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Protesters blast prorogue |
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Written by Ric Swihart
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Saturday, January 23 2010, 9:09 PM |
Prime Minister Stephen Harper wasn’t burned at the stake at Lethbridge’s Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament Rally in front of MP Rick Casson’s office Saturday — it was too cold with a fierce north wind whipping the picket signs and chilling the coffee.
But 50 braved the weather, ending the rally in a large circle singing the team song blasting the Conservative government for killing democracy in Canada while promoting it with Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Organizers Bev Muendel-Atherstone and Tom Moffatt hit what they considered the basis of the rally.
Atherstone pointed to a new Angus Reid survey that indicated 38 per cent of Canadians side with opposition government parties and believe Parliament was prorogued or shut down to curtail an inquiry into the treatment of Afghan detainees. Generally, 53 per cent of Canadians disagreed with the decision to prorogue, 19 per cent agree and 28 per cent were uncertain.
At the same time, 23 per cent agree with the government’s action.
Moffatt, mounting a small crate armed with a loud speaker, said proroguing Parliament cost legislation in process the last 12 months, and was a slam to climate change debate.
He criticized Harper for many issues, but finally laid blame squarely at the feet of the electorate. “You can vote,” said Moffatt. “Forty-one per cent of you did not vote in the last election. All you have to do is vote to get change.”
Then the picket signs started to signal the rally.
Adoph Harper is not Meinfueher read one. Prorogue Harper permanently another. Afraid to show up, eh, Stephie graced a walker. Naughty rogues always prorogue.
Muendel-Atherstone concluded the program urging everybody to go home and write letter to Harper with copies to the opposition parties.
Mark Sandilands, who ran in two provincial elections and the 2008 federal election for Lethbridge West for the NDP, said Canadians demand a representative federal government, and Harper has failed.
This would never had happened with an NDP government, said Sandilands.
Tom Cain said Canadian troops are busy promoting democracy in Afghistan and “our government is not in session.” Government proroguing action doesn’t support the democracy the troops are living.
Sheila Rogers of Lethbridge attended to add her voice to thousands of Canadians opposed to proroguing Parliament. “I want to see government get back to work.”
Joy Morris called Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament “an outrage.”
She said the action to shut down Parliament appears to be an action so Harper’s government doesn’t have to answer questions. That is an issue which democracy is all about.
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