The Liberals are missing the point

I am astonished at the bronze face the Liberals hold when proposing the anti-prorogation measure. Their leader-in-waiting Bob Rae is the prorogation guru (as brought out by many bloggers and the CBC itself), and they are the same party who, while advocating democracy and people power last year were ready to get in bed with a separatist party. What a bunch of pillocks!

Prorogation should be a tool that allows the Government to announce a massive new legislative drive needing immediate attention. The current prorogation is way too long, despite there being reasons for having such a long break. I would limit the prorogation term to 14 days, enough for the Government to draft a new Throne Speech and have the urgent bills ready for introduction. In the meantime Committees should be given the possibility to finish up their business, or at least put their current work in writing so they can come back to it. No, business should not be wiped completely clean, it's a waste of work. The scope of prorogation should be softened and made to resemble the normal evolution from one session to the next. Parliamentary business preceding prorogation must remain on the agenda, albeit on the back burner.

Additionally, for Chrissakes, allow Committees to be reset without resorting to a prorogation.

Yet the Liberal proposal stinks to high heaven. Having the House vote on a prorogation is a rubbish concept: a majority government would have an obvious outcome, a minority government would be held hostage by the opposition. 10 days notice? Fair enough, if we really have to. Allowing committees to continue working while prorogued? That's fine too.

Spare me the confidence rubbish though. Limit the prorogation time and vote down the government on the Throne Speech, if you have the guts to.

Thought so!