The Insenaty of Prorogue
When did I hear this before? Oh yes, it was one year ago. Apparently, Prime Minister Harper may ... wait for it...PROROGUE this session of Parliament once again.
And it all has to do with the current Liberal dominated Senate and their continued stalling of key legislation. But one of their Senators is turning 75 soon, which with the current vacancies, leaves 5 spots for Mr. Harper to appoint some Conservatives and, for the first time since the 1980's, the Liberals won't have a majority in the Senate.
If he shuts everything down, appoints the Senators, the committees will get reworked to pass legislation. But by ending the session, there's lots of legislation that will die. Forty bills in fact.
I can't but help think that if we had an elected and equal Canadian Senate, we wouldn't be talking about any of this stuff.
Then again, by proroguing and stacking the Senate and its committees with Conservatives and gaining a majority, THE TIME FOR REAL SENATE REFORM WILL NOW BE AT HAND.
I'm trying not to get too excited though. I've heard it all before.
Insenaty now! Insenaty now...
Read the Journal article here.
h/t calgarygrit
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5 comments:
Proroguing Parliament periodically is actually a routine practice.
The Proroguation last year was not routine. But minority governments tend to prorogue at least once a year, according to what I've read.
Usually, this is so routine that we don't even notice it, but obviously last year's proroguation has put it on the radar screen.
Interesting. I'm going to look into it. Difficult decision though for the Prime Minister but I wouldn't blame him for doing it. I'd be interested to know if by doing it, it would ultimately be easier and quicker for him to pass all the current bills, even the ones that would die under prorogue.
I'm pretty sure I saw this in the Globe and Mail.
The story said majority governments tend to prorogue Parliament every two years, and minority governments tend to do so yearly.
Who is making this up? If he doesn't porouge he can point to the commitees controlled by liberals. No, I think he's about to get that one piece of legislatijn through that will entrench senate reform dynamic. Once voters get to vote for senators, any attempt to reverse it will be seen as undemocratic.
I think you're misunderstanding the legislation that is at question here.
The legislation on the table will place term limits on Senators. Elections will still be conducted on a province-by-province basis.
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