Toronto Star: Across Canada, protests urge reopening Parliament

[marmar]

Across Canada, protests urge reopening Parliament

Susan Delacourt and Bruce Campion-Smith
OTTAWA BUREAU Published On Sat Jan 23 2010


OTTAWA—About 3,000 people turned up at the doorstep of Parliament Hill today to protest against its shutdown by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The crowd, about double what organizers had expected, waved signs and chanted during about two hours of speeches and music.

Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, NDP leader Jack Layton and Green Party leader Elizabeth May were among the speakers, and all denounced Harper for what they called an offence against democracy.

"You are a beautiful sight," Ignatieff told the crowd. "When Stephen Harper phoned the Governor-General on New Year's Eve, he had no idea you'd be here... It is a very good sign of the health of our democracy that that understanding is in your heart, your bones, your conscience."

Ignatieff also said that the Liberals, like the New Democrats, would be working to come up with new rules to govern prorogation. Only a couple of days ago, Ignatieff drew some fire from critics by saying that rules weren't needed if leaders had "character." But an adviser said that Ignatieff would be coming forward this week with more detail about how they'd curtail prorogation.

Layton, who is proposing a bill to limit the prime minister's power to prorogue Parliament, called on Harper to "unlock the doors of the people's house—it's not your house." ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/754967--across-canada-protests-urge-reopening-parliament?bn=1

[stevedeshazer]

1. Looks like a similar protest happened in Vancouver.

http://www.vancouversun.com/Prorogue+protesters+take+over+Vancouver+Victory+Square/2477920/story.html

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. Harper can stay on holiday if he wants . .

.
.
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He's worse than useless to Canada,

he's dangerous.