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

Spring is no time to be consulting with Canadians

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, February 3, 2010 7:54pm - 63 Comments

The government side feels the House of Commons is not presently scheduled to sit for a sufficient amount of time.

Facing an outpouring of anger and criticism over prorogation, the Conservatives are cancelling March break on Parliament Hill and one other off week scheduled for mid-April…

Government Whip Gordon O’Connor sent an email to Tory MPs and senators today, telling everyone to change their schedules (i.e. cancel any vacation plans) to ensure they’re in town… Mr. O’Connor writes: “Our position is clear: there is no reason for the House of Commons to take constituency breaks during these weeks. Quite frankly we would be surprised if the Opposition disagreed.”

Tags: Gordon O'Connor, house of commons, Parliament, prorogation, Prorogue, proroguing

More by Aaron Wherry

Anon001

Doesn't this keep prorogation in the news for another week, at least, and once again expose the manipulative nature of the PM?

Couldn't the Liberals/NDP challenge the government to come back two weeks earlier, like say next week?
Anon Liberal

Here's how I ould respond if I were the Liberals:

"We're happy to agree to add days in March to partially make up for the ones canceled by Harper's unnecessary and unethical prorogation to avoid questions about the Afghan detainee issue.

At the same time we feel this latest episode just highlights the difference between our two parties. The Liberals have spent the past couple of weeks discussing issues that matter to Canadians such as combating unemployment, child care, a national strategy to combat brain disease, Canada's place in the world, human rights, and the digital economy. Meanwhile Stephen Harper continues to be interested in playing games and trying to set "traps" for the other parties. Canadians deserve better leadership than this."
BCer in Mtl

Harper couldn't stand being away, he was missing walking down the hall, kicking his backbenchers in the a** and screaming at them to shut the f*** up….
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Ted? Is that you, Ted?
Anon.

I'm tired of these "traps". I'm tired of these games. Just govern, damn it. Govern. Or find someone who will.

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

I think that last bit is our job.

http://intensedebate.com/people/NotStephen Not Stephen Colbert

"ENDING PROROGUE EARLY[GATE]!!!!"

…

Uh, try again.
Out There

Hey, this works out. More time for the opposition to ask questions about all the things that the Conservatives originally prorogued Parliament to avoid. Starting with the Afghan detainee issue.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

No scandal here. Just a PM making it up as he goes along
Mike T.

If I unexpectedly announce I won't show up to work for a month i don't get to say two weeks into it "so how about I make it up by coming in weekends?"