Northern MPs blast Harper's prorogation of Parliament

At a time when people are returning back to work after their summer holidays, and when students are heading back to the classroom, federal politicians have found themselves locked out of the House of Commons.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper prorogued the legislature this week. The Commons was scheduled to resume sitting on Sept. 16, but will only now come back on Oct. 16 – an entire month of prorogation, said Sudbury MP Glenn Thibeault.

“Our municipal and provincial politicians are at work, but those of us on the federal level, we're back in our ridings because, once again, Prime Minister (Stephen) Harper decided to put padlocks on the door to make sure no one can get together to talk about the issues we need to talk about,” Thibeault told media outside his constituency office.

He was joined by Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes. They both called Harper's move to prorogue Commons “shameful.”

“We just spent the last week canvassing to hear the issues our constituents have, from gas prices to credit card fees, but we can't raise those concerns in the House right now, because Stephen Harper has closed the door,” Thibeault said.

There are thousands of questions that need to be asked, Hughes said.

“This is the fourth time in seven years that the prime minister has prorogued Commons,” she said. “If (Harper) wants to run away from accountability, then let him. Call an election — that way we can ensure the people get a government they deserve. This is a government that is not interested in governing.”

Both MPs believe Harper and his government are using prorogation to hide from opposition questions on the Senate expense scandal, as well as many other issues.
“Canadians need answers, and it's the job of the opposition to get those answers, but unfortunately the government isn't interested in hearing anything from Canadians,” Thibeault said. “But what's (prorogation) doing for Canadians? Absolutely nothing, and it's painting a rather unpretty picture of politics.

“We are elected to go to Ottawa to bring forward the voices of the citizens, and when you prorogue, it's disturbing in the sense that those voice aren't heard, and these issues aren't going away.”

Not only are Canadians not being represented right now, but there are many studies being done by parliamentary committees that will either never be completed or completed late because committees aren't meeting, Hughes said.

“Nothing is being done, which means many of these studies may never be finished, or we won't be able to move on to another study within a timely fashion, unless we rush through them.”

Prorogation is a natural and normal part of a parliamentary democracy, Thibeault said, but only when it's used the right way.

“When you have a Speech from the Throne coming, you don't need three months of prep in the summer, and then another month,” he said. “There are so many important issues facing this country right now, and for us to not be able to bring those voices forward in Ottawa, it's just really shameful.

“It's hurting Canadian families. Go to the gas pumps anywhere in Northern Ontario, and the prices are getting higher. We can't ask question of the government as to why they are allowing gas companies to raise those prices.”

Thibeault said once the Commons resumed sitting, he wanted to start working on several private member's bills, one of which is designed to help protect lakes and rivers. The government removed those protections in their last omnibus bills, he said.

“People want to see Ramsey Lake, Junction Creek and many of our lakes and rivers protected, and I have private member's bills I wanted to introduce to do that,” he said.

“There's also gas prices, which I talk about on a regular basis. It's something this government doesn't like to talk about, but I was hoping to get it to committee. We have motions and studies we want to bring forward, but when those committees are closed down, things don't get done.”

Thibeault said he and his fellow MPs have been posting questions on Twitter to the different ministers in an effort to get answers. He said he has been tweeting Finance Minister Jim Flaherty for the past few days, but has yet to get a response.

And, while there's no shortage of work within their respective constituency offices, both Thibeault and Hughes said the things they were elected to do, such as reviewing legislation and ensuring the economy is first and foremost, isn't getting done.

The impact of prorogation, it would seem, hasn't gone unnoticed by Sudburians, Thibeault said.

“I've been getting emails and phone calls from concerned citizens ... it's really disheartening for people when they look at how they perceive their politicians at the federal level. People are asking whey we aren't in Ottawa working for them. We're ready to go back to work, so let's get back to work as soon as possible.”