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Alliston Herald
Prorogue critics forget the past

February 08, 2010 14:02

How about the media putting prorogation into perspective?

Where were the protestors and letter writers when Jean Chretien prorogued Parliament four times during his tenure as prime minister? The last time he took this action was in 2003, for 83 days, so that he and his ministers would not have to answers questions regarding the sponsorship scandal.

The opposition parties, and media would have us believe that our present Parliament will be prorogued for months.

Coming before TV audiences and the media across the country, Bob Rae, former NDP Premier of Ontario and now a Liberal MP, has been dishing out the most hypocritical comments regarding prorogation that one can imagine.

Rae's NDP party won power on Sept. 6, 1990 and records indicate that on Dec. 19, 1991 he prorogued the House until April 6, 1992. He prorogued again on Dec. 10, 1992 and the Legislature didn't come back until April 13, 1993.  

His government was running double-digit deficits, he had doubled the debt, and he was quickly loosing public support. He prorogued for the third time on Dec. 9, 1994. The House didn't sit again until the legislature was dissolved on April 28, 1995. Rae didn’t even bring in a budget that year.

For four-and-a-half months, Ontario had no sitting legislature. Where was the grassroots uprising criticizing Rae for 'suspending democracy'?

Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae have been harsh critics of Prime Minister Harper for delaying Parliament a second time.

Prime Minister Harper first prorogued Parliament shortly after Canadians had given him a minority government, but Mr. Rae refused to accept the results.

In an effort to take over the reins of government, and with the support of Bob Rae, Stephane Dion, along with Gilles Duceppe and Jack Layton, signed an Agreement to (unsuccessfully) form a coalition government.  

Proroguing Parliament – a routine parliamentary procedure – is allowed by law. Those critics of this procedure should work towards a change in the law rather than suggest it is immoral and irresponsible to act within this law.

Ruth Wood
Barrie

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