Harper attempting to seize absolute, dictatorial control over the government?

[fuji]

The government of Canada is trying to avoid defeat by SUSPENDING the legislature of Canada. Think that through in terms of concepts like "accountability", what does it mean?

Canada has a mechanism by which the elected representatives of the people can bring the government to heel--it can pass a motion of no confidence, forcing the government to resign. That is pretty much the ONLY mechanism in our system by which the people's elected representatives can hold a government to account.

Such a motion has been tabled, and to avoid defeat at the hands of the elected representatives the Government of Canada is proposing to suspend ("prorogue") Parliament until further notice.

There is NOTHING less democratic than suspending a legislature that is attempting to hold a government to account.

There is NOTHING more dangerous to democracy than a leader who feels that he can simply cancel democratic processes in order to avoid a vote the result of which he won't like.

This is tantamount to cancelling an election because you know you won't like the outcome. This verges on a Prime Minister trying to seize dictatorial power.

Really.

Suppose that Harper simply suspends the legislature permanently and rules without resort to the legislature whatsoever for the next five years???

Suppose he decides he simply isn't interested in dropping the writ when his five years are up???? If he can suspend the legislature at his whim, why not that too?

There MUST be a limit on the power that the Prime Minister can wield, there must be a check on his ability to manipulate the system to avoid being held to account.

There is fortunately--The Governor General of Canada has the power to deny his request and/or dismiss him as Prime Minister.

It is high time she does so, we have a Prime Minister who believes himself to be above democratic processes and he needs to be brought to heel in the name of democracy.

 

[red]

I was under the impression that when you porogue parliament it was to a specific date.

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

fuji is off in la la land again. Harper is going to porogue parliament for 5 years? LOL. Too funny.

It's interesting how he has such contempt for Harper using parliamentary rules to his advantage but has no such contempt for the opposition doing the same thing.

 

[danmand]

Think for a moment of the uproar if Hugo Chavez had pulled a stunt like that.

 

[gramage]

Think for a moment of the uproar if Hugo Chavez had pulled a stunt like that.

He hasn't?

 

[lookingforitallthetime]

Think for a moment of the uproar if Hugo Chavez had pulled a stunt like that.

Hugo would probably better "handle" the coalition issue.

 

[WoodPeckr]

He hasn't?

Who Hugo or Harper?

 

[gramage]

Who Hugo or Harper?

I'm suprised if there's anything undemocratic Hugo hasn't done yet.

Although this is more childish then undemocratic, and little Stevie Harper has consistently behaved like a 10 year old since he took office.

 

[fuji]

I was under the impression that when you porogue parliament it was to a specific date.

What's to stop you from doing it again? Some here have claimed that they think the GG has a legal requirement to comply with any request from a Prime Minister. If that theory is true he can suspend the legislature over and over again for so long as he likes--he can probably refuse to step down after his five years are up as well.

At some point either we've lost democracy in Canada or the GG has to bring him to heel.

 

[fuji]

It's amazingly hypocritical that the very party that ran around bleating that they would bring accountability back to Parliament is undermining the only real true mechanisms of accountability that we have.

Seriously.. SUSPENDING the legislature to prevent it from holding the government to account!!!

 

[fuji]

I look at it this way fuji.... there was an election 2 months ago..... according to the public vote, the party governing the country is the conservatives, not the coalition.

"According to the public vote" a majority of the elected MP's prefer a different Prime Minister. Seriously, your view is contrary to the majority view. In a democracy the majority rules. Period. That is the point of a confidence motion: To PROVE that the government represents the majority.

Worse though is this specific tactic, aside from the general context of today's event, the precedent of a government SUSPENDING the elected representatives to avoid a no confidence motion!!!

Whatever may happen now that precedent is scary.

 

[fuji]

The point here is that the Conservatives are so desperate to cling to power that they are trampling over any and all democratic principles and institutions, strangling any last vestage of accountability, to keep their grimy little snouts in the trough.

 

[themexi]

If the GG gets involved, she should call another election and then we'll see what will really happen. If the conservatives win again, then the entire coalition should be responsible for footing the bill for the election.

And don't let one of them spend a penny on cmpaigning util the debt is paid in full

 

[fuji]

And don't let one of them spend a penny on cmpaigning util the debt is paid in full

So you are of the view that parties lodging a no confidence motion should be financially penalized for doing so?

I guess you really DO hate accountability in government.

Why not just round up all the enemies of the government and put them in jail? Why stop at fines?

 

[fuji]

Seriously have you guys thought through the implications of what you are proposing? Here is a list of what you have proposed so far:

-- Eliminate any check on the ability of the Prime Minister to suspend the legislature

-- Prevent the majority in Parliament from ruling

-- Levy fines on any politician who opposes the government

Seriously you guys are fascists.

 

[LancsLad]

Seriously have you guys thought through the implications of what you are proposing? Here is a list of what you have proposed so far:

-- Eliminate any check on the ability of the Prime Minister to suspend the legislature

-- Prevent the majority in Parliament from ruling

-- Levy fines on any politician who opposes the government

Seriously you guys are fascists.

Strong language.


Might want to reconsider the use of the word fascist.



.

 

[Sub_Normal69]

I look at it this way fuji.... there was an election 2 months ago..... according to the public vote, the party governing the country is the conservatives, not the coalition.

If the GG gets involved, she should call another election and then we'll see what will really happen. If the conservatives win again, then the entire coalition should be responsible for footing the bill for the election.

Sheik, despite the fact our political views differ, you usually present yours in a well thought out manner with sound reasoning.

I will give you a mulligan on this one especially the second part because it makes no sense all.

 

[nervous]

The point here is that the Conservatives are so desperate to cling to power that they are trampling over any and all democratic principles and institutions, strangling any last vestage of accountability, to keep their grimy little snouts in the trough.

You must be nuts...Dion is so desperate to gain power he will sell is sole (he of the famous or infamous if you live in Quebec, 'Clarity Bill') to the Bloc to make sure that he retires a PM Dion.....

The one hunger for power here is the ones that lost the last election.

 

[LancsLad]

Like say Trewdough????????






.

 

[maurice93]

I look at it this way fuji.... there was an election 2 months ago..... according to the public vote, the party governing the country is the conservatives, not the coalition.

If the GG gets involved, she should call another election and then we'll see what will really happen. If the conservatives win again, then the entire coalition should be responsible for footing the bill for the election.

That's ludicrous.

The conservatives called an election and did not get the results they wanted .... it was a waste of time.

Your not telling them to flip the bill on that one