“It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if they decided to prorogue Parliament… I’m sorry if I sound a little cynical. This is a government (for which) the rules of engagement don’t apply. They’ll move the goal post, change the boundaries and bribe the referee.”
- Deputy Conservative Leader Peter MacKay commenting on unfounded rumours that the Liberal government planned to prorogue in 2005 (Nanaimo Daily News, July 18, 2005)
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has taken the unprecedented step of shutting down Canada’s Parliament for nearly three months, until after the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
Prior to Mr. Harper’s decision to shut down Parliament, the House of Commons had a scheduled break week from February 15-19, 2010 – during the first week of the Vancouver Olympics.
Let’s compare this with the last time Canada hosted the Olympic Games – in 1988.
The Calgary Winter Olympic Games were held from February 13-28, 1988.
In 1988, Parliament sat for four weeks from January 17-February 12, and then had a one-week scheduled break week adjournment from February 15-19 – coinciding with the first full week of the Calgary Olympics. Parliament then resumed sitting again on February 22 – which means Canada was able to govern itself at the same time as the Olympic Games were underway.
Then-Prime Minister Brian Mulroney spent 10 days at the Calgary Winter Olympic Games, without having to shut down Parliament. He attended the Opening Ceremonies on February 13 and remained in Calgary for six more days during the scheduled break week. Mr. Mulroney then returned to Ottawa, before coming back to Calgary for the last weekend of the Olympics (February 26-28) and the Closing Ceremonies.
