Layton proposes limits to prorogation

PM’s power to shut Parliament must be curbed, say New Democrats

OTTAWA – The Prime Minister should not be able to prorogue Parliament for longer than seven days unless he has the support of a majority of MPs, say New Democrats.

New Democrat Leader Jack Layton will use his party’s opposition day on Wednesday to introduce a motion that would place a seven-day limit on the power of the Prime Minster to shut down Parliament whenever he pleases.

“Stephen Harper became Prime Minister with the promise of a new day in Ottawa – more open, more transparent, more accountable,” said Mr. Layton. “But that new day never dawned. Instead we have more secrets, more arrogance and more disdain for the elected House of the people of Canada. We have more of the old politics; the old way of doing things in Ottawa. We need to curb his power to padlock Parliament at whim.”

The motion that Mr. Layton will introduce reads as follows:

“That, in the opinion of the House, the Prime Minister shall not advise the Governor General to prorogue any session of any Parliament for longer than seven calendar days without a specific resolution of this House of Commons to support such a prorogation.”