PM’s prorogation power limited

"Our prime minister is not a king, and it's time he understood that.” –Jack Layton

The NDP with support from the Liberals and Bloc have passed a non-binding motion to limit the Prime Minister’s prorogation power. Congratulations to the NDP for making this possible. It’s this kind of thinking that makes our country more democratic. The PM shouldn’t be able to hold this kind of executive power. If only this motion were binding…

Opposition members of Parliament joined together Wednesday to pass a motion that would prevent the prime minister from proroguing Parliament for longer than seven days unless supported by the House.

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/politics/story/2010/03/17/layton-prorogue.html?ref=rss#ixzz0iXpej07e

NDP introduce limit PM's to power

The NDP is proposing a motion that the Prime Mister can not prorogue Parliament longer than a week without the majority of the MP's consent. I am in total favor of this. i want to make sure that Harper can not just prorogue Parliament when ever he wants and expect that it is okay. This motion was proposed Wednesday and will be voted on today ( or has been voted on Thursday). The Liberals are going to propose a similar motion after. The huge problem is even if this motion passes it will not be binding on Harper to follow the bill. That is why I would just want Harper to admit that he has done wrong by proroguing Parliament so we can all move on and for him to approve the bill so he can not be able to do it again.

However, should opposition parties join forces to approve the motion, it's not binding on Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Harper has already signalled that he has no intention of constraining his power to suspend Parliament whenever he sees fit. 

Liberals have come up with their own set of proposals which they plan to introduce at some point and members of the Commons's procedure and House affairs committee have also agreed to study the issue.

http://www.cbc.ca/cp/national/100316/n0316111A.html

Debate on PM's powers

When Parliament resumes, the debate is likely to centre on the Prime Minister's powers. After Stephen Harper proroguing Parliament for no good reason, this is great. No need to let him off the hook. We need to make sure he is responsible for his actions. Politicians need to be held responsible for their decisions. A consequence of the prorogation is the debate about the powers.

OTTAWA — The speech from the throne and the federal budget will be the top two items on Parliament’s agenda when it reconvenes Wednesday after a lengthy and controversial prorogation.

But the biggest political flashpoints in the coming session are likely to come over two other items that have a common denominator: attempts by the House of Commons to put some restrictions on the traditional powers and privileges of the prime minister.

“I think it’s going to be a fairly intense session,” said NDP House Leader Libby Davies. “It’s going to be a difficult working environment.”

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Debate+centre+powers+Parliament+returns/2624395/story.html#ixzz0gt6QMdO8