Prorogation is morally an affront to our democracy

Dear Constituents

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the second annual prorogation of Parliament by the Conservative government. I share your outrage at what is essentially a suspension of Canadian democracy for two months: the people’s elected representatives have been barred from meeting and holding the appointed (minority) government to account.

This episode is the latest display by this prime minister and government of utter disrespect for the democratic system. Over the past four years I have watched them disregard majority votes in the House of Commons, ignore legislation (including their own law on election dates), and forcibly shut down committees and the whole of Parliament to avoid defeat or embarrassment.

They are betting that Canadians don’t notice or care, and they win when Canadians become cynical and disengage from the political process.

I hope you’ll join me in proving them wrong. I am prepared and committed to return to Ottawa on January 25th, to continue representing Victoria should there be an initiative to ensure that Parliament will meet in one form or another.

Parliament has an incredible amount of work on its docket, from the economic recovery and pension reform, to torture allegations and tackling child poverty. Important and urgent bills sponsored by my New Democrat colleagues on climate change and affordable housing are close to becoming law. The Conservatives are even killing their own “tough on crime” legislation that they constantly accuse the opposition of stalling, preferring instead to rush through the imposition of the HST on Ontario and BC before proroguing.

The government’s rationale for prorogation is insulting: if they want to “consult Canadians” about the next phase of their economic action plan, they should consider consulting the MPs who are elected and paid to represent Canadians to the government.

Meanwhile, their true motivations are clear: avoid accountability over the Afghan detainee issue, stack the undemocratic Senate in their favour, and try to convince Canadians that Parliament is unworkable and irrelevant. They argue that only 22 sitting days are lost; however, much work can be done in 22 days in the House of Commons if the government were to take a cooperative approach that has been entirely lacking. Committees that could have met outside official sitting days have been dissolved, preventing all oversight of the government’s work over the next two months. This underhanded tactic begs the questions: What is the prime minister afraid of? What is he hiding on the issue of Afghan detainees? What does he know that he doesn't want the world to know before the Olympics?

This prorogation may be technically legal under our system, but it is morally an affront to our democracy. If any other Olympic host government were to unilaterally suspend its elected legislature to avoid democratic oversight of its activities, there would be a massive boycott by the world’s nations.

I ask you to join me in telling the prime minister that he can't simply shut down our democratic institutions just because he doesn't like what they're asking or doing.

Together we can take back our democracy.

Sincerely,

Denise