Harper to prorogue parliament AGAIN?

[Jerry J. Fortin]

As it would be in their best interests to do so, it should be believable. It's not of absolute importance, though; merely the threat of the coalition drove Harper to make bizarre statements on television and run to Rideau Hall to seek a reprieve, during which time he backed down from his rabidly confrontational stance, returning to parliament in early 2009 obviously subdued enough for the opposition to tolerate.

The talk about a coalition has not yet begun, but I think it will by next week.

[nicky10013]

The talk about a coalition has not yet begun, but I think it will by next week.

If it was ever going to happen, it would've happened the minute Harper announced prorogal. It's not going to happen. The only reason why the NDP even thought about it is because Dion was a fairly left wing leader in terms of the Liberal Party. Could you ever see Jack Layton getting in bed with Ignatieff? Or the other way around. It's not going to happen.

[myata]

No, it shouldn't. And the confidence our elected house places in government can be revoked, should the opposition so choose.

Good that we understand it.

The Throne Speech at the beginning of the session is a perfect opportunity to do so. If the opposition votes it down, expressing their loss of confidence in Harper, then the Governor General can no longer accept the Prime Minister's advice without question. Should the opposition parties together approach her and say they have another person to whom they've given their support, the Governor General very well can appoint that person as her chief advisor. Should they not, she calls an election. She cannot, however, assume that showboating attacks on the prime minister or letters notifying her of an available coalition are a sure signal of a loss of confidence on the part of the Commons. Only when the Commons has voted can anyone be sure.

Good stuff. And we don't really have to use future and conditional tenses here, because that's exactly what happened in the end of last year, if memory still serves you well. And yes, the letter was necessary to prevent the accusations of "conspiracy against democracy" (yes, laugh) and "coup d'etat", ridiculous and insulting intelligence as they are not below the conservative apologists in the highest levels of CPC and on this board. And now, let's recall what happened next. Was the elected House allowed to expresse its will, freely and without obstruction and interference, or was it not? And so, here's another miniquiz for you: was it (the 2008 prorogation) good because done by my favourite PM (souvereign, king, god incarnate); or bad, because as admitted by ourselves not a half page earlier, in a true democracy, the elected majority would express their will freely, without obstruction or interference? Your turn.

With their amateur strategies, the opposition at the end of 2008 bungled their attempt to topple Harper; but, they still had the chance to vote him down at the beginning of 2009. They didn't. They will have another chance in March of this year. Whether or not they go through with it depends, sadly, more on party fortunes than on any concern for democracy on their part or because of the parliamentary structure itself.

But the letter was necessary, as explained above. And, the coalition partners did the right thing by behaving openly, transparently and democratically. And, Harper did shut down the elected House with undemocratic ploy. And, he's done it again, now.

These are the facts, but of course you can use the words you like to not see them, or pretend they did not happen. Truth is lie, etc.. See Orwell.

[ToadBrother]

I still havn't heard any reason why warrantless searches are justified, in ANY case. I don't care what the health food nuts say about the bill, I do however beleive what the senate says about it. I see no benefit to the senate in sensationalizing the consequences of passing the bill unamended. If they say that there was a constitutional problem with the bill I have no reason to doubt them. Not all senators are as incompetant as the Harper appointees. Mike Duffy??? ARe you kidding me?

Still haven't read the bill, eh?

[ToadBrother]

If it was ever going to happen, it would've happened the minute Harper announced prorogal. It's not going to happen. The only reason why the NDP even thought about it is because Dion was a fairly left wing leader in terms of the Liberal Party. Could you ever see Jack Layton getting in bed with Ignatieff? Or the other way around. It's not going to happen.

I could see Jack Layton getting in bed with Satan, if he thought he could get a few cabinet appointments out of it.

[ToadBrother]

You don't seriously believe that all of about 165 MP's of the LPOC, Bloc and NDP could be trusted not to leak to Harper that a coup attempt coalition formation was under way? You've got to be kidding.

I see no evidence that the caucuses of the three parties were aware. They certainly weren't aware of the negotiations.

[DrGreenthumb]

Still haven't read the bill, eh?

I did read it when it was in the news and the senate were explaining their reasons for changing one small section of the wording.

Still not going to provide a reason why warrantless searches of Canadian homes is justified for chinese herbal remedies when they are not justified for suspected heroin or weapons dealers eh?

[ToadBrother]

I did read it when it was in the news and the senate were explaining their reasons for changing one small section of the wording.

Still not going to provide a reason why warrantless searches of Canadian homes is justified for chinese herbal remedies when they are not justified for suspected heroin or weapons dealers eh?

This will be the third time by my count that I've asked you to provide evidence of warrantless searches of homes. Unless these quacks are selling it out of their homes, it seems rather unlikely that there would be a reason to. Again, do you have any idea how any inspection regime works?

As far as I'm concerned, I'd be fining these idiots millions for the ludicrous claims their making.

[scorpio]

When Jesus comes back he's going to be pissed at the Liberals and will take out his vengance on them.

Gee sport, you musta missed this memo.

[madmax]

The message is simple.

http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/Federal-Politics/2010/01/13/Layton-to-Harper-Recall-Parliament/

"I am calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision to prorogue Parliament," NDP leader Jack Layton said on Wednesday.

"I call on him to change the date of the recall of the prorogation to January 25," he said.

"In exchange the New Democratic Party will agree to reinstate all of the bills that were sent back to square one to the place they were at prior to the prorogation, so that we can get on with the business at hand," Layton told a scrum of reporters outside the Vancouver Public Library.

[Argus]

"I am calling on the Prime Minister to reconsider his decision to prorogue Parliament," NDP leader Jack Layton said on Wednesday.

"I call on him to change the date of the recall of the prorogation to January 25," he said.

"In exchange the New Democratic Party will agree to reinstate all of the bills that were sent back to square one to the place they were at prior to the prorogation, so that we can get on with the business at hand," Layton told a scrum of reporters outside the Vancouver Public Library.

Sounds good to me. Harper should take him up on it. They get all the bills back to where they were (mind you, that probably will happen anyway with almost all of them) and still get to rejig the Senate, but without the extra month of recess. Also, he comes off looking magnanimous - though the Liberals wlll try to play it like they forced him back...

[myata]

The only reason why the NDP even thought about it is because Dion was a fairly left wing leader in terms of the Liberal Party. Could you ever see Jack Layton getting in bed with Ignatieff? Or the other way around. It's not going to happen.

I think it's more of "the other way around". If I'm not mistaken, both NDP and Bloc indicated that they would be ready to work with Ignatieff. But apparently, he wants it all for himself.

Well, he may just not get it, this way. I hope people here won't be duped into voting out of scare anymore than for a face. Iggy will deliver what I want - real meaningful democratic reforms - or I'll simply wait till both him and Harper are out.

[Argus]

Would you stop being in an insufferable idiot for ten seconds? It's like having a conversation with an answering machine, no matter what you say, you get the same response.

Uhm, do you try to have conversations with answering machines a lot? Because I'm thinking this might not be a productive use of your time. :-P

[ToadBrother]

Uhm, do you try to have conversations with answering machines a lot? Because I'm thinking this might not be a productive use of your time. :-P

True enough, and that applies to Mr. Canada too.

[jbg]

I still havn't heard any reason why warrantless searches are justified, in ANY case.

Sometimes the delay in obtaining a warrant can cause evidence or a suspect to disappear.

[DrGreenthumb]

Sometimes the delay in obtaining a warrant can cause evidence or a suspect to disappear.

too f'n bad. That is a price we pay to live in a free society. That doesn't explain why we can dispense with search warrants for suspected nutritional supplement dealers when we don't deem the same necessary for suspected heroin of weapons dealers.

Getting a warrant doesn't tip anybody off. Why would they destroy their merchandise when they have no way of knowing that a warrant is being sought?

Edited January 14, 2010 by DrGreenthumb

[ToadBrother]

too f'n bad. That is a price we pay to live in a free society. That doesn't explain why we can dispense with search warrants for suspected nutritional supplement dealers when we don't deem the same necessary for suspected heroin of weapons dealers.

Getting a warrant doesn't tip anybody off. Why would they destroy their merchandise when they have no way of knowing that a warrant is being sought?

This ain't cops. These are inspectors. The rules are not the same, because, as a general rule, you don't get criminal charges. I suppose it's possible if they found something really awful, but in general, with any inspectors, what you get is either a compliance notice (fix your problems within a certain period of time) or a shutdown notice (you're risking public health so much you need to stop now and fix your problems).

Food and health inspectors do not require warrants for inspections, so why are quack herbal remedy guys to be treated any differently?

[nicky10013]

For all people saying that the PM couldn't stoop lower than he did when he proroged parliament.

An email from the PMO today.

Public event for Prime Minister Stephen Harper for Thursday, January 14th is:

- Ottawa

3:00 p.m. – Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mrs. Laureen Harper will make a donation to the Canadian Red Cross.

A photo op, trying to politicize the tragedy in Haiti is some of the lowest garbage I've seen.

Edited January 14, 2010 by nicky10013

[capricorn]

A photo op, trying to politicize the tragedy in Haiti is some of the lowest garbage I've seen.

You mean like Chretien throwing a sandbag during the Winnipeg flood?

Much like Jean Chrétien was heavily and rightly criticized for getting in the way in a photo op of him throwing a sand bag onto a dyke in the middle of the 1997 flood in Winnipeg, these kinds of photo ops smack of political opportunism and are out of place.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/rabson/Stop-the-photo-op-already--81539892.html

Seeing a leader make a personal donation might sway some to open their wallets to help. Throwing a sandbag, not so much.

[nicky10013]

You mean like Chretien throwing a sandbag during the Winnipeg flood?

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/blogs/rabson/Stop-the-photo-op-already--81539892.html

Seeing a leader make a personal donation might sway some to open their wallets to help. Throwing a sandbag, not so much.

Considering Harper is the only person I haven't heard from about donations, something tells me that isn't so likely. I've got something from a few organizations, Obama, Ignatieff but nothing from Harper.

EDIT: I find it hilarious that the first half of your article, before it goes after Chretien, pretty much says exactly what I said.

All politicians need to stop taking advantage of this.

Edited January 14, 2010 by nicky10013

[capricorn]

Considering Harper is the only person I haven't heard from about donations....

Then why the hell do you need Harper to repeat all that information directly into your ear?

[nicky10013]

Then why the hell do you need Harper to repeat all that information directly into your ear?

BECAUSE HE'S THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY! HE SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THIS! The leader of this country needs to be actually doing something. They rolled out that horribly edited tape with no audio of a cabinet meeting with the GG which cut to her crying and making an appeal. Now we have this blatantly partisan, cheap photo stunt WITH NO INFORMATION WITH IT! Yes Harper donating some money may get other people to do it as well, but which agencies taking donations will be matched by the government? Which ones are legally operating in Haiti? Is there a government hotline where you can get this info?

Everything that Harper has done and more importantly hasn't done screams stunt. Sure the military was ready to go but they're always ready to go, that's what they're there for. All Harper has to do is say go. What has the government itself done? This is basic stuff. They've been in office for four years and you'd think that they'd get over this mickey mouse garbage.

[Alta4ever]

BECAUSE HE'S THE LEADER OF THE COUNTRY! HE SHOULD BE ON TOP OF THIS! The leader of this country needs to be actually doing something. They rolled out that horribly edited tape with no audio of a cabinet meeting with the GG which cut to her crying and making an appeal. Now we have this blatantly partisan, cheap photo stunt WITH NO INFORMATION WITH IT! Yes Harper donating some money may get other people to do it as well, but which agencies taking donations will be matched by the government? Which ones are legally operating in Haiti? Is there a government hotline where you can get this info?

Everything that Harper has done and more importantly hasn't done screams stunt. Sure the military was ready to go but they're always ready to go, that's what they're there for. All Harper has to do is say go. What has the government itself done? This is basic stuff. They've been in office for four years and you'd think that they'd get over this mickey mouse garbage.

This coming blindly from a Harper hating venom spitting partisan liberal.

Harper could solve all that ills the world and you would still hate him.

Edited January 14, 2010 by Alta4ever

[nicky10013]

This coming blindly from a Harper hating venom spitting blindly partisan liberal.

Harper could solve all that ills the world and you would still hate him.

Bahahahahahahahaahahahaha. Hilarious. No, if he did that I'd vote for him. However, I haven't see ONE thing in this country that Harper has made better.

God people are clueless.

Edited January 14, 2010 by nicky10013

[Alta4ever]

Bahahahahahahahaahahahaha. Hilarious. No, if he did that I'd vote for him. However, I haven't see ONE thing in this country that Harper has made better.

God people are clueless.

Your right you are clueless.

Here is just one thing, but they have signed 9 free trade agreements since taking office. It like NAFTA has will improve trade reduce barriers and benefit our economy.

Free Trade with EFTA

On June 7, 2007, the Conservative government announced it had finalized free trade negotiations with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Under this agreement, Canada seeks to increase its trade ties with Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. In 2006, the value of trade between these partners was $10.7 billion. Canada had originally begun negotiations with the EFTA on October 9, 1998, but talks broke down due to a disagreement over subsidies to shipyards in Atlantic Canada.[106]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Harper

The accountability Act

Agent Orange Compensation Package

GIS allowing hirer earnings

Armed Boarder Guards

Community Development Trust

Income Splitting for Seniors

THE TFSA

The lobbying Act

The Child Sports credit

Had the Manley report Approved by The HOC

The Softwood lumber agreement

No more Taxation on student scholarships

A bill of rights for Taxpayers

Among many others that have bettered Canadians.

Edited January 14, 2010 by Alta4ever