Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

83 days to be precise

by Aaron Wherry on Friday, January 8, 2010 2:35pm - 68 Comments

The Prime Minister explains why his government won’t return to the House until March.

“The fact of the matter is this,” the Prime Minister continued, “the government is going to take advantage of this time – we need the time – to look carefully at our agenda, to continue to deliver the economic measures that are being delivered here and elsewhere across there country as part of the economic action plan. We also need time to re-examine our agenda, to prepare for the next year in Parliament, and to prepare for a very different economy going forward.”

Tags: house of commons, Parliament, prorogation, Prorogue, proroguing, Stephen Harper

More by Aaron Wherry

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

I've been trying to get info on this, as well.Nobody here seems to know the exact timing of events (or they haven't responded) and I just don't know how to access the information myself. But as I see it, there's the Throne Speech, then the election of a Speaker, then someone can stand on a point of privilege. As I understand it, points of privilege must be dealt with immediately, before any other business (such as vote on Throne Speech) so either MacKay and/or Harper can be voted in contempt before it even gets to a non-confidence motion.

But I don't know how to confirm my thinking.
http://intensedebate.com/people/SirJohn_Eh SirJohn_Eh

Conclusion : He has something big to hide (besides the actual announcement he already hid on Friday the WJHC gold medal day, and 4 soldiers and engaged journalist tragedy day) Actually, I dont want to believe Harper knew about the soldiers and journalists demise when he prorogued. The news from Afghanistan was here after the prorogie brunch, but did he already know? Uggh
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

From the column…"He will start his new job in the PMO on Monday, serving as the director of issues management, a powerful behind-the-scenes position handling the government’s political response to the most challenging issues of the day."

Other parts of the column suggest that Mr Stairs has some serious capabilities. Too bad there isn't a way that we could hire him to actually handle the most challenging issues of the day; instead he gets to handle the government’s political response to the most challenging issues of the day.
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

A link to a tutorial about HTML links
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

Try this link
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

Try this link, although I will warn you that myself and others have found the HTML code to be quite finnicky…

http://www.quackit.com/html/tutorial/html_links.c…
http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

OK, one more try…the link

http://intensedebate.com/people/David0M David_M.

Thanks PhilCP.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Thanks!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jack_Mitchell Jack Mitchell

The idea that MP's have any role in pondering the budget is easily the funniest thing about this.
http://intensedebate.com/people/wideye wideye

Harper wants to talk about prioritising cuts to programs to address the deficit….his government just wasted tax payer dollars (millions) for two years of on salary, travel, and infrastructure – not to mention how many individuals, not-for-profits, individuals, government departments etc…money – all that money wasted by him when he prorogued twice and the Bills were sent back to square one. But he wants US to tighten OUR belts??? Excuuuuuse me?
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Sadly, your link included double / every time, but I found what you were looking at. How did you know to look at the Standing Orders? Good one!

So, once the Speaker is chosen, someone can give a page the written question on a point of privilege, and an hour later take it up? Hmmm, so could there be a vote on the Throne Speech in that meantime?
http://intensedebate.com/people/David0M David_M.

It doesn't open properly? I tested it several times without issue…oh well.

It would seem that with the selection of the Speaker out of the way and the delivery of the written question, the point of privilege could take precedent. There is time allocated to debate the Throne Speech, up to 6 days – 50.(1)

Let me try that again
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Hmm, maybe it was just me, then. It certainly worked this time.

Okay then, I guess one hour to hold the debate and the vote is not going to be enough time. This is very good to know. Thanks very much!