Thank you, Mr. Harper
Posted: January 11th, 2010 | Author: Evan Hughes | Filed under: Opinion | Tags: democracy, grassroots, Ottawa, what next? | 3 Comments »The last week has seen a sudden and bizarre growth in political engagement. Tens of thousands of Canadians have become interested in the intricacies of Parliament, namely the difference between “adjournment” and “prorogation.” Mr. Harper has chosen to cancel all of the Parliamentary committees and the kill all of the unpassed bills, and that has Canadians angry.
Canadians were quiet when Richard Colvin alleged that our government committed war crimes. Canadians were quiet when Mr. Harper sacked the head of the nuclear regulatory commission for doing her job. Canadians were quiet when the Conservative Party was hauled in front of Elections Canada for their in-and-out financing scheme. But Harper’s recent move to prorogue Parliament may be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
The Facebook group protesting the Harper Holiday has grown from a little under twenty thousand members on January 5 to almost 139 thousand as I write this. We’re even planning a rally in Ottawa.
One hundred and forty thousand Canadians who care about the state of their democracy might not seem like a lot, but it’s a good start. Over the past few decades, we’ve allowed the power of the Prime Minister’s Office grow. We’ve watched passively as our prime ministers have hidden from the media, avoiding difficult questions. Any reversal in that pattern is good for our democracy.
Happy New Year, Mr. Harper. Here’s hoping you’ve started something big.
Originally posted elsewhere.
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We also say “No!”
I’m a latinamerican resident in Canada and very close to become a citizen in the next few months.
Having lived in a country where all kind of non-senses have been done in the name of democracy, I cannot more than say “no!” to the prorogation of Parliament.
Our blog is trying to start an initiative among the other latinamerican bloggers living in Canada where we say “no!” to Mr. Harper because this is not the democracy we want for Canada!
Regards…
I am very angry at the arogance of Mr. Harper and his conservative cronnies. He gives billions upon billions of dollars to the oil patch during record oil prices and then cries poverty when having to extend EI benefits.
Now he decides to prorogue parliament, to hide from controversy about his lack of proper governance. I blame the GC for allowing this, and it is time to get rid of the “Queens Representative” since I bow to no queen or king.
It is people for time to stand up and retrieve our government, get rid of the appointed senate which Mr. Harper promised to do.
Harper is the worst PM Canada has ever had, and history will not judge him very kindly.
As a retired Miltary officer I find it disgusting that we would be at war without our troops having their elected voices heard in their Parliament.
Regardless of the arguments about Afghanistan ,the fact remains these young people are being left on theri own.Harper support our troops..