Monday, January 25, 2010

The Prorogue Score - Harper is an amateur

So, Iggy and the Libs want to change the rules for proroguing parliament. Just for the record, here, from Lenny Walkerville (comment no. 5) [see update below], is the Liberal history:

Compared to a few Liberal PM’s, Stephen Harper is a proroguing amateur.

Chretien 4, Harper 2.

35th Parliament Chretien 1996/2/2

36th Parliament 1999/9/18

37th Parliament 2002/9/16,2003/11/12 ( the last one was done
to avoid the auditor generals release of the report on Adscam)

And if you really want a lopsided score how about this one:

Trudeau [and Pearson] 11, Harper 2.

26th Parliament Trudeau[Pearson] 1963/12/21,1965/4/3

27th Parliament Trudeau[Pearson] 1967/5/8

28th Parliament Trudeau 1969/10/22,1970/10/7,1972/2/16

29th Parliament Trudeau 1974/2/26

30th Parliament Trudeau 1976/10/12,1977/10/17,1978/10/10,1983/11/30

Now, where was all of the outrage on these 15 prorogation’s, and more importantly why are these numbers not front and center in the multitude of MSM stories on the topic?

Faux media led outrage at its best..

BTW Parliament is not prorogued until January 25th and will only last for 22 sitting days so when ever you hear such things as it lasting “3months” or statements implying that it is already prorogued, or that is unconstitutional etc, feel free to call BS on whomever said it and let them know we are on to their lies.

In our 143 years of existence as Canada, Parliament has been prorogued 105 times.

That is an average of about once every 1.4 years that this, very legal and constitutionally granted power, has been used.


Good job, Lenny Alberta Ardvark!

Update: It seems that Lenny may have cribbed from Alberta Ardvark's post. Also corrections have been made above to properly attribute the 26th and 27th Parliaments to Pearson.

Upperdate: Yesterday Ardvark also pointed to Bob Rae's record for proroguing the Ontarion legislature and notes that both of Harper's prorogues have been very short in comparison and produced budgets at their conclusion. "Ha!" Once again, why is it that info like this is so sparsely reported in the MSM? And the obvious answer is: they're more interested spreading partisan bullcrap and/or they're incompetent.

UpperUpperdate: It's been pointed out (in the comments) that Harper's current prorogue will actually be his 3rd - one in the 39th Parliament and two in the 40th Parliament.

11 comments:

The_Iceman said...

It is interesting how this kind of information gets overlooked at the beginning of these faux-controversies. I went downtown on Saturday and couldn't find anybody. I blogged about it, earning the vitriol of the CAP Facebook Group. They have been micro-analyzing my blog like its the Zapruder film!

Anonymous said...

What will Iggy say when we return to parliament? Will Iggy agree to change the rules for proroguing parliament? Will liberal insiders allow him to change prorogue rules? Of course not. (real conservative)

Anonymous said...

TangoJuliette sez:

methinks 1963 / 1965 / 1967, Lester Pearson was P.M. Not His Fuddle-Duddleness Pierre.

Xanthippa said...

Please, don't forget Bob Rae!!!

While Premier of Ontario, he was the Proroguing King!!!

Ardvark said...

That sounds vaguely familiar.

JR said...

Ardvark, post updated for credit where due. It seems your words have been widely used, as in the Victoria Times Colonist online today:
Compared to a few Liberal prime ministers, Stephen Harper is a proroguing amateur.

Jean Chrétien progrogued Parliament four times, Harper only two.

And if you really want a lopsided score how about this one: Pierre Trudeau 11, Harper two.

Now, where was all of the outrage on these 15 prorogations, and more importantly why are these numbers not front and center in the multitude of stories on the topic?

Parliament is not prorogued until Jan. 25 and will only last for 22 sitting days, so whenever you hear such things as it lasting "three months" or statements implying that it is already prorogued, or that is unconstitutional etc., feel free to call their statements as "non truth" on whomever said it.

In our 143 years of existence as Canada, Parliament has been prorogued 105 times. That is an average of about once every 1.4 years that this, very legal and constitutionally granted power, has been used.

Garry Preston

Victoria


What's that quote? "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery". I suppose it can sometimes apply to plagiarism if it means getting the word out.

JR said...

Xanthippa, Thanks. Bob (Blowhard) Rae's record on this certainly helps cement the Libs' reputation for hypocrisy. I note that yesterday Ardvark credited him with 3 prorogues of the Ontario legislature. Heh.

Ardvark said...

I edited the numbers the other day as my initial info was wrong, and it seems the PM also prorogued in 2007, not noticed as it was no big deal at the time, so his total is actually 3.

The thing is that with proroguing happening 105 times in our history makes this a normal and regular event, and nothing to get all bent out of shape about.

Anonymous said...

Whats that?Is that a pin dropping in the Globe and Mail newsroom?Meanwhile as reported by the Globe 25,000 people showed up across canada for the anti-pro rallies.Ill bet half of them were anti-imadinnerjacket rallies.I know there was a small one in my town ,about 40 people and all were against the Iranian regime.Proroguing wasnt an issue,Iran was however.

Joshua

Xanthippa said...

The difference between the previous PMs proroguing the Parliament (and Harper doing it the first time) and these last two is vast and irrevocable:

...the mainstream media learned the word 'prorogue'!

They are so proud of themselves, adding such a weird new word to their vocabulary, they are just itching for a chance to use it.

THAT is the real reason they will not 'let go' of the 'proroguing' story!

Johnny Frem said...

I have been slightly confused because the first time Harper prorogued, I think I remember the media saying he was the first to play that card. Now I see that it's actually quite common. I think Aardvark has shone the light on the real truth. this has always gone on. Politicians, much like many, many others, will take paid time off as often as they can get away with it. always have. It is simply that they have a new word for it, rather than what they have said before -- probably something more plain such as: 'postpone.' I know this is only a rewording of Aardvark's comment. At least it's not outright plagiarism.