Canada’s Parliament is officially prorogued and a new legislative session will start on October 16 with a throne speech.
Parliament was set to start on September 16 after the summer break, but last month Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced his intention to prorogue parliament and return in October.
Prorogation ends a legislative session and is done by Canada’s Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister.
“The principal effect of ending a session by prorogation is to end business, “according to the Canadian Parliament’s website. “All government bills that have not received Royal Assent prior to prorogation cease to exist; committee activity also ceases. Thus, no committee can sit after a prorogation.”
Governor General David Johnston granted the Prime Minister’s request for prorogation and signed the royal proclamation Friday morning (September 13), after an “exchange of correspondence,” his office said. A spokeswoman declined to provide further details and referred CBC News to the parliamentary website for general information on prorogation.
Thomas Mulcair, the leader of the Official Opposition NDP party once again criticized the Prime Minister for proroguing parliament. In a statement released Friday he said: “While many families continue to struggle, Stephen Harper is shutting down parliament, afraid to answer questions about the economy or his involvement in the Senate expense scandal.”
“Stephen Harper is setting new records for proroguing and avoiding accountability. He should stop hiding and recall parliament now to face questions from the people’s representatives,” said Mulcair.
This is the fourth time that the Prime Minister has used prorogation since the Conservative government came to power in 2006.
More information:
CBC News – Prorogation official as GG grants PM Harper’s request – here
Ottawa Citizen – Governor general approves request to prorogue Parliament until Oct. 16 – here
CBC News – Prorogation starts countdown to the next election: Greg Weston – here
NDP press release – Harper on the run from accountability, shuts down Parliament for fourth time – here
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