition is particularly angry that the government, through prorogation, is shutting down the parliamentary committee into the treatment of Afghan detainees. NDP Leader Jack Layton said a sitting Parliament is the best forum to discuss Canadians' concerns over the recession and jobs, and that prorogation creates a democratic deficit in addition to the current economic one.


Read more: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harper-to-shut-down-parliament/article1414830/

[Loudmxr]

6. This is a bloodless coup. Harper is shutting down one of the world's largest democracy.

When you consider the number of journalists that have been inexplicably harassed recently this all makes sense.

[Renew Deal]

8. It's not the first time IIRC

[Posteritatis]

18. He did this last year to dodge his government falling, too

That time he at least tried to justify it in other terms; this is an explicit "leave me alone waaaaaaa!"

[me b zola]

7. Just like his hero george bush* would have done if he could have

Neocons=modern fascists

[New Dawn]

9. Canada needs to wake up and vote for the NDP.

[Spazito]

17. It is the NDP that has kept Harper IN power...

they side with CRAP whenever there is a chance to defeat Harper. It is beyond disgusting.

[Posteritatis]

19. No, we really don't. (nt)

[Flaneur]

10. At least it kills that hideous mandatory minimum bill for pot growers.

C-15 was only one Senate vote away from final passage.

[Posteritatis]

21. And a few dozen other bills, too

Most of them being Harper bills I'm going "woohoo!" inside at that fact, but it's still a colossal waste of time and money by Mr. Stop Wasting Time And Money Guys.

[Arrowhead2k1]

11. Again? nt

[No Elephants]

12. Gee, where are all those who seem to delight in posting how singularly awful America is?

I'm far from jingoistic, but hypocrisy does annoy me.

[Captain Hilts]

13. He's a GWBush wanna be. Ugh! THIS is what happens when progressive parties split.

[No Elephants]

14. Easy fix. Parties often split when their leaders cease being true to the principles of the Party.

In our country, Nader split from Democrats when, in his perception, Democrats started acting like Republicans. In a more recent example, Republicans split away from the Republican candidate in NY 28.

It makes little difference to me whether Stupak puts a (D) after his name or an (R). Ditto for anyone who legislates or governs like a Republican.

As Shakespeare asked, "What's in a name?"

[Captain Hilts]

15. But the LOOOOOONG stretch of Mulroney was insufferable. nt

[Posteritatis]

20. The 1993 election was sort of awesome, though. (nt)

[Captain Hilts]

22. Yes! I was in Russia and heard the news on the Beeb. I thought I'd heard incorrectly.

I remember jumping up and down in joy.

Same when Harris got bumped out. I heard that one driving in my car in DC.