Stanton defends PM

Author: Travis Mealing

Date: Jan 08, 2010

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Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton rejects suggestions that the prime minister suspended parliament to avoid questions surrounding the torture of Afghan prisoners.

Simcoe North - Opposition critics, newspaper columnists and letter writers have condemned Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue Parliament until March 3. Simcoe North MP Bruce Stanton, however, is wondering what the fuss is all about. “It’s not (a decision) that anyone really has the ability to question,” said Stanton, who heard the news on the radio. “It is the prerogative of the sitting government and prime minister…. I take it in stride. It’s his decision.” Others are more disturbed than the local Conservative about Parliament being shut down until after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver are over. It had been set to resume on Jan. 25. The suspension of the House of Commons means dozens of pieces of legislation die on the order paper; the move also dissolves the parliamentary committee probing the issues surrounding allegations that detainees transferred by Canadian troops to Afghan authorities were subsequently tortured. The decision is “about one thing and one thing only – avoiding the scrutiny of Parliament at a time when this government is facing tough questions about their conduct in covering up the detainee scandal,” Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff said in a statement. “Mr. Harper is showing his disregard for the democratic institutions of our country.” NDP Leader Jack Layton said Harper can’t be allowed to run Canada like some kind of “tinpot” state with little regard for democracy. Stanton flatly denied this is a tactic by Harper to avoid questions surrounding the issue of Afghan prisoner torture. “It certainly isn’t a tactic. It’s a tool the government, the prime minister, has at his disposal,” Stanton said. “There’s no attempt to hide anything…. We’ve been more than forthcoming in terms of its provision of information to continue that debate, and when Parliament resumes on the third of March, the process will continue to allow the opposition to bring forward their concerns.” He added Ignatieff’s line about this being indicative of a “disregard for the democratic institutions of Canada” is just an attempt to score political points. “I can see what they’re trying to construe there, but this provision itself is part of our parliamentary system,” he said. “It’s what our Constitution provides and, in fact, compels the government to do from time to time.” Stanton said he agreed with the prime minister’s explanation that prorogation is appropriate going into the second year of a two-year economic action plan. “It now is time to reset and communicate to Canadians through a throne speech what the next steps are going to be,” he explained. However, when asked why the House could not continue to sit and committees continue to work right up until the throne speech, he was at a loss. “I’m not too sure of the technical answer to that,” Stanton said, adding this will be the 145th throne speech delivered in the 40 Parliaments since Confederation. “So it’s not uncommon to use the tool of prorogation to reset the parliamentary agenda going forward.” He also suggested prorogation may not be a big deal to most Canadians. “It seems to be more peculiar to the national media narrative,” he said. “They tend to be the voice that expresses the notion that MPs only work when the session is on.” Stanton explained his work in Ottawa also involves preparing for committee gatherings, caucus sessions, correspondence and other meetings in addition to sitting in the House. He said he’ll have more time now to devote to constituents’ concerns and return to the riding. “I don’t see (prorogation) as taking away from the parliamentary system or the process of the representation of MPs in forwarding the interests of their constituents,” he said. “That work goes on day in and day out whether the session is on or not.” – With files from Torstar News Service