Proroguing Parliament: What is It?

LOL there is no rally near me:). 

If he has miscalculated Marian, then the Opposition can bring him down in a confidence vote against the budget he is tabling the second day parliament takes up the next session.

I think the governments response to Haiti demonstrates amply that the business of government has not stopped, albeit parliament has. 

So true Marian, Opposition parties as well as the Senate are there to pass bills,but remember most bills presented to the Senate were still in limbo at the time of prorogue, thus Nothing was working anyway! MPs or Senators rehashing the same bills time after time serves no one except those MPs appointed to get extra pay being on countless self serving steering committees and other time wasters behind closed doors postulating with pithy commentary that goes no where!

May as well shut down the house if the only work ever gettin done is the hum of the cleaners floor polishers. In my career, I have seen first hand the workings of Parliament working directly with more than a few Federal Ministers. Sweet, Sweet work if you can get it.  The only one who actually worked his ass off was John Manley when he was a Minister with the Libbies

actually it.s the highway:)

Good analogy Mariam, just remember it was Canadians who gave the PM the ball, and he intends to keep it.  Liberals want to play, but they want to control the ball, something Canadians who voted for Harper are reluctant to let unproven leadership under Ignatieff handle, at least until he has a many more winning games under his belt! Despite the Canadian crowd rallying against Harper, they do not make up the majority of Canadians who do not wish to attend Babbling Rallies. Otherwise Harper would be out on his ass,clearly that aint gonna happen.

Speaking of Analogy, here is a Prorogue story that really puts it all into perspective, especially if you are a foodie! 

I think he is sending Jacko and Iggy down the highway:)

Let's put Jason Kenney's comment is context, of course life is easier if you don't get interrupted by parliamentary routine, especially the orchestrated theatre of Question Period.
It should also be noted that Mr. Harper is going to an economic forum in Davos, Switzerland to attend an economic forum, which is held once a year. The forum gathers world corporate and political elites once a year to discuss policy.  Personally, I think, such forum should be attended by the Prime Minister.

You.re very welcome 158.  Thank you for commenting.

Some people seem to forget 12 years of Liberal politics, filled with scandals, broken promises and basically a dictatorship.  At the time there was Liberal majority in the House of Commons and a Liberal Senate.  The GST was to be torn up.  Yet, when the reality of governing hit, it became abundantly clear that it was needed to pay down the debt.

The Liberals fought a campaign against Free Trade, yet when they were in power embraced it.  The frustration over prorogation is understandable, but let's not talk about democracy, when it was non-existent under Liberal rule.

Where was the democracy during the past four years, when the opposition disagreed with Harper's government, yet continued to prop up his legislation based on polls.  Deception is not the domain of only one side.

I hate to tell you, but a form of proroguing happens there as well.  In Canada it happened 105 times before Harper.  Should  I remind you of Somalia and the Sponsorship scandal?  Somalia's cover up is dear to my heart.  I am always amazed when one side does something it's ok but how dare the other side do it.

While I don't condone that proroguing happened, nevertheless when ur tougher crime legislation and other weakened bills are hung up in the appointed, undemocratic Senate, a clean start for Parliament may be warranted. 

Earlier you talked about Harper appointing cronies to the Senate,  hmm isn't that what Chretien and Martin did?  Maybe it's time for a EEE Senate (Elected, Equal and Effective).  What do you think the likelihood of that making it through Parliament?  Why would anyone do that, after all it would take the power away from Ontario and Quebec.  Imagine equal representation of all Canadian provinces.  What a concept? 

So I think if we want to discuss democracy and equality of all Canadians we could get into a much deeper discussion.  Let democracy (your words) continue on March 2nd.  If the opposition is genuine, they can defeat Harper as soon as he presents his budget, regardless of polls.

Whooo hooooooooooooooo Marian!!!!

It's not about winning or losing but about how you play the game.  The exchange of ideas is what is important.  It gets us all off our high horse.

Truer words  were never spoken.