Legislative record contradicts

[jdobbin]

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...vGv7bO7tcxDVb3w

By June, no fewer than 29 bills had received royal assent and become law since the session started in October.

And despite the fireworks at three politically charged committees, two dozen others have been quietly labouring away for months on a range of bills and hot topics, from the seal harvest to climate change.

In the final week alone before the summer recess, MPs tabled nine committee reports, sped through a series of last-minute votes, approved $335,000 worth of finance committee travel and unanimously rushed through a bill reforming military court martials.

Nevertheless, the prime minister labelled Parliament "dysfunctional" last week, maintained the committee system was "in chaos" and warned he would "have to make a judgment in the next little while" on whether it's worth going on.

Bit of a myth that nothing is happening in Parliament. Harper is just frustrated that he is still not in majority territory.

[Vancouver King]

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/AL...vGv7bO7tcxDVb3w

Bit of a myth that nothing is happening in Parliament. Harper is just frustrated that he is still not in majority territory.

Adding another bi election, threatening to precipitate an election, pronouncing the Commons dysfunctional....anything now goes that will serve to shake up his current political prospects. Such a cruel fate, the man in absolute control of events now buffeted by ill winds on all sides; the economy, declining polls, Obama and the tragic realization that he is running out of time. Our PM doesn't wear desperation well.

[Moonbox]

Dion has been threatening an election all year, but as soon as Harper announces he thinks it might be a good idea, everyone just pounces on him.

Ha....Ha....Ha...

All it seems to me is that he's just throwing it right back in Dion's face. Dion doesn't want an election. He can't win right now. Canada holds him in contempt, the Liberal Party is broke, and the Left is divided.

Dion says, "We're going to call an election soon and bring your government down," but he's just thumping his weasely chest.

Harper replies, "Alright bring it. We don't like how parliament is going either right now."

Lots of Liberal sheep bleating ensues, but Dion shuts his mouth and hides his head in the dirt like the weenie he is, and allows the CPC to govern as if a majority for yet another year.

[William Ashley]

Likely a bunch of reasons for this - like the handful of scandals and embarsments that have been croping up the longer the term goes.

Also probably that control factor (note I didn't say control freak factor).... he would likely rather call it than get wedgied. That is provide rather than be stripped.

[William Ashley]

oh that an a longer summer holiday...

[fellowtraveller]

Harper is just frustrated that he is still not in majority territory.

That is nothing compared to the Liberal, who know they aren't in minority territory.

[jdobbin]

Dion has been threatening an election all year, but as soon as Harper announces he thinks it might be a good idea, everyone just pounces on him.

I've been arguing that Harper has had the power all along and having people here disagree with me. Harper wanted Dion to pull the plug go he could blame Dion for not letting Parliament work.

Well, you can't say that Dion is stopping Parliament from working and accusing him of styming its function if Harper had the power from the beginning to call an election.

[jdobbin]

That is nothing compared to the Liberal, who know they aren't in minority territory.

Have the Liberals expressed frustration as Harper has?

[daniel]

Ha, Ha, control freak Harper wrote the book and instructed his ministers on how to disrupt parliament and committee meetings. Now he's complaining the results of his own invention is dysfunctional. Dion (chicken or shrewd strategist) just let Harper do his own thing so Harper only has himself to blame.