When Proroguing is Undemocratic!

A minority government has only been given the power to prorogue parliament 4 times in the history of Canada. Stephen Harper and the Conservative Party would make you believe it is routine and has happened over 100 times since 1867. It is only routine with majority governments. There is nothing wrong when a Prime Minister asks the Governor General to prorogue parliament IF there is a majority government in place. It is not a threat to democracy because the majority of members in the House of Commons support the government in power. When a government is in minority status, the Governor General of Canada should not allow the government to prorogue unless it has been approved by the House of the Commons first.

Only 4 governments in the history of Canada have prorogued parliament under a minority government. William Lyon Mackenzie did it 4 times during the 14th Parliament and Lester B. Pearson prorogued the 26th Parliament twice. Stephen Harper has prorogued 2 parliaments 3 times in 27 months – the 39th Parliament on September 14 2007 (for 31 days) and the 40th Parliament on December 4 2008 (for 52 days) and on December 30 2009 (for 62 days). It is against all principles of democracy when one person (the Prime Minister, who represents only one riding in Canada) and with the backing of only a minority number of members of Parliament (the Conservative members) can prorogue parliament.

The will of the majority of members in the House of Commons who represent the majority of Canadians should prevail. Only they have the right to decide whether parliament should be prorogued or not. How can parliament be delayed and postponed, putting a gag on the majority of members of the House of Commons whom Canadians voted for? It is the right and duty of the opposition members to question the Conservative minority government and ensure that is running the country in the best interests of the majority of Canadians. Our parliamentary system and our democratic rights are under attack and it seems that even the Governor General can do nothing to protect us from Stephen Harper’s abuse of power. That is why prorogation in this case is dead wrong and a threat to our democracy!