Prorogation redux: Harper in contempt of Parliament

[CHIMO]

The highest duty of a Prime Minister of Parliament is to uphold the Constitution of Canada, which includes the rights and privileges of the House of Commons and the duties owed to the Queen's representative in Canada. Stephen Harper keeps on failing in his duties on both counts as evidenced by the second prorogation of Parliament on Dec. 30.

I have been on record as one of the most strident critics of the first prorogation reluctantly granted by the Governor General in 2008 on the inappropriate request by the Prime Minister. It was a most dangerous and unseemly precedent to force the Queen's representative to dissolve Parliament just so the Conservatives could avoid losing a vote of confidence in the House of Commons.

I stated then that the precedent could also be used to avoid other troublesome issues that the Prime Minister may face in the House of Commons. That prediction has come to pass with Harper's second undemocratic prorogation. The early decision to shut down Parliament was clearly to avoid the continuing scrutiny of a House of Commons committee over the mounting evidence of wilful blindness by the Harper government over the transfer of Afghan detainees to a substantial risk of torture. This is potentially a war crime and one of the most serious allegations any government has faced in the history of Canada.

Before we get to the present prorogation, it is relevant to recall what led up to the original undemocratic prorogation. Having done everything possible to hide from a vote of confidence, the Prime Minister requested that Parliament be shut down on Dec. 4, 2008. The Governor General had little option but to grant the request to avoid a political crisis in Canada. It had put her into an untenable position.

http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/745949

[Spazito]

1. The media needs to stress how Bush-like this travesty by Harper is, imo...

As to the kowtowing by the GG in this and the previous prorogation, she has a choice, either kowtow or fulfill her responsibilities NOT to the government in power but to the citizens of Canada and the Constitution, she chose poorly.

[HeresyLives]

2. He's avoiding a lawful order of Parliament,

and is certainly in contempt.

The question now is what the Opposition is going to do about it.

I'm guessing, nothing.

[glarius]

3. The frightening thought is what he would do if he get's a majority!

Look at the damage he has done to our country already, with only a minority government! He scares the hell out of me. Everything he has done has been un-Canadian,IMO. Right now, on MSNBC, they are discussing what will be done with the remaining prisoners at Gitmo.....That reminds me of the terrible thing Harper did by leaving Omar Khadr there, instead of requesting his return to Canada, as all the other western leaders did re their citizens. These others were all returned by the U.S.A to their respective countries.
This case has bothered me a great deal because of the fact that young Khadr was taken as a child of thirteen by his nutty father to fight for Al Qaeda and was only 15 when he allegedly (there seems to be some doubt it was him) threw a hand grenade killing an American soldier.
Khadr was there because no 13 year old child would defy his father under these circumstances? Harper knows all this, and yet of all the leaders, he alone refuses to ask for his citizen's return.
All of his lies about what he would do and not do....Remember how he raged against appointed senators?
HE'S DESPICABLE!

[Posteritatis]

4. He *has* a majority, for all practical purposes. (nt)

[glarius]

5. My point is that he is mainly doing what he wants WITHOUT a majority....just

think what damage he would do with an ACTUAL majority!!!!!