Quote:
Originally Posted by mariners_fever
Have you even read the rules of Parliament? Any MP can bring forth a motion with or without the PM's consent to maintain the principles of local representation.
People here so easily forget the rules of Westminster style Parliaments because it doesn't get practiced the way it does in Britain. In Britain, this would just be another day in the house where backbench MPs lob attacks at their own leaders several times daily during QP and introduce their own motions quite regularly. It just doesn't happen here because our conventions and practices have ignored this almost completely.
Harper didn't want anything to do with this, and he voted no. Don't ignorantly blame Harper because he's your favourite whipping boy, how about you find out how your MP voted as YOUR representative and hold them accountable instead?
It's funny how people in general lament not having enough emphasis on the local MP in politics, then when a true free vote happens, they try to blame the head of government who had nothing to do with it.
The most annoying thing through watching this, even though I don't support it, has been peoples complete ignorance over how the system works and relying on their old fallback of thinking Harper directly controls everything. Go read the rules, peel away the layers of the onion, and find out how it really works.
/rant
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Wow. Are you this condescending to everyone? I'm not sure that was even worth a reply, but I assure you:
1) I'm well aware of how a private member's bill works.
2) Absolutely Harper had "something to do with it". I'm not sure to what degree, obviously - it could be anywhere between spearheading it and building it into his strategic plan because he needed to just deal with Woodworth. If the latter, it's a bit exceptional as the Conservative party is not exactly a hotbed of independent thought. But the fact remains that this bill allowed Harper to appease the religious right by claiming his party is truly in their court values-wise, while continuing not to legislate on abortion. It's worked out brilliantly, really.
3) Thank you for assuming I don't know my MP's name. I have the misfortune of living in Jason Kenney's riding, but unfortunately he's only my third favourite "whipping boy" after Harper and Rob Anders. But as I'm sure you must be aware, the chances of him understanding my side on this one are about as strong as a 40-something male virgin thinking he should be involved in a debate about my uterus. Oh, hang on...
I'd rather whip Rona Ambrose, frankly.