Harper to prorogue parliament AGAIN?

[Bryan]

This may be out of place, but I think both Constitutions are Rube Goldberg machines.

No argument there. I've never understood the reverence that constitutions get. When I hear that something is unconstitutional, my general reaction is "so what?".

[jbg]

No argument there. I've never understood the reverence that constitutions get. When I hear that something is unconstitutional, my general reaction is "so what?".

One does need some guidelines, even for relatively permissive governments.

[capricorn]

I'd like to know where Ignatieff was when he wrote an opinion piece released in the Star.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/745951--text-of-michael-ignatieff-opinion-piece

It is mind boggling that the Leader of the Opposition, an aspirant to the Prime Minister's chair, would send a missive to Canadians from abroad, criticizing the Government for falling down on the job.

[William Ashley]

I'd like to know where Ignatieff was when he wrote an opinion piece released in the Star.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/745951--text-of-michael-ignatieff-opinion-piece

It is mind boggling that the Leader of the Opposition, an aspirant to the Prime Minister's chair, would send a missive to Canadians from abroad, criticizing the Government for falling down on the job.

Ignatieff is getting prepped to do a tour of Canadian Universities.

[jbg]

It is mind boggling that the Leader of the Opposition, an aspirant to the Prime Minister's chair, would send a missive to Canadians from abroad, criticizing the Government for falling down on the job.

What is even more galling is what the article says. An example:

Just over a year ago, he prorogued Parliament just weeks after an election - in order to rescue himself from an unprecedented political and constitutional crisis of his own making.

It was his party that decided to try to do an end-run around an election where his party, albeit under other leadership, was drubbed, and snatch victory from the gullet of defeat.

Edited January 6, 2010 by jbg

[capricorn]

Isn't funny that while the liberals and the NDP blast harper for giving his Mp's a "vacation" the leaders of these parties are themselves on vacations out of the country while Harper continues to work.

This was not lost on the media.

Liberals mock PM for being on vacation - while Ignatieff's on holiday

The Liberal party made a light-hearted attempt Tuesday to poke fun at Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to impose a three-month parliamentary vacation and wound up instead raising questions about the whereabouts of holidaying Grit Leader Michael Ignatieff.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/80750387.html

Now, Harper is grabbing the headlines with the release of his interview with Peter Mansbridge. Wherever he is, Ignatieff must be tearing his hair out.

[capricorn]

Ignatieff is getting prepped to do a tour of Canadian Universities.

Oh yeah. I forgot. Ignatieff wants to have a "conversation" with Canadians.

[Smallc]

It was his party that decided to try to do an end-run around an election where his party, albeit under other leadership, was drubbed, and snatch victory from the gullet of defeat.

You know, repeating a lie over and over again doesn't make it true.

[jbg]

Oh yeah. I forgot. Ignatieff wants to have a "conversation" with Canadians.

Sort of like Rick Mercer's "Talking to Americans"?

[William Ashley]

Oh yeah. I forgot. Ignatieff wants to have a "conversation" with Canadians.

If only they would stop and pick him up.

If you look at his schedule I'm guessing it is pretty busy.

Edited January 6, 2010 by William Ashley

[capricorn]

It was his party that decided to try to do an end-run around an election where his party, albeit under other leadership, was drubbed, and snatch victory from the gullet of defeat.

As far as I can see, the "constitutional crisis" was that the opposition parties feared losing their slice of public funding.

[Smallc]

Yes, they feared losing the funding that was brought in to keep Canadian political out of the hands of special interests. I pay for my $2 per vote many times over. Public funding of parties gives us a system that is driven more by voters than by the donating base, which is a good thing.

And there was no Constitutional Crisis, it was a Parliamentary Crisis, if a crisis at all.

Edited January 6, 2010 by Smallc

[capricorn]

If you look at his schedule I'm guessing it is pretty busy.

I'm guessing he's having a good time, somewhere in Europe with family.

[waldo]

I'm guessing he's having a good time, somewhere in Europe with family.

at least... Ignatieff is not on a Harper Holiday!

[Shakeyhands]

at least... Ignatieff is not on a Harper Holiday!

lol.... look what the author named himself as. People are too funny.

[g_bambino]

It was his party that decided to try to do an end-run around an election where his party, albeit under other leadership, was drubbed, and snatch victory from the gullet of defeat.

Not really. Prime ministers aren't popularly elected; the House of Commons elects them. If the majority of the Commons wanted to put themselves behind Dion as prime minister [shudder], then they were free and within their rights to do so. That wasn't an end-run around the preceding national election; it was possible precisely because of the preceding national election.

[Molly]

I'm being incredibly lazy here, but did anyone offer up a list of the things that died on the order paper?

[Keepitsimple]

I'm being incredibly lazy here, but did anyone offer up a list of the things that died on the order paper?

Here's a list from a blogger that looks accurate and includes the status of each bill:

BILL STATUS

1) C-6 – An Act respecting the safety of consumer products Passed 3rd reading in the House of Commons

2) C-8 – An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves Debated at 2nd reading

3) C-13 – An Act to amend the Canada Grain Act, chapter 22 of the Statutes of Canada, 1998 and chapter 25 of the Statutes of Canada, 2004 Debated at 2nd reading

4) C-15 – An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts Passed 3rd reading

5) C-19 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions) Debated at 2nd reading

6) C-20 – An Act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident Reported back from Committee with amendments

7) C-23 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Debated at 2nd reading

8) C-26 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime) Passed 3rd reading

9) C-27 — An Act to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy by regulating certain activities that discourage reliance on electronic means of carrying out commercial activities, and to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Competition Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Telecommunications Act Passed 3rd reading

10) C-30 – An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Debated at 2nd reading

11) C-31 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act Referred to Legislative Committee

12) C-34 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts Reported back from Committee with amendments

13) C-35 – An Act to deter terrorism, and to amend the State Immunity Act Debated at 2nd reading

14) C-36 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code Passed 3rd reading

15) C-37 – An Act to amend the National Capital Act and other Acts Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

16) C-40 – An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act 1st reading

17) C-42 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

18) C-43 — An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

19) C-44 — An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act Debated at 2nd reading

20) C-45 — An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 1st reading

21) C-46 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

22) C-47 — An Act regulating telecommunications facilities to support investigations Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

23) C-52 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing for fraud) Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

24) C-53 – An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts 1st reading

25) C-54 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to the National Defence Act 1st reading

26) C-55 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code 1st reading

27) C-57 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Debated at 2nd reading

28) C-58 – An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service Read 2nd time; referred to Committee

29) C-59 – An Act to amend the International Transfer of Offenders Act 1st reading

30) C-60 – An Act to implement the Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America 1st reading

31) C-61 – An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of railway operations 1st reading

32) C-63 – An Act to amend the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act and another Act in consequence thereof 1st reading

Link: http://jamesbowie.blogspot.com/2009/12/bills-harper-will-kill-when-he.html

[Mr.Canada]

Harper is well within his rights to prorogue parliament. Chretien did it 3 times while he was in power, I don't see any groaning about that though.

Truth be told the Liberals need this time off in order to get a policy and plan and get their house in order as they are not looking good inthe polls at all.

[madmax]

Harper is well within his rights to prorogue parliament.

And it is well within our rights to vote out CPC MPs for their lack of work ethic and desire to extend their Christmas Holidays from Mid December 2009 until March 2010.

CLM.

Career Limiting Move.

[waldo]

I'm being incredibly lazy here, but did anyone offer up a list of the things that died on the order paper?

yes, previously provided:

clearly... butterball Harper likes his perogys!

Question: In what other democracy is it permissible for the government of the day to hide from the legislature for months at a time? To ignore explicit parliamentary votes demanding the production of documents? To stonewall independent inquiries? Perhaps the rules allow it elsewhere, but is it the practice? Does convention not still forbid it? Is it not viewed in other countries as dictatorial behaviour, and therefore, you know … not done?

so much for that urgent get tough on crime call! Bills dead? What bills? Oh..... these bills!

1) C-6 – An Act respecting the safety of consumer products Passed 3rd reading in the House of Commons
2) C-8 – An Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves Debated at 2nd reading
3) C-13 – An Act to amend the Canada Grain Act, chapter 22 of the Statutes of Canada, 1998 and chapter 25 of the Statutes of Canada, 2004 Debated at 2nd reading
4) C-15 – An Act to amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act and to make related and consequential amendments to other Acts Passed 3rd reading
5) C-19 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (investigative hearing and recognizance with conditions) Debated at 2nd reading
6) C-20 – An Act respecting civil liability and compensation for damage in case of a nuclear incident Reported back from Committee with amendments
7) C-23 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Republic of Colombia, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Republic of Colombia and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Republic of Colombia Debated at 2nd reading
8) C-26 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code (auto theft and trafficking in property obtained by crime) Passed 3rd reading
9) C-27 — An Act to promote the efficiency and adaptability of the Canadian economy by regulating certain activities that discourage reliance on electronic means of carrying out commercial activities, and to amend the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission Act, the Competition Act, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act and the Telecommunications Act Passed 3rd reading
10) C-30 – An Act to amend the Parliament of Canada Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts Debated at 2nd reading
11) C-31 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials Act and the Identification of Criminals Act and to make a consequential amendment to another Act Referred to Legislative Committee
12) C-34 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and other Acts Reported back from Committee with amendments
13) C-35 – An Act to deter terrorism, and to amend the State Immunity Act Debated at 2nd reading
14) C-36 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code Passed 3rd reading
15) C-37 – An Act to amend the National Capital Act and other Acts Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
16) C-40 – An Act to amend the Canada Elections Act 1st reading
17) C-42 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
18) C-43 — An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act and the Criminal Code Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
19) C-44 — An Act to amend the Canada Post Corporation Act Debated at 2nd reading
20) C-45 — An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 1st reading
21) C-46 — An Act to amend the Criminal Code, the Competition Act and the Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters Act Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
22) C-47 — An Act regulating telecommunications facilities to support investigations Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
23) C-52 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code (sentencing for fraud) Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
24) C-53 – An Act to amend the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (accelerated parole review) and to make consequential amendments to other Acts 1st reading
25) C-54 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make consequential amendments to the National Defence Act 1st reading
26) C-55 – An Act to amend the Criminal Code 1st reading
27) C-57 – An Act to implement the Free Trade Agreement between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Agreement on the Environment between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Agreement on Labour Cooperation between Canada and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Debated at 2nd reading
28) C-58 – An Act respecting the mandatory reporting of Internet child pornography by persons who provide an Internet service Read 2nd time; referred to Committee
29) C-59 – An Act to amend the International Transfer of Offenders Act 1st reading
30) C-60 – An Act to implement the Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America 1st reading
31) C-61 – An Act to provide for the resumption and continuation of railway operations 1st reading
32) C-63 – An Act to amend the First Nations Commercial and Industrial Development Act and another Act in consequence thereof 1st reading

Harper... cuts and runs... second consecutive December perogy run! ... shame!

in addition, you can drill down to the particulars of each bill via this link: to House Government bills of the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session...

within the Parliamentary Cycle, the Prorogation of Parliament ... as I stated previously, King Harper must rely upon the Opposition parties to accept the reinstatement, as is, of each and every bill.

The prorogation of Parliament ends a session. This is done by the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister, either by means of a special ceremony in the Senate Chamber, or by the issuing of a proclamation published in the Canada Gazette. Both the Senate and the House of Commons stand prorogued until the opening of the next session.

During a period of prorogation (or recess), the Speaker, the Prime Minister, Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries remain in office and all Members of the House retain their full rights and privileges.

The principal effect of ending a session by prorogation is to end business. All government bills that have not received Royal Assent prior to prorogation cease to exist; committee activity also ceases. Thus, no committee can sit after a prorogation.

In order for government bills to be proceeded with in a new session, they must be reintroduced as new bills or they may be reinstated,

if the House agrees to this

.

The Standing Orders provide for the automatic reinstatement of all items of Private Members' Business in a new session. Committee work may also be revived either by motion in the House, or in committee, depending upon the nature of the study.

Prorogation does not affect Orders or Addresses of the House for the tabling government reports required to be tabled by statute. Requests for responses to committee reports or petitions are still valid following a prorogation. These continue in force from one session to another, but are ended by dissolution.

[madmax]

As far as I can see, the "constitutional crisis" was that the opposition parties feared losing their slice of public funding.

It was the governments fear for being replaced that created a constitutional crises.

The bill was delayed and the public funding taken off the table. The bill was delayed again when it became apparent that taking public funding off the table was too late to stop the train that left the station.

Seeing that Harper overplayed his hand, his leadership at risk and the Conservative government no longer a sure thing, that Mr Harper created the constitutional crises.

Regardless of how the Prime Minister got himself into the mess, he got himself out of it and created the "Constitutional Crises" which came and went.

So easy was it to prorogue parliment and appoint Senators without blowback, that the Prime Minister has taken it upon himself to repeat the procedure.

I think once again, the Prime Minister has been to clever by half and this time, there isn't a bogeyman to turn public opinion against. Not yet anyways.

Thus, reading a poll that states public apathy towards government heading into Christmas, should parliment be prorogued as a hypothetical question, is very different from Proroguing parliment after Christmas. It is no longer hypothetical and people are going to be paying attention as their Christmas bills come in and the government is on extended holidays.

Edited January 6, 2010 by madmax

[Argus]

And it is well within our rights to vote out CPC MPs for their lack of work ethic and desire to extend their Christmas Holidays from Mid December 2009 until March 2010.

And who are you going to replace them with? The Liberals? They did it 4 times their last time in office, so there's no reason to believe they won't do it again as well.

[ToadBrother]

No argument there. I've never understood the reverence that constitutions get. When I hear that something is unconstitutional, my general reaction is "so what?".

That is until your sitting in a court of law... Things like habeas corpus can hardly be called "so whats", but the only reason they exist is because of the constitution.

[Topaz]

Harper is well within his rights to prorogue parliament. Chretien did it 3 times while he was in power, I don't see any groaning about that though.

Truth be told the Liberals need this time off in order to get a policy and plan and get their house in order as they are not looking good inthe polls at all.

There times to prorogue and times NOT too, these are times NOT too! WHY? What Harper gave for a reason last night on the CBC, was a bunch of BS loud and clear! He's definitely a control freak, (he probably doesn't have any at home). Its about the documents being hand over to the committee on the torturing, which would show McKay and the military lied. Some Canadians may not care that much about the Torturing of the Taliban, but I would hope their moral values are higher than this government when it comes to lying to Parliament and Canadians,especially their supports, do you care if THIS government lies to you?? BTW, if you think the Libs need a vacation, they will disagree with you, they are working. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ignatieff-tells-caucus-to-report-to-work/article1420359/