EMMA GODMERE
CUP Ottawa Bureau Chief

OTTAWA (CUP) ”“ Government business has ground to a complete halt as Prime Minister Stephen Harper made the move to prorogue Parliament on Dec. 30.

The Prime Minster’s Office announced the move on Dec. 30, indicating that Harper had spoken with Gov. Gen. Michaëlle Jean over the phone that day about the matter and that she agreed to suspend Parliament until after the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games in February.

“Our priority in the new session of Parliament will continue to be rapid and effective implementation of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to benefit communities, workers and businesses,” the prime minister said in a press release.

“At the same time, we are already looking ahead to future challenges. These include restoring a balanced budget once our economy is fully recovered and building a strong foundation for our economic future.”

MPs have been on break since Dec. 10 and were originally scheduled to return to Ottawa on Jan. 25.

Along with halting regular House of Commons and Senate business, prorogation stops any bills making their way through Parliament and additionally brings all committee business to a standstill.

This includes the committee investigating the Afghan detainee issue, which has plagued the Harper government with controversy for over a month. In November, former senior diplomat Richard Colvin told parliamentarians that some detainees who were transferred to Afghan prisons by Canadian troops had likely been tortured by Afghan forces.

Opposition parties have actively voiced their displeasure with the idea of stalling business such as this, according to a Quebec Media, Inc. Agency article in the Toronto Sun on Dec. 30.

“If the government attempts this manoeuvre, it’s a shocking insult to democracy,” said Liberal House Leader Ralph Goodale in the story. “The government is in a very sticky place with respect to Afghan detainees and they’re running from accountability here — this is a cut and run government.”

Prorogation also clears several government anti-crime bills off the table — including bill C-27, the anti-spam bill that has successfully passed through three readings in the House, two readings in the Senate, and has now been referred to committee.

Harper has prorogued Parliament twice previously. In September 2007, the prime minister chose to reset parliamentary business and began the second session of the 39th Parliament with a throne speech that October.

Suspending Parliament will also give Harper more time to name five new senators, which would create a Conservative majority on the new Senate committees, thus making it easier to pass Conservative legislation.

Following the re-election of his minority Conservative government in October 2008, and facing a non-confidence vote that could have led to a potential Liberal-NDP coalition government, Harper asked the Governor General to suspend Parliament once again in December 2008. The second session of the 40th Parliament has lasted since late January 2009.

A throne speech will kick off the third session of the 40th Parliament on March 3, with a budget set to be released on March 4.

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photo: Flickr / M_Eriksson