Procedure and House Affairs committee  My answer is no, and I've made my reasons clear in my opening statement. The reality is that there is no framework for the discretionary powers, and our governors general have never really wanted to exercise them. It is therefore possible to prorogue at any time because it is

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I believe so, yes.

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Mr. Blaikie, I would add that it is essential to come up with a solution, which may be unconstitutional, because amending the Constitution of Canada is complex. However, I believe that every responsible member of this Parliament should undertake an initiative to restrict this p

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Of course Canada's constitutional law should be reviewed. No one today can conclude that governments have not abused this power of prorogation since the Canadian Confederation was created in 1867. It happened in 1873. This is 2020. There are too many examples of this power being

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I agree with others, including my colleague Mr. Lagassé, that this prorogation lasted far too long. It was not necessary, because we could have continued to operate the program. We know how the Speech from the Throne is prepared. It is done quickly. It can be done overnight. In

Procedure and House Affairs committee  My colleague Ms. Messamore cited some very relevant examples from Canada's constitutional history, most notably the prorogation of 1873, when Prime Minister Sir John A. Macdonald tried to evade the inquiry into the Pacific Scandal. It was really an attempt to use prorogation to e

Procedure and House Affairs committee  The courts have rarely intervened. In fact, some people have taken the position of my colleague Mr. Lagassé that the courts should not interfere. I disagree with that, particularly in light of the U.K. Supreme Court decision on Brexit. It is sometimes difficult to reach a unanimo

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Good afternoon, Madam Chair, ladies and gentlemen of the committee. I'm here with you actually on International Human Rights Day. I'm not sure whether your Parliament will mark this event, but 72 years ago, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration o