Categories: Polls

Does Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament bother you?

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by macleans.ca on Monday, January 4, 2010 2:20pm - 100 Comments

Tags: prorogation

Rod McIntyre

This is another example of SH's respect for Canadians and their government. He has his own agenda. Don't ask me what it really is. He is a master manipulator, transparency is not his strong point. As the past president of Canada's ultra conservative group, the National Citizen's Coalition, he was used to operating behind closed doors and without criticism. Go back to the NCC, when he was president and before, if you want to see what he really believes. This man scares me. If the Tories start a smear campaign during next election the Liberals will have lots of material with which to turn the tables if they dig up his NCC past.
Nancy

Right on Scott….No one remembers what Jean C did 3 or was it 4 times , I wonder what is all the fuss about the house was and is nothing but a shouting match , who can be the most insulting is what it anounts to just maybe they will be ready to act like they have a job to do when they come back and get on with it but don't count on it..

http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

Well, Harper hasn't been in 10 years yet.. at his current rate, he'll have prorogued 10 times by then.

Liz B

Not all the "work" (if any) of parliament is conducted while those idiots are on the floor of the House of Commons yelling at each other and jabbing their fingers for the benefit of the cameras. Perhaps they will use this time, as Mr. Harper suggested, so actually seriously evaluate what has worked, what hasn't, and to come up with calmly considered proposals that have not been generated in an atmosphere of world-wide panic. Comparatively, our country has done well. Maybe some real work will get done.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

I remember when my government could figure out proposals and handle question period at the same time.

And even if they do use the break for that, this is twice that they've killed their own legislation. What on earth makes you think they won't do it yet again?

Enkidu

Parliament has been prorogued over 100 times previous to this. How many of those have you protested?

This is truly a case of 'think, or thwim'.

rosemary

agree

DGR

Canadian Government at all levels is broken. We as Canadians are over taxed, under paid, over worked and we just don't give a damn about our Government, what they say or what they do. It's sickening really that the majority of our Government are only concerned about getting elected for another term because most could not get an equally paying job at anything else. Most are lawyers who were not really that successful being lawyers. Today a Government job is so much better than anything that is in the private sector, what with vacation, compensation, pensions etc. We should really look at replacing Government with a robust voting computer and a top Business CEO to run the place.

YSP

We tried the successful CEO thing. Paul Martin was a disaster.

George

In this poll you should have added a third option:

"I don't give a damn"

Then I would have voted.
politically confused

Why is it such a big deal all of a sudden? Parliament's return has been 'delayed' many times by another Prime Minister without major press coverage and petitions.
Who just discovered this and made it the most important thing in the country right now? Is it the press or others with political investment creating this fuss?
teffy

Give me a break! The only possible difference that this will make is that Canadians will not have to watch Iggy and/or Jack jumping up and down at the beginning of every TV newscast in February, expressing undescribeable outrage about something about which the average Canadian doesn't give a damn.
Jorge Gallo

To prorrogue the Parliament with the excuse of the Olympics is idiotic. Of course the Olympics are important, but a responsible government would never stop the democratic process because of that. Why can't they function both together? this is a very poor excuse of Harper and shows his disdain for other political parties. He is actually aboiding to face the criticism for his cover up of the Afghan prisoners problem and is another sample of his dictatorship tactics. He doesn't care about the opposition parties, the Governor General, the Supreme Court; he just does whatever he wants
don hrehirchek

We elect Governments. So I suyppose We have to have a certain amount of trust that the Government of the day knows what they are doing. Pluys in My personel opinion, the less the Government is involved in My life ,the better off I will feel.

http://intensedebate.com/people/SeanStok SeanStok

No we don't. We elect MPs.

Mars

What's the big deal!!! Chretien prorogued parliamnet 4 times!!!! & nobody raised a fist! In fact U folks voted him in again & again!!! why have it in session when all theoposition does–repeat-over & over again–what they "wouldn't do! In fact -what does Iggy stand for-nothing!! Layton does what socialist do– oppose everything!!!
the greens– don't know where money comes from to propose there agenda–think it grows on trees!! then there are the teachers– they close school down for 2 months–wouldn't your kids be better off in school all year around— then– you wouldn't need sitters! Stop & think-before U "sound off".
g. edwards

i hope while these paid jackass are not sitting they are not paid and their housing allowance suspened.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

This is a reason to prorogue the MPs.. not Parliament.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

And how many times did he prorogue in his first two years?

What's that? Zero? Hmm.
Martin John

Andrew Coyne is exactly right about the cumulative effects of what Stephen Harper is doing, Harper is relying on Canadians short memory span to see things in isolation. When are Canadians going to wake up to this man? It's the responsibility of the media to constantly remind and list these blatant floutings of democracy while they have the freedom to do so.
Garry J. VanGelderen

It's not just an insult to parliament, it's an insult to me as a voting citizen!
Pat from Winnipeg

Strange that Mr. Harper is getting so much negative comments about this when Chretien did the same thing at least four times. Seems that there is a double standard here?
J.B

Y S P You are a MORON …
Ali K.

The Governmet and the staff are not in recession and they don't care. Its the people who are in recession and have to pay the price
Jaded Iris

Get those Liberal Senators, that are obstructing law bills out of foot dragging power.

Then Harper can finally get laws passed with out being watered down to Nothing-ness. The liberals have done this for years…..well, the jig is up ! Yes to the Conservatives.
What a relief …………. no time wasting political media for 2 whole months.
http://intensedebate.com/people/NL_Expatriate NL_Expatriate

Part 1/2 Richard Colvin senate testimony Afstan Detainee complicity.
[youtube nLycAWlnkgU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLycAWlnkgU youtube]
http://intensedebate.com/people/NL_Expatriate NL_Expatriate

Didn't realize I could embed on here.
Part 2/2 Richard Colvin's senate committee testimony on Afstan detainee complicity.[youtube eabExF3M5kM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eabExF3M5kM youtube]
NL_Expatriate

The real reason Harper Prorogued.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IA_XSKSEZSI
Richard Gallant

By all means let him prorogue, provided the he puts the MPs on half-, or quarter- pay
Dale

It was OK when the Liberals did it
Mike

Our kids are overseas in a war and our so called gov.can take 2 months to go to the olympics——–Spare ME