centre of the universe - the dreaming

So everyone's up in arms about our Prime Minister proroguing government three times in two years. Folks're saying it's anti-democratic (it isn't; it's a function of parliamentary democracy). They're saying it's fascist (it's not. There's nothing radical about Stephen Harper, and although he does try *very* hard to be authoritarian (it's kind of cute, sometimes) and to try to capitulate to corporate whims, I don't think Harper's reign is *quite* 'fascist'. It certainly is dictatorial, though). They're saying the Canadian people are tired of Harper's shenanigans (very true, i suspect, if only for the opportunity to say 'shenanigans').

But there's something you're forgetting in all this.

Michaëlle Jean, our Governor General, she has a larger role to play in this than does Harper. He could go to her asking her to prorogue government twice a day if he wanted, and (this is the important bit, so listen up) she could say 'no'. In fact, that's what I think Canadians ought to have done more of. They ought to have spent more of their energy asking her to turn Steve down.

"No, Steve, I don't think so," she might have said.

"But...but..." he would have whined.

"Stephen, you prorogued government LAST year, and while it's not uncommon for Canadian Prime Ministers to prorogue or suspend government once a year or so, don't you think you're being a bit silly?"

"What?"

"Stephen, really," she might say, sitting on the edge of her desk while he fidgets in the chair in front. "What's this about?"

"What do you mean?! Nothing!"

"You don't have to lie to me, Stephen," she might say in a low voice.

"No! Really!..." Stephen Harper might start biting his nails and getting squirrelly.

"Is it Michael? Is Michael bullying you?"

Harper might pointedly stare at the floor and mumble, "No."

"Is Jack teasing you again, Stephen?" She might ask quietly.

Stephen may sniff a little and kick the heel of one shiny shoe with the toe of the other. In a petulant, little voice, he might mutter something about the economy.

"Look," Michaëlle Jean would say, crossing her arms, "I know government isn't easy. Especially when all the other MPs are trying to tell you what to do. Peer pressure, Stephen, causes broken hearts. Being popular is very important at this stage of your life, and I understand the pressures you're facing. I have teenage girls myself..."

At this point, Harper might raise his eyebrows and say, "Pardon me?"

Michaëlle Jean would wave her hand at him, and rise from the corner of the desk. "You know what I mean. The bottom line is that I'm not going to prorogue this parliament every time you have an attack of self-loathing or doubt. My office isn't here simply for you to come in and ask for a suspension every time you feel like you want a holiday. That's not the way this system is supposed to work."

"But...but..."

"But me no buts, Stephen. Get back to class. Er. Parliament. And maybe join the yearbook committee or the environmental club or something. ANYTHING."

So you see, it seems to me that people are really giving Stephen Harper WAAAAAY too much credit (rather like saying the Joker is single-handedly responsible for all of Batman's cool), and they're not criticising Michaëlle Jean enough.

I think Canadians ought to ask our Governor-General whether she might *ever* be prepared to stand up to the PM. Michael Ignatieff's court is proposing a bill that would limit the ability of the PM to prorogue government, which is stupid. I'm sorry, Michael, but it really is.

If your kids are misbehaving every night at bedtime, you don't just automatically put a rule in place that says "no acting up at bedtime". You have to figure out *why* (probably all those cookies at dinner).

Labels: Canadian politics, prorogue

I call this one, "Prorogue Mountain". It's about how one cowboy doesn't think it's right for the other cowboy to just ride off all willy-nilly into the sunset without so much as a handshake and a thank you, for TWO MONTHS, and how the other cowboy doesn't think there's anything wrong with that. Some might say it's an ALLEGORY. Other folks might say it's just a pretty picture of two cowboys leaning against their truck not discussing politics at all.

Labels: Canadian politics, gay marriage, prorogue

A year ago, 90% of Canadians had never, I surmise, heard of the word "prorogation". That's because it's supposed to be incredibly rare for the elected leader of a parliamentary democracy to ask the reigning monarch/head of state to suspend the country's legislature. What does it mean, effectively? It means that all bills and motions and sitting committees (known as orders of the body) are expunged, but sitting Members of Parliament don't get fired. That is to say, they're sent home but there is no need for another election. As an interesting side note, in the British Parliament, certain bills are not affected by prorogation.

Now, technically, the Queen herself, the Governor General, or the Lieutenant Governor could summon Parliament back to work at any time. Indeed, the MPs themselves can meet when and wherever they'd like, even if Parliament is not in session. Their work doesn't HAVE to stop just because their office is closed. I've phoned my twat of an MP to ask him to continue his work as my elected leader in Parliament regardless of whether the Legislature is sitting, but I've a really good feeling that he doesn't listen to me. Which is one of many reasons I did not vote for him.

Historically, prorogation was used by monarchs to essentially control Parliament. Don't like the proposed laws being read as bills? Prorogue the place and those Bills die and are tossed out with yesterday's wash water. You want Parliamentary approval for your new favourite spending plan? Summon Parliament back, throw your weight as the Monarch around a while (maybe suggest that so-and-so might get another appointment if he rubber-stamps your suggestion), then send them all away again to the cotswolds. It's all about making sure Parliamentarians know who's *really* boss (the Monarch, in case you dozed off, there). At least, it *was*. 

So what's the situation? Why is is that 25% more Canadians now know what prorogue means? Well. This is a little bit of a sore spot for me.

In Canada, the Prime Minister usually only asks for prorogation when s/he is in immediate danger of being drastically humiliated. Sometimes, the Prime Minister asks to suspend Parliament because he's simply not getting his way (do you hear me, Brian Mulroney? Sometimes, the reason you don't get your way is because the PEOPLE don't WANT you to. Funny, that).

Stephen Harper has prorogued Parliament three times in three years; twice in *one* year. Rather than let the majority speak/vote against him, he's deciding to spend taxpayers' money on sending MPs off onto a paid vacation while the actual business of the country cannot progress. It makes me angry because it's cowardly. And worse than that, it makes me even angrier that *I* didn't vote for our dictator. In proroging Parliament, Harper has removed the ability of Canadian people to govern themselves.

I would really like for the Queen to just rip the thermometer out of his armpit and scoff "you're perfectly FINE, Stephen. You do NOT need to stay home from school. And besides, if you don't go to school, you don't get to go to the Olympics."

Labels: Canadian politics, prorogue

Well, my first reaction to the prorogation of parliament is this:
"Fuck."

My second reaction is a heavy sigh, and more and profound disappointment in our head of state. You know, we should phone the Queen and tell her, "Shit's going down, man. Heavy shit."

Labels: Canadian politics, disappointment, prorogue