Shannon Powell: Governor General should refuse Stephen Harper's request to shut down Parliament
(This was submitted as a letter to the editor of the Georgia Straight.)
August 19, 2013
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston
Governor General of Canada
Rideau Hall
1 Sussex Drive
Ottawa ON K1A 0A1
Excellency;
RE: Harper to seek prorogation of Parliament again
I am writing to you today as a Canadian citizen frustrated by my prime minister's lack of responsibilty to the Canadian taxpayer. Stephen Harper wants to once again suspend Parliament so an unfavourable situation to him and his party can have a chance to die down. Scandals regarding senators' expenses and the prime minister's former chief of staff Nigel Wright have continued to stay in the news all through the summer break, and he knows that questions he doesn't want to answer will continue to be asked on the first day back in the House.
I believe Canadians deserve the answers to these questions. I personally disbelieve Mr. Harper about his lack of knowledge regarding the $90,000 cheque Mr. Wright wrote to Sen. Mike Duffy. I also have to question how the prime minister could have stood before Canadians back in February this year and stated "In terms of Sen. [Pamela] Wallin, I have looked at the numbers....Her travel costs are comparable to any parliamentarian travelling from that particular area of the country over that period of time..."
Further, we are now seeing stories in the news that in a "boot camp" for new Tory senators, direction was given that they could bill for certain partisan—that is, political—travel. I fear that Mr. Harper is purposefully trying to stain the image of the Senate irrevocably in the eyes of Canadian citizens to push an agenda to abolish the house of sober second thought.
Sadly, too many Canadians are lacking in knowledge of how our government works and the important role of the Senate. With all this negative media about the expense claims for Ms. Wallin, Mr. Duffy, and Patrick Brazeau, it makes senators look bad and taints all the honest, hard-working ones with a corrupt brush.
I plead with you, your Excellency, please deny Mr. Harper's prorogation request. It is merely based on selfish reasons that have nothing to do with the good of the country.
Sincerely,
Shannon Powell
New Westminster
Comments
11 Comments
Birdman
Aug 19, 2013 at 4:02pm
You're asking GG Johnston to make a controversial decision? Good luck with that.
Lee L.
Aug 19, 2013 at 8:19pm
The Guv's real job is to convey the appropriate urgency to the Queen should something arise that would dissolve the country. That's why it is worth having a monarchy. In the midst of turmoil and politics, an outside observer can be called upon to make a momentous decision.. and that should be a difficult decision. I think the historical British monarchy fills that roll well, and although they don't RULE us, the Queen has a final PUBLIC say, that is not without influence. She could well save the country someday.
The Guv is the one who will explain the Canadian nuances to her, and maybe have a great deal more sway than we imagine.
northislandgal
Aug 20, 2013 at 8:14am
I will be doing this too right after wk.
GG Stooge
Aug 20, 2013 at 9:01am
The GG appointed by the Dictator is his Stooge...
One more reason to get rid of the Monarchy in Canada and turn it into a Republic devoid of the Royal structure in Government now that we are in the 21st Century who needs GG's, Kings and Queens from a foreign land.
Imagine the Dollars saved that could go toward Canadians Health Care and Education instead to support a Foreign based Monarch.
Admiral Benbow
Aug 20, 2013 at 10:32am
Prorogation is an act of desperation that has worked in the past to avoid parliamentary scrutiny. That's the reason we have a parliament and prorogation is not a refuge for the unscrupulous.
ndp cries foul
Aug 20, 2013 at 10:38am
Chicken ala King.
christine
Aug 20, 2013 at 3:49pm
steven harper has to stop wasting our hard earned tax paying dollars to further his own greedy needs and put the canadain ppl who voted him and his corrupt gov't in first before it is to late for our beautiful country!!...!stop selling off canada peice by peice..!
John-Albert Eadie
Aug 20, 2013 at 4:54pm
Damn straight. We have to draw the line somewhere on this guy. Cheating at elections. Taking the surplus and giving it to rich friends, giving sovereignty and wealth to China, plus dirtying our atmosphere beyond measure ...
... and prorogue yet again ?????
Kevin Gillespie
Aug 20, 2013 at 5:12pm
You obviously have no understanding of the Canadian constitutional and political system if you are asking the GG to do such a thing. It would be unconstitutional for the GG to refuse a request for prorogation from a Prime Minister that still has the confidence of the House of Commons. To do so would be to provoke a constitutional crisis.
John-Albert Eadie
Aug 20, 2013 at 6:11pm
So what. Kevin, it might be unconstitutional but we have to do something. Sitting still for this A***ole is why he has been continuously screwing us since tricking his way into office. I disagree with you, and agree totally with the original poster.