Liberal and New Democrat MPs from across Canada will make a show of returning to work Monday even though the House of Commons has been shut down until March.
Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and NDP Leader Jack Layton both plan to hold events on Parliament Hill to highlight Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision over the Christmas holidays to prorogue Parliament.
The House of Commons was supposed to reconvene Monday following a scheduled six-week break but instead won't return until Mar. 3.
The opposition parties are hoping to ride the political momentum generated by weekend protests across the country that drew thousands of people angered by Harper's arbitrary shutdown.
New Democrats are adopting the language of labour unrest, claiming the Conservative government has "locked out" the country's elected representatives.
Liberals, meanwhile, are highlighting more than 100 detailed questions on the Commons order paper - many of them potentially embarrassing to the Harper government - that should have been answered this week but will remain under wraps until after a throne speech and budget are delivered in March.
The Bloc Quebecois, while also sharply critical of prorogation, does not plan to send its MPs back to Ottawa this week.
The NDP will hold a caucus meeting Monday on the Hill while the Liberals are staging a round table on jobs and the economy in a Commons committee room.
While the opposition parties are attempting to make a political point, they'll be fighting for media attention with a Conservative government that is involved in a number of public activities.
The prime minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon will be in Montreal for a key meeting Monday of international countries to begin planning the reconstruction of Haiti. And a half dozen other Conservative cabinet ministers have scheduled public events across Canada, but not in the capital.
For the latest from The Canadian Press, scroll down The Tyee's home page or click here.
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freebear
2 years ago
"Liberal and New Democrat
"Liberal and New Democrat MPs from across Canada will make a show of returning to work Monday"
It seems that is what it is all about - a show!
Van Isle
2 years ago
Same as that "Help Haiti
Same as that "Help Haiti Conference" in Montreal. It's all optics. How much is that costing us so the politians can have a photo-op?
Frank
2 years ago
Actually
That's a good idea. They have to keep people aware of what's going on as the Cons try to run their government without oversight.
realisticman
2 years ago
Won't be long now
...and the new Senators will be appointed. Then the parliament can get back to work and pass the pending legislation.
The Olympics start in a couple of weeks, when they are over it will be back to work.
Frank
2 years ago
r'man
What pending legislation would that be?
Its become apparent that the Right doesn't understand what proroguing is.
You guys think its nothing more than an extended Christmas break.
OilbertaRedTory
2 years ago
realistically, Mr Minority, the Pro-Rogator
... is repeating himself with his Senate stacking trick:
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Harper+names+senators/1104964/story.html
A trick the Dear Leader learned from the Great Leader:
http://archives.cbc.ca/politics/federal_politics/clips/12071/
Ah ... what would we do without him ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoUybUHXYZ8&feature=related
The Lastfish
2 years ago
Personally speaking
I`m glad Harper porogued Parliment...
It`s guaranteed Harpo Marx never gets his majority.
And as for getting bills through the senate, now Harper Marx will have no excuses for not passing legislation.
Be careful for what you wish for.
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
3 cheers for people with a good work ethic
While Harper and his gang are photo-opping around the country in places where local politicians could be doing the glad-handing, we have some true Parliamentarians sitting for a modern day Long Parliament a la Charles_I.
freebear
2 years ago
Like going to school on a snow day!
What will standing outside the House of Commons do?
Ban political parties and only have independents run (who can form coalitions) for member of parliament!
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
Freebear - free association
Although I admire your thought and intent, Free association is a right under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Any group that bands together for one or more common causes is a defacto political group.
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
RE: Like going to school on a snow day!
The Libs and the NDP are not standing outside the building.
freebear
2 years ago
For all intents and purposes
(did I say that saying right?) the Liberals and NDP would get more attention standing outside the doors!
I am fed up with politics except those of the individual who people can agree or disagree.
If they agree call them a political party if you want but then there would be no need for 'official' parties.
Frankly this country's political party politics is mediocre when it comes to a sustainable vision (in its purest definition)!
The mindless pursuit of economic growth is no vision!
SharingIsGood
2 years ago
"The mindless pursuit ...
...of economic growth is no vision."
I couldn't agree more, Freebear. Life is about maintaining a small footprint thereby allowing for the sharing of resources and a healthy life by the rest of the people and other living organisms. Endless growth in a finite world is a contradiction in terms.