So here we are, Canada. Our parliament has been prorogued until March 3.
And in feeling that there’s something wrong with that, the Ontarion is hardly alone. Already, thousands upon thousands of Canadians, who are not normally considered the most politically active group, have begun discussing, organizing rallies against, and questioning the decisions of our Prime Minister. In fact, this parliamentary suspension has met so much criticism that, in speaking out against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s prorogation, it has become increasingly difficult to say something wholly new.
Yes, this recent political development is a remarkable political strategy that has managed to raise the alarm in many Canadian citizens while leaving them very little room to do anything about it. Yes, this break from parliament could very well take the pressure off the investigated government officials who violated the Geneva Convention by allowing the mistreatment of Afghan detainees. Yes, Prime Minister Harper will now have prorogued parliament for a total of 148 days in only four years; former Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s grand total of prorogued days sits at 145 over a span of 10 years.
Yes, this does seem a little undemocratic.
But ultimately, this is simply a bad time for Canada to be humiliated again by our country’s leader; it is what it is: another embarrassment.
With the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games approaching quickly, Canada is in the international spotlight. This large-scale attention is to be expected for the Olympics’ host country and often, when all eyes turn in one direction, they are bound to notice national blunders in a way that they normally would not. We saw this happen when China hosted the 2008 Summer Olympics and suddenly, more than usual, on the tip of every tongue was talk of China’s various human rights violations, mistreatment of their poorer citizens, and lack of freedom of religion and the press.
For the privilege of hosting the Olympics, Canada was bound to come under some international scrutiny. Certainly, it seems, Prime Minister Harper has done his best to make it easier for other countries to find bones to pick.
As if Harper’s apparent apathy towards climate change as a global issue, reluctance to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, and eventual poor showing when he did eventually attend wasn’t enough. Canadians are immediately presented with nearly three months of prorogued parliament, both with wishy-washy justification on behalf of the Prime Minister and without all of the bills slated for the suspended parliamentary session having been addressed.
Whether or not Prime Minister Harper truly feels that this is in the best interests of the country as a whole, or simply his political party, would be difficult to determine. What is clear, however, is that the voices and concerns of a great many Canadian citizens are, time and time again, falling on deaf ears.
Many Canadians care deeply about climate change, yet, for our country’s leader, it is simply not a priority.
Many Canadians are unhappy with the mistreatment of Afghan detainees and want justice for those involved. But don’t worry, Canadians: those in power know that we’re not really that concerned about human rights violations.
Many Canadians care about open and transparent dialogue with our government.
But Prime Minister Harper knows better than us what we want and what we need.
What Canada has on its hands is a nation divided at a time when our leader should be encouraging national unity and pride. If nothing else, prorogation has managed to rouse many Canadians from their political slumber and encourage them to engage in discussion and debate, many for the first time. If Prime Minister Harper was counting on the usual apathy of Canadian citizens for getting away with being so undemocratic at such an important time, it has become vitally important that the citizens of Canada show that is democracy is still our most important value.
Mr. Harper, if you could find some time in your busy schedule, your citizens have some important things to say.