Canadians want action

Thunder Bay – Rainy River MP John Rafferty expressed his disappointment and frustration today at the Conservative Government’s decision to prorogue Parliament until March. This is the second time in the past two years that the Conservative Government have shut down Parliament and effectively brings the work of Parliament to a halt.
“Canadians expect us to be hard at work on their behalf on the issues that matter to them, not to take another couple of months off” said Rafferty. The announcement to prorogue came Wednesday afternoon after weeks of speculation that Harper would halt the work of Parliament. The Conservative Government prorogued Parliament in December of 2008 to avoid defeat on confidence vote.
“Harper and his party have decided to act in the best interests of the Conservative Party of Canada, using this chance to stack the Senate, something he has long promised he wouldn’t do. 20 years after we saw Brian Mulroney stack the Red Chamber to pass the GST, Stephen Harper is now following in his footsteps.”
“This Conservative government is trying to avoid issues and controversies like the implementation of the HST, the economy, pension reform and the treatment of Afghan detainees. By proroguing Parliament, the Conservative government is trying to run away from those issues instead meeting them head on and is just another attempt by this government to avoid the checks and balances that our democracy depends on.”
Rafferty promised to use this time to continue meeting with constituents all across Thunder Bay – Rainy River and to use it to the maximum. “I am going to take these two months and use them to help improve our riding and the communities in it. I am going to keep doing the work that I was elected to do, regardless of how much Mr. Harper and his government would like to run away from theirs.”