In Their Own Words: What Conservatives Are Doing During Prorogation
Wednesday, February 03, 2010

1. Responding to angry constituent complaints over prorogation:

“I've had a storm of people [commenting] on proroguing.” (MP Larry Miller, Owen Sound Sun Times, January 27, 2010)

“Somehow this issue has become really huge and I’m not really sure why.” (MP Terence Young, Oakville Beaver, January 22, 2010)

“I have received numerous calls, e-mails and letters in respect to the prime minister's decision to prorogue Parliament.” (MP Bruce Stanton, Midland Mirror, January 18, 2010)

“As I travel around the riding talking to people I am being asked questions about prorogation.” (MP Gordon Brown, St. Lawrence EMC, January 14, 2010)


2. Going on vacation:

“Called for a response to the prorogation issue Friday, Kitchener-Conestoga MP Harold Albrecht had just left for a week-long holiday and couldn't immediately be reached for comment.” (New Hamburg Independent, January 13, 2010)

“While on vacation in California, Conservative MP Randy Hoback told his local paper, ‘Our constituents have more concerns on their minds…They want us to concentrate on jobs, get people back to work, and get the budget back in order. And that's what I'll focus on when I get back to Parliament and that's what I'm focusing on now.’” (Prince Albert Daily Herald, January 21, 2010)

“Mr. Schellenberger admitted he may try to take two or three weeks off during the Winter Olympic Games and may try to get to Vancouver if he can find accommodation. The Olympics in Canada were another good reason to prorogue Parliament, he added. ‘If we are sitting, how do MPs get to those events,’ he said of the Olympic games. ‘It makes sense that we are not sitting.’” (Stratford Beacon Herald, January 7, 2010)

“[MP Rick Dykstra] also intends to go to Vancouver to watch at least one Olympic hockey game.” (Welland Tribune, December 31, 2009)

“Mayes says there is also a practical reason for suspending Parliament given that the Conservatives don’t have a majority of the seats. ‘The Olympics are a great celebration and it would be a real conflict for MPs to be there in a minority situation,’ he said, adding that could lead to the opposition having more MPs present in Ottawa.” (MP Colin Mayes, Salmon Arm Observer, January 12, 2010)

“Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose is currently vacationing in Tanzania, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.” (Macleans.ca, January 21, 2010)


3. Dismissing Parliament, the public, and democracy:

“Democracy and Parliament are not being sidestepped — they are only being suspended.” (MP Brent Rathgeber, St. Albert Gazette, January 6, 2010)

"Prorogation has been used up to eight times in one Parliament. Prorogation could be used every year and maybe that's a good idea. It helps you accomplish what you want in the short term.” (MP Leon Benoit, Wainwright Edge, January 29, 2010)

“‘As a minister, I often get more done when the House is not in session,’ he said as thousands of Canadians were preparing to mount protests across the country against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to suspend Parliament until March 3. ‘That’s not to say Parliament is unimportant,’ Kenney told reporters after making an immigration announcement. ‘But from a ministerial point of view, I think any minister in any government will tell you that’s probably generally the case.’” (Jason Kenney, Macleans.ca, January 22, 2010)

“Our role as Parliamentarians isn’t to kill time in Ottawa.” (MP Steven Blaney, Macleans.ca, January 15, 2010)

“‘Most of them don’t even know about [prorogation],’ he said of local residents. ‘People don’t pay attention to the national media. They pay attention more to what’s written locally.’” (MP Colin Mayes, Salmon Arm Observer, January 12, 2010)

“Daryl Kramp says only 10 per cent of his responsibilities as an MP are ‘legislative duties.’” (Belleville Intelligencer, January 27, 2010)

“[MP Bruce] Stanton thinks people who think Harper is pulling a fast one may just be unfamiliar with the workings of Parliament. ‘The backlash is a lack of awareness of how these things work,’ Stanton said.” (Orillia Packet & Times, January 20, 2010)

"I think you need to keep prorogation in perspective...It is just 22 days...” (MP Cathy McLeod, Kamloops Daily News, January 20, 2010)

“For him, prorogation is an opportunity for the Conservative government to concentrate on the economy by implementing the next phase of its economic stimulus program and prepare a new budget. If parliament was in session then the opposition parties could vote non-confidence and force an election before those tasks are complete. ‘That’s what we don’t want,’ said [MP Ron] Cannan.” (Kelowna.com, January 27, 2010)


4. Expressing outright opposition to prorogation:

"I look at [prorogation] with mixed feelings...I don't buy the reason of the Olympics...I don't think the business of government should stop (because of them)." (MP Mike Allen, Victoria Star, January 6, 2010)

"Well, my take on it would be that of course the House should be sitting. There are many things that Members of Parliament should be able to take part in. And they do that in the chamber of the House of Commons, not back in their own con constituencies or travelling elsewhere. They need to debate these issues, and there hasn't been a chance for them to debate it. That really, to me, belittles the role that Parliament must play." (Former Progressive Conservative Minister Flora McDonald, CTV Power Play, January 27, 2010)