Chris in the News: Part of democracy is being accountable in the House of Commons

Charlton’s bills on hold while govt. prorogued
Mountain MP says Commons needs to talk about pensions and EI improvements

By Mark Newman, News Staff
News
Jan 08, 2010

Chris Charlton says she isn’t looking forward to the extra time away from the House of Commons.

The Mountain NDP MP blasted the move by the Harper government last week to prorogue Parliament, essentially shutting down the Commons and the parliamentary committee system until after the throne speech on March 3.

“I think it’s outrageous, there’s no need for it,” Charlton said. “As a country we’re fighting for democracy around the world and we have a government here at home who doesn’t value democracy at all. Part of democracy is being accountable in the House of Commons.”

Charlton said she feels one reason the Tories decided to prorogue Parliament was so they don’t have to take any more heat over the Afghan detainee issue at committee.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is also expected to use the break to appoint more Conservative senators.

“For (the government) there’s a huge plus side because when the house doesn’t sit, they’re not accountable to anyone,” Charlton said.

Rather than shutting down the House, the Mountain MP said the House should be discussing the economy, pensions and improvements to employment insurance as well as talking about what should be in the spring budget.

“From a prime minister who scolded the Chretien Liberals and said, ‘The sponsorship scandal would never happen under my watch, I’m going to be accountable, I’m going to have a transparent government,’ none of those things are happening,” Charlton said.

The move to shut down Parliament will not affect the eight private member’s bills Charlton currently has in the second reading stage in the House.

Those bills call for: changes to the Income Tax Act to enable trades people to deduct travel and accommodation expenses for out-of-town work; setting up an oil and gas ombudsman; making Remembrance Day a national holiday; changes to the Canada Labour Code; increasing the maximum number of weeks for EI benefits; harmonizing national and provincial holidays; changes to the Canada Pension Plan; and changes to the Parliamentary Employment and Staff Relations Act.

The Mountain MP said she will be using the extra time away from the House to meet with local groups to garner input on what should be in the spring budget.

She said she is particularly concerned that, facing a $56-billion deficit, Finance Minister Jim Flaherty may focus on massive spending cuts, much like he did when he was in charge of Ontario’s finances in the Harris government.