This is a perfectly normal prorogation. It's a majority government halfway through its term. This is the traditional time when majority governments prorogue and then reset the agenda with a new Throne Speech. There's nothing suspicious about this; nothing out of the ordinary. This is not like avoiding a non-confidence vote. And even with those other 2 questionable prorogations, this is only the 3rd time in 7 and a half years in power that the Harper government has prorogued Parliament - which is again not out of the ordinary.
And prorogation does not mean extended summer holidays. I used to work for a Member of Parliament. They're generally not holidaying just because Parliament isn't in session. Most of the work of a MP does not take place within the House of Commons.
ninjafaery
Posted on: 08/20/2013 19:46
Rev Steven - that's pretty much what I read too.
Can't blame a person if they're sceptical though...
Rev. Steven Davis
Posted on: 08/20/2013 20:44
No, ninjafaery, you can't. Harper created the suspicion by abusing the power of prorogation in the past. I just don't think people should get worked up over this one, which is a common parliamentary move.
The media have created a lot of this, of course. I noted that the headline I saw (can't remember which outlet) was something like "Harper Prorogues Parliament." Now the article itself noted pretty much what I said above - but the word "prorogue" has now become a lightning rod, so the headline used it to create controversy, because contrvoersy gains attention. In years past (before the ducking of the non-confidence vote through prorogation) the headline would have been "Harper Announces New Throne Speech," and everybody would have yawned.
Comments
Hilary
Posted on: 08/20/2013 16:21
I would also like my summer holidays extended...
Rev. Steven Davis
Posted on: 08/20/2013 17:57
This is a perfectly normal prorogation. It's a majority government halfway through its term. This is the traditional time when majority governments prorogue and then reset the agenda with a new Throne Speech. There's nothing suspicious about this; nothing out of the ordinary. This is not like avoiding a non-confidence vote. And even with those other 2 questionable prorogations, this is only the 3rd time in 7 and a half years in power that the Harper government has prorogued Parliament - which is again not out of the ordinary.
And prorogation does not mean extended summer holidays. I used to work for a Member of Parliament. They're generally not holidaying just because Parliament isn't in session. Most of the work of a MP does not take place within the House of Commons.
ninjafaery
Posted on: 08/20/2013 19:46
Rev Steven - that's pretty much what I read too.
Can't blame a person if they're sceptical though...
Rev. Steven Davis
Posted on: 08/20/2013 20:44
No, ninjafaery, you can't. Harper created the suspicion by abusing the power of prorogation in the past. I just don't think people should get worked up over this one, which is a common parliamentary move.
The media have created a lot of this, of course. I noted that the headline I saw (can't remember which outlet) was something like "Harper Prorogues Parliament." Now the article itself noted pretty much what I said above - but the word "prorogue" has now become a lightning rod, so the headline used it to create controversy, because contrvoersy gains attention. In years past (before the ducking of the non-confidence vote through prorogation) the headline would have been "Harper Announces New Throne Speech," and everybody would have yawned.