Prorogue a ‘Very Dangerous’ Precedent

Prof. Errol Mendes of UofO has stated that PM Harper’s recent decision to prorogue government is not just a bad idea, but “very dangerous.”

Any time that the prime minister wants to evade the confidence of the House now he can use this precedent to do so…

This is certainly an unprecedented situation that we saw unfold. I hope that we won’t come to the brink of this type of effort to unseat a sitting government going against the democratic wishes of the people of Canada.

Mendes is the same person who contemplated seeking an injunction when the election was called early.

He suggests that parliament could pass legislation to prevent prorogue abuse in the future, which may just happen when the House resumes in January. All three parties have indicated they intend to continue their efforts despite attempts at appeasement.

In the meantime I’m thinking that if the PM can prorogue over lack of confidence, why can’t all of us follow the same precedent?

I’m thinking of proroguing my exams this week. Friends have respectively indicated an interest in proroguing mortgage payments or maternity leave until their kids hit 21.

One of my colleagues in law school posed a philosophical question as to whether death could be prorogued. My response was if an elected government doesn’t do the job we elect them (or not) to do, can we regard it as a breach of social contract and prorogue our taxes?

Probably not, but just like death and taxes, the recent move by the PM likely just delays the inevitable.

Comments are closed.