Prorogue. It’s an interesting word. And it’s top of mind for many Canadians this week as we wonder what’s happening in our perplexing parliament.
Not even listed at Dictionary.com, prorogue is a British Parliamentary term that defines a situation when the Prime Minister arbitrarily postpones a vote rather than face the impending wrath of the House of Commons.
Let’s look at its etymology. Most online sources indicate this word comes from the Middle English term “prorogen”, and was derived from the Anglo-French “proroger”, and originally take from the Latin term “prorogare” meaning to “ask before”.
Now, I’m no scholar, but I have a different theory.
Doesn’t the Greek prefix “pro” mean to “be in favour”? And doesn’t the Anglo-Saxon term “rogue” translate into “scoundrel”?
Could it be “pro-scoundrel”?
Frankly, considering what’s happening in Ottawa this week, I think most Canadians would view my definition as being closer to the truth.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
A Canada First Coalition for Christmas
Oh, what a fascinating time to be a Canadian.
After years of declining interest in politics and government in general, Canada's three opposition parties have found a way to forget their long-held animosities and work together to oust the pro-American Conservative government. We could be living with a European-style coalition government by Christmas.
While the Tories are doing their best to pooh-pooh the idea, they seem to forget that Coalition Governments are indeed quite legal, and have historical precedence in Canada. All it takes is for the opposition parties to vote non-confidence in the Tories, and then convince the Governor General that they have a workable cabinet.
While it sounds fantastic, this plan just might work. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and one-time NDP Leader Ed Broadbent are both working on behalf of the Coalition, and they have helped send the Tories into full retreat mode.
Sunday may have been the most extraordinary day in Canadian politics for more than a century.
It started when the Tories foolishly released a surreptitious recording of an NDP caucus conference call, wherein Jack Layton made some kind of apparent confession (?) about cooperating with the Bloc Quebec.
While youthful Tory pitchman Pierre Poilievre feigned outrage over Layton’s remarks, NDP deputy leader Thomas Muclair of Montreal made mincemeat of Harper’s parliamentary secretary by describing the recording as a “illegal interception of a communication” and a blatant breach of the criminal code. High profile criminal lawyer Clayton Ruby is on the case.
Reality, and their own impending doom, seemed to dawn on the government around mid-afternoon, when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told CTV’s Craig Oliver that the government would introduce its budget, complete with stimulus package, in the final week of January. Cynics will note the conveniently coincidental timing with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new American president.
So why has this happened, and is it really just a power grab by the opposition parties, as described by the now floundering Conservative government?
I think not.
Remember, this is the same Conservative government that has spent the past three years negotiating ‘deep integration’ and the little known Economic Security and Prosperity Partnership with the Bush White House. Those talks continue with the new Democratic-led U.S. government which has announced its intention to be far more protectionist that its Republican predecessors. Obama and his new team no doubt look to the free-trade-loving Conservatives as a natural partner.
Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, Layton and Duceppe deserve kudos for standing up for Canadian independence, which I hope is the real crux of what is happening in Ottawa today.
As the Americans ramp up their ‘USA First’ trading plan (watch CNN’s Lou Dobbs for a good outline of things in store for America’s trading partners), even some Tories are having serious doubts whether their apparently utopian ideal of a continental free trade zone can succeed, and whether it is even a good idea anymore, given the stated objectives of the new administration in Washington.
But back to Ottawa, and the matter at hand. I would feel a lot more confident in the future of this Coalition proposal if proposed cabinet ministers had his or her budgets ready to go on the day they announce the deal. These people have spent years trying to get into government, let's see how much homework they've done.
I also hope the Coalition shows a little leadership and brings in a somewhat smaller cabinet than the record-setting 38 Tories recently appointed by Harper. If a Coalition wants to prove their leadership, they need to show at least some restraint, especially in regards to their own themselves.
Indeed, there is still the possiblity that these coalition talks are nothing more than the convenient merging of several different power grabs at the same time and place. I hope not.
And the jury is till out on whether this coalition will succeed or not. Personally, I think it's a wonderful thing to see three of our political parties learning to work together in Parliament. Let's hope the Tories either join the discussions, or get out of the way.
After years of declining interest in politics and government in general, Canada's three opposition parties have found a way to forget their long-held animosities and work together to oust the pro-American Conservative government. We could be living with a European-style coalition government by Christmas.
While the Tories are doing their best to pooh-pooh the idea, they seem to forget that Coalition Governments are indeed quite legal, and have historical precedence in Canada. All it takes is for the opposition parties to vote non-confidence in the Tories, and then convince the Governor General that they have a workable cabinet.
While it sounds fantastic, this plan just might work. Former Prime Minister Jean Chretien and one-time NDP Leader Ed Broadbent are both working on behalf of the Coalition, and they have helped send the Tories into full retreat mode.
Sunday may have been the most extraordinary day in Canadian politics for more than a century.
It started when the Tories foolishly released a surreptitious recording of an NDP caucus conference call, wherein Jack Layton made some kind of apparent confession (?) about cooperating with the Bloc Quebec.
While youthful Tory pitchman Pierre Poilievre feigned outrage over Layton’s remarks, NDP deputy leader Thomas Muclair of Montreal made mincemeat of Harper’s parliamentary secretary by describing the recording as a “illegal interception of a communication” and a blatant breach of the criminal code. High profile criminal lawyer Clayton Ruby is on the case.
Reality, and their own impending doom, seemed to dawn on the government around mid-afternoon, when Finance Minister Jim Flaherty told CTV’s Craig Oliver that the government would introduce its budget, complete with stimulus package, in the final week of January. Cynics will note the conveniently coincidental timing with the inauguration of Barack Obama as the new American president.
So why has this happened, and is it really just a power grab by the opposition parties, as described by the now floundering Conservative government?
I think not.
Remember, this is the same Conservative government that has spent the past three years negotiating ‘deep integration’ and the little known Economic Security and Prosperity Partnership with the Bush White House. Those talks continue with the new Democratic-led U.S. government which has announced its intention to be far more protectionist that its Republican predecessors. Obama and his new team no doubt look to the free-trade-loving Conservatives as a natural partner.
Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, Layton and Duceppe deserve kudos for standing up for Canadian independence, which I hope is the real crux of what is happening in Ottawa today.
As the Americans ramp up their ‘USA First’ trading plan (watch CNN’s Lou Dobbs for a good outline of things in store for America’s trading partners), even some Tories are having serious doubts whether their apparently utopian ideal of a continental free trade zone can succeed, and whether it is even a good idea anymore, given the stated objectives of the new administration in Washington.
But back to Ottawa, and the matter at hand. I would feel a lot more confident in the future of this Coalition proposal if proposed cabinet ministers had his or her budgets ready to go on the day they announce the deal. These people have spent years trying to get into government, let's see how much homework they've done.
I also hope the Coalition shows a little leadership and brings in a somewhat smaller cabinet than the record-setting 38 Tories recently appointed by Harper. If a Coalition wants to prove their leadership, they need to show at least some restraint, especially in regards to their own themselves.
Indeed, there is still the possiblity that these coalition talks are nothing more than the convenient merging of several different power grabs at the same time and place. I hope not.
And the jury is till out on whether this coalition will succeed or not. Personally, I think it's a wonderful thing to see three of our political parties learning to work together in Parliament. Let's hope the Tories either join the discussions, or get out of the way.
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