# Canada/ Prorogation and the 2010 Winter Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [January 2, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425 "2010-01-02T20:07:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/21 "2010-01-03T19:01:01Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Lets avoid airing our laundry in front of the cameras of the world and enjoy the next couple of months until after the Olympics. Just how much of this “dirty laundry” do you believe that the “rest of the world” is going to see, (or care about), during the Olympics? Dropping “prorogation” into the BBC, (who surely has more interest than Agence France-Presse, Die Zeit, or al Jazeera), shows a mild article on Canada following multiple explanatory articles of how the British system works. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/22 "2010-01-03T19:05:42Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Who cares? They’ve been ordered by Parliament to produce the documents, … I assume you are refering to the “Colvin Report” that you have alluded to earlier. Could you please provide a cite for that parliamentary order? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/23 "2010-01-03T19:17:55Z")
[http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20091211/CP02/312119899/-1/SECHELT/opposition-passes-rare-motion-ordering-tories-to-release-afghanistan&template=cpArt](http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20091211/CP02/312119899/-1/SECHELT/opposition-passes-rare-motion-ordering-tories-to-release-afghanistan&template=cpArt) > **[Breaking News - Headlines & Top Stories | The Star](https://www.thestar.com/)** > > thestar.com is Canada’s largest online news site. Live news, investigations, politics, sports and the heartbeat of Toronto, Canada's largest city. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/24 "2010-01-03T19:34:16Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > Just how much of this “dirty laundry” do you believe that the “rest of the world” is going to see, (or care about), during the Olympics? Just who are you quoting with this “dirty laundry” ? I said “airing … laundry” suggesting recently cleansed laundry on a clothes line, the practice of which is banned in most upscale neighbourhoods. To get to your point, there is a reason why many protest groups view the Olympics as an opportunity to air their grievances. Or have they been misinformed? [Long history of Olympics protests](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7334362.stm) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2010, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/25 "2010-01-03T19:45:04Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > [http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20091211/CP02/312119899/-1/SECHELT/opposition-passes-rare-motion-ordering-tories-to-release-afghanistan&template=cpArt](http://www.coastreporter.net/article/GB/20091211/CP02/312119899/-1/SECHELT/opposition-passes-rare-motion-ordering-tories-to-release-afghanistan&template=cpArt) > > [Breaking News - Headlines & Top Stories | The Star](http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/afghanmission/article/737634--ottawa-won-t-release-afghan-documents) Sure, but what about this Colvin Report? > [@Rickjay](#): > > Parliament has voted that the Colvin report must be released, and I want the report released because that’s the way this country’s supposed to work. the Olympics are of no importance next to that. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/26 "2010-01-04T02:47:15Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > To address the first point, > > > [@](#): > > > > However, a prime minister asking for prorogation when facing an imminent confidence vote, as well a governor general refusing or implementing conditions on such a request, would all be unprecedented in Canadian history I will certainly agree that it was unprecedented. However, unprecedented is not the same as against constitutional convention. > [@](#): > > As to the second point regarding the GG power of refusal for prome ministerial requests. > > > [@](#): > > > > The reserve powers of the Governor General have been used twice in respect to declining the advice of the prime minister. The first took place in 1896, when Charles Tupper refused to resign as prime minister following his party’s loss in the election of that year, and Governor General Lord Aberdeen refused to make several appointments, forcing Tupper to relinquish office. The second instance was in 1926, during the King-Byng Affair, when Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, already in minority government and having lost two votes that suggested he was likely to lose a third vote – one on a confidence question – asked Governor General Lord Byng of Vimy to dissolve parliament. Byng refused… Again, just because an action has a precedent does not mean that is not against constitutional convention. The GG by constitutional convention _must_ follow the “advice” of her PM. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2010, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/27 "2010-01-04T02:51:41Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Sure, but what about this Colvin Report? Parliament is demanding that all documents related to Afghan detainees be released to Parliament, which would include any reports that Colvin wrote on the issue. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/28 "2010-01-05T17:34:17Z")
Proroguing parliament is simply a means of ending one session, and starting fresh with another session, complete with a throne speech and a new direction including, this time around, a budget and confidence vote. It may have been shrewd for Harper to prorogue parliament due to the global spotlight and the impending Olympics, but just about every government does this. Parliament has been prorogued 105 times; Chretien prorogued parliament 4 times. The Conservatives are saying that the economy needs attending to, and therefore a new session is required. I don’t see that as a problem. And besides, just because parliament isn’t sitting doesn’t mean that your MPs aren’t working. There’s still plenty of work happening. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/29 "2010-01-05T23:52:15Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Proroguing parliament is simply a means of ending one session, and starting fresh with another session, complete with a throne speech and a new direction including, this time around, a budget and confidence vote. Well, traditionally, yes, this is true. The problem is that Harper is using what used to be a simple procedural matter as a way of shutting down Parliament whenever he likes. This is bad for democracy. > [@](#): > > The Conservatives are saying that the economy needs attending to, and therefore a new session is required. I don’t see that as a problem. Really? I thought that the justification was that the price of tea in China is too high, and therefore a new session is required. What, exactly, will this new session allow us to do to work on the economy that the old session wouldn’t have done? Besides forcing us to deal with the problem two months later, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/30 "2010-01-06T03:30:08Z")
> [@Rysto](#): > > Well, traditionally, yes, this is true. The problem is that Harper is using what used to be a simple procedural matter as a way of shutting down Parliament whenever he likes. This is bad for democracy. > Really? I thought that the justification was that the price of tea in China is too high, and therefore a new session is required. > > What, exactly, will this new session allow us to do to work on the economy that the old session wouldn’t have done? Besides forcing us to deal with the problem two months later, of course. I’m no expert, but prorogation effectively cancels the current session, including all tabled bills, etc. This is not unprecedented and has been used, on average, 1.3 times per year since confederation. Why the hell should the current government be receiving flack for such a common practice? ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/31 "2010-01-06T03:48:45Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > I’m no expert, but prorogation effectively cancels the current session, including all tabled bills, etc. This is not unprecedented and has been used, on average, 1.3 times per year since confederation. Why the hell should the current government be receiving flack for such a common practice? Because they are using it strategically to muzzle Parliament. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/32 "2010-01-06T03:55:16Z")
Ya, unlike the other fine parliamentarians who invoked it to have the carpets cleaned. ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/33 "2010-01-06T03:57:21Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Ya, unlike the other fine parliamentarians who invoked it to have the carpets cleaned. Give me another example of a PM who has used prorogation strategically. You can’t. It’s totally unprecedented. This is why people are complaining so much. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/34 "2010-01-06T04:13:34Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Ya, unlike the other fine parliamentarians who invoked it to have the carpets cleaned. Assuming it were true that this proroguation is like all the others - and it’s not true - why is it wrong to criticize it? Should I accept all reprehensible behaviour because it’s been done before? The government is 1. Defying the will of Parliament with respect to the release of the Afghanistan documents, 2. Proroguing Parliament to do so, and 3. Lying about why they’re proroguing Parliament. These are criticism-worthy acts. What, am I just supposed to give politicians a pass for everything unless they do something no politician’s ever done before? Gosh, our standards in this country are going downhill. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2010, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425/35 "2010-01-06T04:50:02Z")
Hey, it’s certainly not wrong to criticize. I dunno. I just don’t see this as a very big deal. It’s only 30-something additional days off and then we start all over again with a clean slate. I’m sure most Canadians feel the same way. And I’m fairly sure that Harper completely knows this. Say what you want about him, but he’s shrewd and Ignatieff must be having some sleepless nights at this point. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canada-prorogation-and-the-2010-winter-olympics/523425.md?page=1)