Now what, Canadians?

We have no working Parliament, and therefore no government, while we’re at war, while we confront an environmental meltdown and while we are facing a global economic crisis.

Parliamentary committees do the bulk of the work of developing legislation. Committee work requires that all MPs work together, bringing the best of what their respective parties have to offer to the table. After hearings, these committees must then assess all information available to them, discuss it and submit evidence-based reports to Parliament so that we end up with evidence-based legislation.

We now have no committees at a time of crisis when every working day counts. As such, it is impossible for the Government of Canada to develop new economic strategies while Parliament is prorogued.

The government of Canada won’t be able to do anything until mid March if this prorogation continues. (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper is NOT the government. He is only one member of parliament and the leader of a minority party.

I have seen no evidence that Harper, or our local representative Gary Schellenberger, understands the Canadian parliamentary system, democracy, or his obligations to all of us.

They both make loud claims about Parliament not working; yet never mention their role in ensuring that it doesn’t.

Let’s examine just why opposition MPs are so hostile to the Conservatives, why parliamentary committees aren’t working effectively and why the blame for this lies squarely with the Conservatives.

In 2007, a secret 200-page manual was given to Harper’s MPs instructing them how to disrupt parliamentary committees. Harper’s continual American style attack ads, attempts to muzzle the media, the derailing of critical public inquiries and attempts to politicize the military caused more anger. The extreme secrecy and illegal withholding of public information alarmed MPs and media.

Harper’s attacks on arms-length Canadian public servants like Louis Arbour (UN High Commission), Richard Colvin (diplomat), Linda Keen (nuclear watchdog), Kevin Page (parliamentary budget watchdog), Paul Kennedy (chair, RCMP Complaints Commission), Peter Tinsley (chair of military police commission), Marc Mayrand (chief electoral officer), Jean Guy Fleury (chair of immigration and refugee board) for doing their jobs threatens Canadian freedom.

Nobody can pretend that Harper and his followers are Canadian Conservatives – they are a brand of politics siphoned directly up from Texas to Alberta by the reformers. They are now repeating the worst of the discredited Republican behaviours that has left America divided, fearful, ill and apathetic.

As the prime minister of a minority parliament, it is Harper’s clear duty to ensure honest collaboration with and full participation of, every member of parliament in crafting new Canadian policies and legislation. This process is critical to government legitimacy.

So get back to Ottawa and get back to work Mr. Schellenberger. Tell your leader that we need a functioning parliament and full committee participation immediately. Only he can set the stage to make this happen. He can start with an apology to the House and a statement of resolve to behave in a respectful, transparent and collegial manner. It starts at the top.

As a concerned citizen I will continue to write letters to all MPs, I will watch Harper closely and I will be by the fountain on Jan. 23 with my sign protesting the unnecessary prorogation of parliament. I hope that many other Canadians will join me.

We’re in trouble Canada, and it will take many of us working together to force Harper to behave like a legitimate Canadian prime minister.

Dawn McLaughlin
Stratford