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This is more than happy news. This is relief! Many of us, including your’s truly, were starting to lose faith in Speaker Milliken for all the time he took. Not to mention, we believed that he would never risk his career to vote against the Harpercon regime.
Now, Milliken has just reminded all of us that parliament must reign supreme and ordered Brother Steve and the opposition to find a “workable solution” without “without compromising the security and confidentially contained.”
“It is the view of the chair that accepting an unconditional authority of the executive to censor the information provided to Parliament would, in fact, jeopardize the very separation of powers that is purported to lie at the heart of our parliamentary system and the independence of its constituent parts,” he told the House.
“Furthermore, it risks diminishing the inherent privileges of the House and its members which have been earned and must be safeguarded.”
It seems that all leaders of the opposition were in the house when Milliken read his ruling. Brother Steve seemed to be missing in action.
More to come, I’m sure and will update if and when developments come along.
I don’t mean to rain on anyone’s parade, but an election, sooner than later may well be called on this issue. I know the numbers are dismal for all parties, except for maybe the Bloc Quebecois in Quebec, naturally. However, if an election needs to be triggered over this, the opposition will have to be more than willing to play for keeps here and go to an election, even if it means holding their noses to form some kind of coalition (NDP & Liberals: Bloc more than likely won’t join this time as he is still quite busy reviving Quebec Sovereignty), to maintain our democracy, otherwise, Speaker Milliken’s ruling today will have been in vain and our democracy will still be trampled on by Brother Steve and the Harpercons.
Or will Brother Steve simply prorogue again? I mean there are only so many shiny things and scandals to go around. If he chooses to run away and if, in spite of her term not being renewed, Michaelle Jean decides to grant him a third prorogation, we will know who is special envoy to Haiti or some other plushy Diplomatic fancy title that has little or no significance.
It’s a wonderful safeguard our parliamentary system contains;
the ability of the Speaker to criticise the Prime Minister
or any other person for reason of unparliamentary behaviour.
Stephen Harper wasn’t in the House today either because he
was filling up on food or he didn’t want the House’s cameras
showing his face during a painful (for him) time.
So – - -he’s a coward, plain and simple.
——
I still fondly remember Mme Speaker Jeanne Sauve ruling Pierre
Trudeau out of order in Question Period from time to time.
Such an image is rich. Our parliamentary system does work but
the right persons need to ply its tools. Harper is a tool
of another sort.
Hi Ck,
Today was a great day for Canadian democracy.
Harpo brought this all on himself for refusing to recognize parliamentary supremacy.
He does not want to release the documents, because they will show that he has condoned, and is complicit in torture.
Under him Canada has broken international law, and the Geneva convention.
He wasn’t even in the house today. He has no respect for parliament or Canadian institutions.
Milliken has given all sides two weeks to work something out. I am not holding my breath on Harpo ever doing the right thing.
Nicholson seemed to indicate that they will not comply with the will of parliament, and will not hand over documents as ordered.
I hope Harper is found in contempt.
One way or another he must be brought to heel, and realize he is not our king and he is answerable to parliament.
I hope he eventually ends up in the Hague in handcuffs.