Liberals seek to limit PM's power

The Federal Liberals unveiled a proposal this week that would reign in the power of the Prime Minister to prorogue Parliament, less than a week after the NDP announced a similar plan of their own.

Parliament was set to resume on Jan. 25, 2010 but due to the prorogation will now open on Mar. 3, 2010.

“Our plan is to bring back much of the legislation that was previously tabled and when we do, I hope that the other parties do not dilute the legislation with amendments like they have in the past,” says Stockwell Day, MP for Coquihalla-Okanagan.

Both of the proposals seek to limit the power of the Prime Minister from proroguing for longer than one month or within one year of the last suspension of Parliament or when he’s facing a confidence vote, unless a majority in the House of Commons consents.

The proposals would also require the Prime Minister to give at least 10 days written notice of his intention to prorogue, spelling out his specific reasons for doing so, and allow a full debate on the matter in the Commons.

They would also allow parliamentary committees to continue to function while Parliament is suspended.

This measure derives from the opposition conviction that Harper’s latest prorogation was designed to silence a special committee looking into the Afghan detainee controversy.

The government has maintained that it needs the time in order to consult with constituents on the economy.

“Prorogation is a relatively customary process, now with the Olympics and re-organizing our fiscal plan we felt we needed the time,” says Day.

“If they want this time to consult with Canadians they should resume Parliament on schedule and consult with the MPs who are elected and paid to make representation on behalf of their constituents to the government,” stated Alex Atamenko, an NDP MP for BC Southern Interior.

Atamenko says that the whole idea of what Stephen Harper has done is wrong and that there has to be measures taken in order to ensure Parliamentary accountability.

Comments

Be the first to comment!