Hundreds and thousands of people rallied across Canada, including Waterloo, on Saturday protesting against Harper government’s prorogation of Parliament until March.
In Waterloo, the rally was held at city’s public square. Flocks and flocks of people showed up despite cold and windy weather to support their cause. They were holding Canadian flags and placards which said no to prorogation.
Speaking to the waving and chanting crowd of almost 500 people, different speakers, including organizers of the event, said their aim was to let the government know that the Canadian people care about their country and democracy as well as the Parliament.
They chanted anti-Harper slogans and urged Prime Minister Stephen Harper to reopen the Parliament and get back to work.
‘Harper is completely wrong and should reopen the Parliament,’ said Susan, a Waterloo woman attending the rally.
Another man, carrying a placard with an anti-government slogan, said he didn’t belong to any party and was just there to support democracy.
‘It’s not about any party or group. Prorogation is not for democracy,’ he said.
On December 30th Harper announced that he will be proroguing Parliament and suspending democracy until March 3. This the second time Prime Minister has done this in less than two years.
The whole movement against prorogation is created by a University of Alberta student Christopher White, who started the Facebook site 'Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament' requesting MPs to go back to work on January 25.
Meanwhile, Harper has brushed off the anti-prorogation protests. He offered his response at the Ottawa headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs on Saturday.
Harper said the government is urgently trying to craft an agenda for the March 3 resumption of Parliament while dealing with the ‘life and death issues’ of the Haiti earthquake.
More on prorogation:
More than 500 rally to protest government prorogation:
Thousands protest Parliament's suspension:
Anti-prorogation protesters greet PM in Toronto:
Comments
Harper in his defence of Prorogation stated "We are unfortunately at the same time dealing with life-and-death issues as we here in this terrible Haiti tragedy,”
First, this is a clear attempt by Harper to make Canada's response to the Haiti disaster political. Soon he will be putting massages on the sides of the Go trains in and out of Toronto (sounds familiar) saying "What Heroes These Harper Con's Be".
The fact is that Harper and the Con's are doing no more, if that, than any government of the day would do for Haiti, even with Parliament sitting. It is outrageous that Harper and the Con's would deliberately cut off 2/3 of Canadians having a say in how and to what extent our country helps Haiti. This is especially for Quebec, where Harper has explicitly disenfranchised 38% of the people - all those voting Block. This is even more outrageous since the ties between the people of Quebec and Haiti are so very close.
Lloyd MacIlquham cicblog.com/comments.html
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!