IN THE NEWS: On Prorogation

Prorogue this
By Jason Youmans
Monday Magazine
One could be forgiven for not knowing that Prime Minister Stephen Harper—with the assent of Governor General Michaelle Jean—has decided to cancel parliament until March. After all, the editors at Victoria’s Times Colonist newspaper decided to bury the story on page A8 (four pages after a story about sexpot Pamela Anderson’s new anti-seal-hunt ad campaign and one page after a story about a Vancouver fraternity kicking out its members to make room for Olympic renters).
Victoria NDP MP Denise Savoie, however, thinks the whole affair warrants slightly more attention. While she’s pleased that some of the Conservative’s impending law-and-order legislation will die on the order papers, the cost of flying witnesses out to committee meetings to testify about various now-cancelled laws came at a great cost to taxpayers.
“It’s a waste of everybody’s time, and it’s a colossal waste of money, which, for a supposedly financially-concerned party or government, it’s not very responsible.”
Savoie says Harper’s decision to prorogue was likely driven by his cabinet’s desire to duck hard questions about the treatment of Afghan detainees and to give him time to stack the senate with Conservative Party sycophants who will green-light legislation during the next sitting.
“As I watch this government act, I’m just so concerned by the way that it’s all about strategy rather than about government—good government—and that should be a concern to everybody.”
As to why the prime minister is able to cancel the parliament for his party’s own strategic benefit, UVic political scientist Dennis Pilon says that while it might look bad, there’s nothing to say it can’t be done.
“These are just conventions and the rules for their application pretty much are whatever the prime minister wants," he says. "The rules of parliament give a lot of leverage to the governing party.”
The solution, short of electoral reform that would necessitate coalition building among parties, is simple, he says.
“Ultimately, if people don’t like what Harper’s doing, the best thing they can do is vote for someone else the next chance they get.”