Read: http://news.ca.msn.com/top-stories/c...entid=23166056

Our government gets a 2+ month holiday? Because of Christmas etc and the Olympics? ugh.

Yes, yes, I do see it as being a problem.

That Stephen Harper can shut down the democratic process whenever he wants.

It's all up to Michaelle Jean, though.

Mr. Harper should call this "shutdown" what it really is.

His own little Reichstag Fire Decree.

Its a slippery slope, and if we've learned anything from history, we won't let it happen again.

Originally Posted by c.erl

Mr. Harper should call this "shutdown" what it really is.

His own little Reichstag Fire Decree.

Its a slippery slope, and if we've learned anything from history, we won't let it happen again.

How about we not throw out comparisons to Nazi Germany until he blames a minority for all the worlds troubles, and millions of people start dying?

Harper can suggest/request a closing, but ultimately its Jean, representing the Queen, who makes the decision. If it is closed, and the Liberals/NDP can't hold their shit together for an extra month to go after him again, then they have problems that can't be fixed by parliament anyway.

Don't get me wrong...i dont believe in closing it. I think the fact that it's already shut down til the end of January for the "holidays" is a farce. Last I checked, there's no holiday after the first. Why they need to the end of the month, let alone March, is beyond me.

Easy there, Hitler.

absolutly no offence to any post up so far but I think that it's pointless to say that it's Michaelle Jean's decision because... Let's be realistic! She's simply a tradition... Her role as Gov. Gen. is nothing but old tradition kept to remember a little bit of where Canada comes from.

I could be wrong, but I'm not sure that Gov. Gen. have really done anything for anyone in decades other than go along with what the prime minister asks of them.

Just my thought on one small aspect of the whole thing though.

Oh, and I'm totally against the whole thing. Where the heck is my 2 month break!?

Originally Posted by mike_302

Oh, and I'm totally against the whole thing. Where the heck is my 2 month break!?

Your 3 month break is a semester away lol

HAHAHAHAHA

You kinda lose all clout when you make a nazi reference against the conservatives, then an inch below your sig has 'student NPD president'.

Take a step back and realize you are just as much of a tool as the conservatives, liberals, green party, and everyone else. You and what you support are as much part of the problem as the "Nazi" conservatives you campaign against.

I think Fred Durst made a point, when Harper starts gassing people en masse, then we can start making nazi comparisons. Who would Harper want to destroy anyway? Muslims? The French? Maritimers? Married gay couples who adopt children?

Hahaha [email protected], just be happy I didn't unsheathe the caps lock and unleash the true fury.

Originally Posted by Rossclot

HAHAHAHAHA

You kinda lose all clout when you make a nazi reference against the conservatives, then an inch below your sig has 'student NPD president'.

Take a step back and realize you are just as much of a tool as the conservatives, liberals, green party, and everyone else. You and what you support are as much part of the problem as the "Nazi" conservatives you campaign against.

Meh.

The reference to the Fire Decree (a fav of all History majors like moi), was attacking Harper's flagrant disregard for democracy. No one really does the decree justice like the decree it self, so...

Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict the rights of personal freedom [habeas corpus], freedom of opinion, including the freedom of the press, the freedom to organize and assemble, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications, and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.

By this reference (and it really kills it when I have to explain it like this), I was pointing out his attacks on KAIROS, muzzling of government MPs, constant stifling of opposition legislation, etc.

I definitely made a dictator reference toward the PM, but assuming that I'm calling him a Nazi insults my historical training. Sure, if anyone else wants to make the comparison between the National Socialist Workers Party and the Tories, be my guest, but Harper's megalomaniacal style to governing is pretty much the closest he comes to even looking like a Nazi.

History degrees FTW.

Sure, its easy to assume I'm some unthinking, party hack, simply acting as the Borg-like central organization of the New Democrats commands, but that would do nothing more than highlight your own ignorance of how the Canadian party system works, and it would be taking a leap in assuming my character is something which it is not when you know me by one or two statements made on a forum and not by my actions, thoughts and personality in reality.

Originally Posted by Rossclot

then an inch below your sig has 'student NPD president'.

FUN FACT! The "NPD" is actually the acronym for the neo-Nazi party in Germany, currently facing a ban thanks to its malicious campaign against foreign nationals living in that country.

I'm the President of the Campus New Democrats...not the President of a backward, racist organization like that. Sure, I may be a dual Canadian-German citizen, but that doesn't make me any more likely to support a group like the NPD...

Originally Posted by c.erl

Meh.

The reference to the Fire Decree (a fav of all History majors like moi), was attacking Harper's flagrant disregard for democracy. No one really does the decree justice like the decree it self, so...



By this reference (and it really kills it when I have to explain it like this), I was pointing out his attacks on KAIROS, muzzling of government MPs, constant stifling of opposition legislation, etc.

That reference also has nothing to do with anything happening here. Harper is not limiting any fundemental freedoms, he is not collecting power by passing/trying to pass any Enabling Act, and therefore does not have and does not seek the power to have one man (himself) pass laws without parliamentary approval. All he's doing is delaying. Tactically, it's a pretty good idea, given that the last time it happened, the coalition trying to oust him fell apart, and the Liberals more or less killed themselves in the polls, while his own popularity rose. Again, if the Opposition can't keep it in their pants for an extra month to try and get him in trouble again, they (collectively) have problems beyond parliament.

Originally Posted by c.erl

I definitely made a dictator reference toward the PM, but assuming that I'm calling him a Nazi insults my historical training. Sure, if anyone else wants to make the comparison between the National Socialist Workers Party and the Tories, be my guest, but Harper's megalomaniacal style to governing is pretty much the closest he comes to even looking like a Nazi.

History degrees FTW.

Sure, its easy to assume I'm some unthinking, party hack, simply acting as the Borg-like central organization of the New Democrats commands, but that would do nothing more than highlight your own ignorance of how the Canadian party system works, and it would be taking a leap in assuming my character is something which it is not when you know me by one or two statements made on a forum and not by my actions, thoughts and personality in reality.

You make it easy to assume these things (in your words, that youre an "unthinking, party hack, simply acting as the Borg-like central organization of the New Democrats commands" and "assuming that I'm calling him a Nazi") when you make references to extreme acts taken by a notoriously evil government which have NO bearing on the current situation being discussed.

Originally Posted by c.erl

FUN FACT! The "NPD" is actually the acronym for the neo-Nazi party in Germany, currently facing a ban thanks to its malicious campaign against foreign nationals living in that country.

I'm the President of the Campus New Democrats...not the President of a backward, racist organization like that. Sure, I may be a dual Canadian-German citizen, but that doesn't make me any more likely to support a group like the NPD...

Another fun fact: NPD (Or Ipsos NPD, i believe is the current name) is also a market research company in Canada and the US. I worked for them, and many, many times made the typo "NDP" when typing out their name, as I'm sure Rossclot did when he typed that sentence.

I could be wrong, of course, but Im pretty sure that's all it was, not an inference that you are a neo-nazi supporter for a foreign party.

I demand that all MPs receive a pay cut for two months.

Originally Posted by KayakerDan

I demand that all MPs receive a pay cut for two months.

A pipe dream, but I for one support this notion!

I keep trying to right something to explain how I feel about this, but its pretty difficult. I really don't care. Canadian politics is boring, and the fact that this is such a newsworthy story just exemplifies that. A politician is acting like a politician, but in a relatively victimless way. Its a waste of tax money, but that's pretty par for the course with most of the things the Canadian government does.

On the one hand I kindof wish we had stuff worth getting outraged about (like the US or UK). But I guess the our government not sucking (in relative terms) is a fair trade off.

Also Godwin's Law.

I think Mr. Erl's implication that Harper is Hitler and the Conservative Party of Canada is comparable to the NSDAP (commonly known as the Nazi Party) is offensive and over the line. As a conservative I am offended by Mr. Erl's comments. I would hope Mr. Erl would not use logical fallacies such as Reductio ad Hitlerum, to malign Mr. Harper and his supporters. If he was honest himself he would admit that proroguing parliament often occurs for various reasons including resetting the government's legislative agenda with a new Throne Speech. I seriously hope that Mr. Erl is not arguing for the overthrow of our government based on a legitimate action.

As to those who suggest this is a "holiday", I seriously hope they do not think MP's are sitting on their hands when Parliament is in session. There is plenty of work to be done in the constituency and also now planning and developing the legislative agenda for 2010.

Originally Posted by arathbon

As to those who suggest this is a "holiday", I seriously hope they do not think MP's are sitting on their hands when Parliament is in session. There is plenty of work to be done in the constituency and also now planning and developing the legislative agenda for 2010.

Im sure there are many MPs that will work with their constituents during the time they have. However, history tells us that many will not. The speaker of the house isn't even in the country, so he sure as hell isn't doing anything work related.

To quote the article Danielle posted, "The session had been scheduled to resume Jan. 25 after the holiday break". Right there, that tells us the original break until the 25th is a holiday. I dont know what day it closed, but thats at least a 1 month holiday from Christmas Day (the earliest federally designated holiday this time of year). A month for Christmas and New years is ridiculous.