Suspended!

[pyat]

The Governor General decided to suspend Parliament till January, so that the PM can try with a new budget. BOO! BOO! Down with outmoded royalist trappings! Death to the Aristos! Treason! Riot! Revolt! Anti-democracy! Everyone storm the Winter Palace and stand about on tables, waving bits of paper! Down with the GG!

;)

Comments

[mar2nee.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you. We don't have a legitimate government now, because they don't have the confidence of the parliament.

It's like we're in the states or something, and you get a judge to say that the recounts are interfering with your effectiveness in ruling.

I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, but since we're Canadian, we can probably have peaceful riots. At least, we can email our MPs, the PMO, the GG, etc.

Very very stupid, not in line with our constitution, and in all other ways, crappy.

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

Completely in line with the Constitution. The PMcertainly has the right to ask for Her Excellency to prorogue parliament. In fact, he legally could have asked for parliament to be prorogued for up to a year!

This is far from the first time that's happened. Heck, even the Liberals And the Coalition still get an attempt to make their non-confidence vote.

Just in January, not December.

Doug.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Just so. Sort of frustrating in the sense that Parliament is essentially reacting to the economic crisis by putting out a big "GONE ICE FISHIN'"on the front door... but totally legal and proper in several senses.

THough, presumably, they won't actually go ice fishing, but sit around drafting things and having secret meetings.

My post was sort of meant to be an ironic counterpoint to my earlier, "Gosh, what a fine GG we have!" thing.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

Oh, I think you can guarantee that the Tories will go ice fishing. With shotguns. :P

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

What, you mean those 'backroom meetings' that those lousy Separatists have with the NDP? Surely the noble Conserv..

nope, can't finish that sentence. Gods but this is getting me steamed.

[mar2nee.livejournal.com]

So, he can ask for that at any time, for no reason? Or, for the current reason?

Hmm.. Still pisses me off.

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

Effectively? The PM can ask for the suspension of Parliament at any time. Traditionally, this is done once the "business of government" is complete, allowing them their long breaks time with their constituents.

Even in abnormal circumstances, like the current ones, the PM can ask. but he's supposed to have an actual reason. Parliament shouldn't be prorogued for flippant reasons.

Doug.

[mar2nee.livejournal.com]

That's it, it's his reason that pisses me off. And that she accepted that as a reason to prorogue. Avoiding a no-confidence vote.

I don't know if I spelled prorogue right, but it is a fancy new word I picked up yesterday.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

It's very frustrating in several ways, but sort of makes diplomatic sense, and it's fine under the Constitution. _I_ don't think it was the best solution, but I might have done the same in her shoes. I don't know.

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

My contention is ... the only thing she really has the power to do is say "yes or no." The GG does not propose the course of events, in the exact same way our Senators don't either.

In the now-famous (but let's face facts, a week ago none of us had any idea about it) King - Byng Affair the PM asked the GG to close parliament and declare an election ... instead Lord Byng asked the Loyal Opposition to form a government ... a government that lasted a very short time indeed.

Doug.