Harper Prorogues Parliament Again

[Magnum PEI]

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/1160135.html
Last year he prevented Stephane Dion and his coalition from taking power. This time he...gets an extended vacation? I don't get this move.

[CaptainCrunch]

I don't like it and don't get it. The prisoner issue will certainly be waiting for the Conservatives when they get back.

[Caged Great]

I blame this on Michaelle Jean. She had to approve this stupid move.

[calculoso]

Who wants to have Parliament arguing during the Olympics? "We should have got gold not just a silver!!!!"

Yeesh. Good move in my books.

[jolinar of malkshor]

I don't really agree with it but he is doing it so he can 1.) get parity within the senate and 2.) In order to get the new senators on the committees he needs to prorogue otherwise the senate committees stay same and most have a majority of Liberal Senators.

All the bills will die except private members bills. The ellimination of the gun registery was a Private members bill so it will be ready for 3rd reading once parliament resumes.

[FurnaceFace]

This is within the rules but it has a rather undemocratic smell to it. It's not in the same ballpark as ignoring election results but you can see the flags in right field. For all the triple E senate rhetoric of his predecessors he seems to be doing quite the opposite and is doing what I'm sure has happened in the past, but he's just somehow flaunting it.

I'm also not sure how this will be viewed by external investors. Does this really make our leadership look strong and thus instill confidence in the country or does it make them look weak and scared? I'd vote weak and as such I might look towards other places to invest my money...although perhaps global investors have a much thicker skin to things like this and don't really care.

While the polling done seems to indicate nobody cares, I think it's an issue to be addressed in the next election. Again, this doesn't seem to be the sort of thing a party who had marketed itself as different and above all the normal "dirty political tricks" of the past would do. In fact he's shown to be more cunning and "tricky" than previous governments.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

This is within the rules but it has a rather undemocratic smell to it. It's not in the same ballpark as ignoring election results but you can see the flags in right field. For all the triple E senate rhetoric of his predecessors he seems to be doing quite the opposite and is doing what I'm sure has happened in the past, but he's just somehow flaunting it.

Ironically, the main thrust of his appointing the new senators revolves around senate reform. He's got the strength in the upper chamber now to push through some reforms (term limits on senators), and will likely play chicken with the Liberals again to get it through Commons.

Election of senators is the stickier issue though, as he will face lawsuits from several provinces if he tries to legislate what would amount to a constitutional change. Personally, I think his best move there would be to had the appointment of new senators to the provinces themselves. Let the government of each province tell the feds who they want appointed, and follow through. It would leave the democratic trappings up to each province. Though, barring a real constitutional change, would also rely on the honour of the Prime Minister in any given day. Fat chance, eh?

[bcb]

Seems a bit silly as the prisoner issue would not have likely dented the Tories support any more than proroguing Parliament.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Resolute 14

Ironically, the main thrust of his appointing the new senators revolves around senate reform. He's got the strength in the upper chamber now to push through some reforms (term limits on senators), and will likely play chicken with the Liberals again to get it through Commons.

Election of senators is the stickier issue though, as he will face lawsuits from several provinces if he tries to legislate what would amount to a constitutional change. Personally, I think his best move there would be to had the appointment of new senators to the provinces themselves. Let the government of each province tell the feds who they want appointed, and follow through. It would leave the democratic trappings up to each province. Though, barring a real constitutional change, would also rely on the honour of the Prime Minister in any given day. Fat chance, eh?

I'm pretty sure that the main thrust of his appointing senators is not reform, but to gain more control in the Senate. the fact that he is appointing senators who are sympathetic to his cause is just an addition to that main thrust.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by bcb

Seems a bit silly as the prisoner issue would not have likely dented the Tories support any more than proroguing Parliament.

I don't think this has anything to do with the prisoner issue. I think it has all to do with filling the senate and the senate committees with Conservatives.

[bcb]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I don't think this has anything to do with the prisoner issue. I think it has all to do with filling the senate and the senate committees with Conservatives.

I hope he achieves that goal. God knows, it's the only way the senate will ever evolve.

[starseed]

The Liberals are planning on going back to Ottawa at the end of January anyway. There are rumours that they may make 'rogue' committees to keep investigating the afghan detainee issue, and the budget. Protests are scheduled for when parliament was to resume.

[calculoso]

Great... At a time when our country has the world stage (Olympics), people are wanting to play politics so they can further their own agenda. Think big picture people. Think world reputation. Think.

Is the delay of 2 months (or however long it is) really that big of a deal? Is it worth it to risk giving our country's reputation a black eye on the world stage? Nobody else cares if we have a senate. Nobody else cares if our budget costs an extra hundred million dollars. Nobody else cares if our soldiers knew what the afghans were going to do.

This is the perfect opportunity to show what a respectful and gracious host country Canada can be. Do we want people coming hear only to hear of the petty politics that go on?

Yeesh.

/rant

[Oil Stain]

Why the heck do the Bloq and New Democrats oppose senate reform anyway?

You'd think it'd help everyone except the Liberals, and the other parties have enough seats to punch it through.

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Oil Stain

Why the heck do the Bloq and New Democrats oppose senate reform anyway?

You'd think it'd help everyone except the Liberals, and the other parties have enough seats to punch it through.

The NDP favours abolishing the Senate. Always have.

[Sluggo]

I like pierogies. Oh wait, he just pushed the eff off button again awww

Democracy as we know it is about the same as a 3rd world dictatorship, the only difference is how many of layers of bull$hit you have to peel away to see the truth.

[RedHot25]

Originally Posted by calculoso

Who wants to have Parliament arguing during the Olympics? "We should have got gold not just a silver!!!!"

Yeesh. Good move in my books.

For real?

[BlackEleven]

So can I get a refund on the portion of my taxes that pays their salaries while their prorogued?

[Rerun]

Originally Posted by FurnaceFace

This is within the rules but it has a rather undemocratic smell to it. It's not in the same ballpark as ignoring election results but you can see the flags in right field. For all the triple E senate rhetoric of his predecessors he seems to be doing quite the opposite and is doing what I'm sure has happened in the past, but he's just somehow flaunting it.

I'm also not sure how this will be viewed by external investors. Does this really make our leadership look strong and thus instill confidence in the country or does it make them look weak and scared? I'd vote weak and as such I might look towards other places to invest my money...although perhaps global investors have a much thicker skin to things like this and don't really care.

While the polling done seems to indicate nobody cares, I think it's an issue to be addressed in the next election. Again, this doesn't seem to be the sort of thing a party who had marketed itself as different and above all the normal "dirty political tricks" of the past would do. In fact he's shown to be more cunning and "tricky" than previous governments.

Out of all the anti-Harper/anti-Conservative bs you just spouted, I agree with one thing. Nobody cares.

[WilsonFourTwo]

I have mixed feelings about the whole thing. I don't like the fact that Parliament is not in session (yet paychecks are still being issued and no real work is being completed).

At the same time, looking at the past (for example) year, Parliament has been sitting with paychecks being issued and no real work being completed.

Say what you will about proroguing Parliament, the real story is about the unbelievable ineffectiveness of Parliament in general.

Still wondering why NOBODY questioned the GM Bailout. Not a single word of debate was spoken on one of the largest (financial) decisions this country has ever faced.

Dunno....I kind of think people complaining about proroguing deserve to be ignored. Where was all the outrage when matters of real importance were being ignored? We got the Parliament we deserve (Government, Opposition and others). We will get a chance to really voice our feelings again during the next election, until then, I don't think we have any right to complain about anything coming from Ottawa.