Liberals continue to be hard at work on Parliament Hill today hosting a panel on the current state of democracy in Canada, with an eye to reforming Parliamentary institutions to prevent future prime ministers from abusing them.
“We have grave concerns about the approach taken by this government towards our democratic institutions and Stephen Harper’s penchant for abusing them for his own partisan purposes,” said Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff. “Swift action must be taken to reform our Parliamentary institutions, including an amendment to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons to prevent future abuses of prorogation by the Prime Minister.”
Today’s forum is being hosted by Liberal Deputy House Leader and Government Ethics and Democratic Reform Critic Marlene Jennings, and Liberal Senate Leader James Cowan. It is the third and final session of a series of public forums organized by the Liberal Working Group on Governance, spearheaded by Ms. Jennings and Mr. Cowan.
Participants today include Professor Emeritus Peter Russell of the University of Toronto, Professor Daniel Weinstock of the University of Montreal, University of Alberta graduate student and administrator of the Facebook group “Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament” Christopher White, and University of Ottawa Professor Errol Mendes.
The day will include a keynote address by former Liberal Deputy Prime Minister Herb Gray.
“The viewpoints we hear today from some of the leading experts in the fields of Parliamentary democracy and constitutional law will be very helpful to us going forward,” said Ms. Jennings. “Our Party favours reforms of Canada’s Parliament that reflect sound public policy and respects the Constitution of Canada. In particular, we have grave concerns with the unilateral and unconstitutional approach taken by this government in attempting to reform the Senate.”
Mr. Cowan said contrary to Stephen Harper’s partisan spin, primary opposition to his Senate reform agenda has come from the provinces and territories, not Liberal Senators.
“Senate reform must be done in a way that respects our constitutional partners, the provinces and territories,” said Mr. Cowan. “It cannot be done unilaterally, imposed by a Prime Minister who refuses to hear opposing views from Parliament, the provinces or the Supreme Court of Canada.”
