For those fed up with Harper's undemocratic behavior, tell your MP

[Smallc]

I don't mean prorogation. I meant the normal parliamentary break that would be taking place right now in the absence of prorogation.

[nicky10013]

I don't mean prorogation. I meant the normal parliamentary break that would be taking place right now in the absence of prorogation.

No, I don't believe they do. However, prorogation pretty much destroys any work they've done. They have to pick up everything anew when they come back in March. Probably won't happen as the Conservatives won't show up to them. They were already acting like cowards and trying to subert our democracy before they used the ultimate weapon in their arsenal of fear.

[msdogfood]

Even if Parliament wasn't prorogued they still couldn't ask those questions today, because parliament was going to sit until January 25th anyway.

prorogued there dead !

but if not all they do is standby but there still in place.

[Smallc]

No, I don't believe they do.

I think you're correct. My point was that Alta4ever said that they couldn't ask questions now. I don't see why they couldn't if prorogation didn't happen. On another side of it, there was really no reason for Parliament to be prorogued until March. It could have come back on the 26th with a Throne Speech, but I have a feeling that the government would have found that inconvenient.

[Alta4ever]

You also can't dismiss the fact that about 40% said they don't vote. 30% said they couldn't care less. Is it a coincidence? No, the fact is that most people who don't care won't vote. A few will overlap. Some who do won't vote and vice versa. I'm not the one grasping at straws trying to undermine numbers that clearly paint a bad picture for the party I'm failingly trying to support. If the poll had been among "likely voters" it would be a completely different story. It isn't different and you've got nothing.

As for the Christmas Break, please don't make me go over this agian. That's normal. What isn't normal is questions not being allowed to take place in the house until March.

If this is all normal procedure, why would he kill his own legislation? It all has to be reintroduced and read again. It has to go through the senate again. It won't happen any quicker because the whole excuse about the senate obstructing Harper has been dismantled. So, if it's not about the senate which we know to be true, why would he need to prorogue? What reason is there behind this? They don't want to answer the questions. Why is he so afraid of going back?

I didn't see the questions in the polls that asked if the respondent voted in the last election or if they intended to vote in the next election.

No such argument about the senate has been dismantled but every argument you have made about prorogation you have made has been dismantlement.

[msdogfood]

prorogued there dead !

if not thy standby!!

[Alta4ever]

I think you're correct. My point was that Alta4ever said that they couldn't ask questions now. I don't see why they couldn't if prorogation didn't happen. On another side of it, there was really no reason for Parliament to be prorogued until March. It could have come back on the 26th with a Throne Speech, but I have a feeling that the government would have found that inconvenient.

The committee would have to be in session to ask the questions, where any committees scheduled to meet today? How about yesterday, tomorrow? Oh right that answer was no.

[msdogfood]

The committee would have to be in session to ask the questions, where any committees scheduled to meet today? How about yesterday, tomorrow? Oh right that answer was no.

yop!

[nicky10013]

The committee would have to be in session to ask the questions, where any committees scheduled to meet today? How about yesterday, tomorrow? Oh right that answer was no.

You're motive is to pick on the small details and not actually address the general points people make in their posts. It's frankly quite annoying. Here you only address that committees don't sit during the break. That simply isn't addressing the general point. If he's got nothing to hide then why is he hiding?

[Smallc]

The committee would have to be in session to ask the questions, where any committees scheduled to meet today? How about yesterday, tomorrow? Oh right that answer was no.

Committees can change their schedules...when they aren't prorogued.

[waldo]

c'mon Simple... Harper danced around the question... what were his reasons? Why expect people to wade through the CBC year-end interview videos (2) waiting for the King to apprise his fiefdom. C'mon Simple... what were the stated Harper reasons for his latest perogy run?

To me, he stated it pretty clearly. 2009 was an extraordinary year that required extraordinary measures. We're entering into a new year that will require more extraordinary measures to eventually bring us back to fiscal balance. We need fresh thinking and a new direction, a fresh budget. For the past 6 months, the Left has been hollering for a "plan" to address the deficit. That's what Harper was saying in the video - it's time for the government to "re-calibrate" it's approach to start to recover from all the extraordinary spending of 2009. So they are taking an extra month to put everything in place and come back with a Speech from the Throne and a new budget on Day 1 and Day 2. If the opposition and Canadians don't like it, they can "throw the bums out" by defeating the government. Pretty clear. Pretty simple.

So Flaherty and Harper can't walk and chew gum at the same time? They are unable to do their duties, have to let everything that is in various stages fall by the wayside because they haven't the competence to do their job? The excuse is weak and I believe as people hear it, they won't believe it either.

whaaa! ... Simple you went there - excellent. It's well known Harper Conservatives have difficulty doing their jobs on company time.

now that the rank and file Conservative MPs have begun to be trotted out to support their King's perogy move, we're sure to realize real gems... as Harper/PMO has less control over the question/answer spin. Yes, real gems like:

- Conservative MP Rona Ambrose suggesting Parliament isn't necessary at all

Not all good work happens in Ottawa, a lot of good work happens outside Ottawa

- or this piece of gold... real gold... from Conservative MP Brent Rathgeber who stated

Democracy and Parliament are not being sidestepped — they are only being suspended

oh my! The Harper Conservatives are only suspending Democracy!

[Alta4ever]

I think you're correct. My point was that Alta4ever said that they couldn't ask questions now. I don't see why they couldn't if prorogation didn't happen. On another side of it, there was really no reason for Parliament to be prorogued until March. It could have come back on the 26th with a Throne Speech, but I have a feeling that the government would have found that inconvenient.

It could have come back in feb too. So what, it is constitutional, it is a tool of our democracy.

[msdogfood]

You're motive is to pick on the small details and not actually address the general points people make in their posts. It's frankly quite annoying. Here you only address that committees don't sit during the break. That simply isn't addressing the general point. If he's got nothing to hide then why is he hiding?

my pont too!

[Smallc]

So is equalization, but you just tried to pretend that it doesn't exist. The Constitution isn't something that you can pick and choose parts of.

There's nothing wrong with what Harper did, but Canadians seem to feel that there's something not right in him doing it now. A year ago, Conservatives felt that a majority opinion was more important than the will of Parliament (thankfully, the Governor General stopped the nonsense on both sides in its tracks). Now, the way the people feel is supposedly unimportant...because public opinion isn't favouring your horse.

[msdogfood]

Committees can change their schedules...when they aren't prorogued.

Yes!

[g_bambino]

oh my! The Harper Conservatives are only suspending Democracy!

So.... you're advocating that parliament never take a break?

[msdogfood]

So is equalization, but you just tried to pretend that it doesn't exist. The Constitution isn't something that you can pick and choose parts of.

There's nothing wrong with what Harper did, but Canadians seem to feel that there's something not right in him doing it now. A year ago, Conservatives felt that a majority opinion was more important than the will of Parliament (thankfully, the Governor General stopped the nonsense on both sides in its tracks). Now, the way the people feel is supposedly unimportant...because public opinion isn't favouring your horse.

??? what??

[Smallc]

??? what??

It makes sense...to me.

[waldo]

It could have come back in feb too. So what, it is constitutional, it is a tool of our democracy.

so... I expect you, and other Conservative lappers, were similarly recognizing the coalition alternative as simply a, as you say, "constitutional tool of our democracy". I expect you were mightily perturbed when the Conservative rank and file MP's went across Canada rallying the public against the "unlawful coup" that was shaping up. Good on ya for praising the "constitutional tools of our democracy... hypocrite.

[msdogfood]

It makes sense...to me.

ok i got it now!

Sorry!!

[Alta4ever]

Committees can change their schedules...when they aren't prorogued.

Administrative Responsibilities

Committee Chairs have considerable administrative responsibilities, starting with those involving the committee’s program of activities. In compliance with instructions from the committee or an order from the House, the Chair:

calls committee meetings;

decides on the agendas for the meeting;

cancels scheduled meetings or modifies agendas if an unexpected development makes this necessary and there is no committee meeting before the meeting that needed to be cancelled or have its agenda modified;[443]

usually presides over the Subcommittee on Agenda and Procedure, if there is one; and

works closely with committee staff to ensure that the committee’s work goals are achieved.

Chairs are also key figures in a committee’s financial administration. They:

submit budget requests approved by their committee to the Liaison Committee or the Board of Internal Economy;[444]

manage the budgets allocated to their committee, in conjunction with the committee clerk;

are ex officio members of the Liaison Committee;[445]

sign service contracts with personnel hired from outside the Parliamentary Precinct, as approved by their committee; and

sign the committee’s financial documents, including those incurring expenses and paying bills. Chairs may partially delegate this authority to the committee clerk.

Considering government mps chair the commitees they weren't going to be recalled.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/procedure-book-livre/Document.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&sbdid=DC42FA65-ADAA-426C-8763-C9B4F52A1277&sbpid=C272D45A-5BF5-4DF6-A4DF-F5B569CB8723#8CA7B853-0BA3-48CE-B433-D110F50D2A2F

[msdogfood]

so... I expect you, and other Conservative lappers, were similarly recognizing the coalition alternative as simply a, as you say, "constitutional tool of our democracy". I expect you were mightily perturbed when the Conservative rank and file MP's went across Canada rallying the public against the "unlawful coup" that was shaping up. Good on ya for praising the "constitutional tools of our democracy... hypocrite.

you have a pont

[msdogfood]

Considering government mps chair the commitees they weren't going to be recalled.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/procedure-book-livre/Document.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&sbdid=DC42FA65-ADAA-426C-8763-C9B4F52A1277&sbpid=C272D45A-5BF5-4DF6-A4DF-F5B569CB8723#8CA7B853-0BA3-48CE-B433-D110F50D2A2F

PMO killd it!

[Smallc]

Considering government mps chair the commitees they weren't going to be recalled.

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/procedure-book-livre/Document.aspx?Language=E&Mode=1&sbdid=DC42FA65-ADAA-426C-8763-C9B4F52A1277&sbpid=C272D45A-5BF5-4DF6-A4DF-F5B569CB8723#8CA7B853-0BA3-48CE-B433-D110F50D2A2F

They could have been though. That was the point.

[Alta4ever]

They could have been though. That was the point.

By who? the chair sets the meeting schedual, the chair is a conservative mp