One governor-general to another: Don't aid in evading Parliament's will

[CHIMO]

The heat is on Governor-General Michaëlle Jean – and it's coming from a former governor-general.

Ed Schreyer said in an interview yesterday that granting a wish for the prorogation of Parliament at this point would constitute an evasion of the process of Parliament and should not be done.

“I'll put it this way and I will make this a plain-spoken sentence. Nothing should be done to aid and abet the evasion of submitting to the will of Parliament. I think one can stop there. It's about as basic as that.”

With a new Parliament having just opened, the only circumstances to justify prorogation, Mr. Schreyer said, would be a genuine emergency. “The only emergency seems to be a desire to avoid facing Parliament. That is not an emergency.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081204.wparlmartin04/BNStory/Front

[RedSock]

1. excellent piece

Another snip:

She must also consider the danger of setting an unacceptable precedent. Granting prorogation in dire circumstances for a government is tantamount to saying it should be granted at any time – that the governor-general should be a rubber stamp in the process. That means any time a minority Parliament is in trouble, facing a confidence vote, the prime minister could simply prorogue to head off the crisis. ... To grant prorogation could make her look complicit in the Prime Minister's political power play.

The only crisis at the moment is Harper's political career. She should tell him to Feck Off.

***

Does anyone know when her decision will be announced?

[HeresyLives]

2. May not be for some time.

Apparently she's meeting the leaders of the Opposition this afternoon. And presumably she'll talk with advisors.

[Mother Jones]

3. where did you hear that?

I literally, just got finished phoning every single Liberal and NDP MP office in Ottawa, and they said they are waiting just like us. Some said it's a good sign that he's been in there so long, that maybe it shows she isn't caving easily.

Some also said there were no plans for her to speak with the opposition. She has their letter and that's all that was in place, formally.

Of course, if she wants to talk to them, I say, talk away, great.....but where did you hear she's mtg with them this afternoon?

It's very encouraging, if true.