Michael Ignatieff wants 10 days written notice to be given the opposition when the Prime Minister plans to shut down Parliament.
Arguing Stephen Harper lacks the character and discipline required to use his prime ministerial powers of prorogation responsibly, the Liberal leader said new rules are needed.
“We think it is appropriate now to set down clearly limits on the power of prorogation. … We are dealing with a Prime Minister who has shown that he doesn’t have the political character to respect our institutions, so in our view a view a change of the rules is needed,” he said, putting his own stamp on a proposal first floated by NDP Leader Jack Layton.
The Liberal Leader was flanked by his caucus members, standing in front of the foyer of the House of Commons this morning on the day Parliament was to resume sitting before Mr. Harper shut it down last month.
In addition to a requirement of written notice, Mr. Ignatieff said prorogation must be brought before the House for a full debate and consent of MPs would be required if a shutdown was requested within the first year after a Throne Speech.
He also introduced another wrinkle: that committees continue to sit until the start of the new session. Were these proposed rules in place, it would mean the Commons committee investigating the abuse of Afghan detainees would be sitting now, despite prorogation.
In addition to these changes, the Liberals want a time limit of one month on prorogation. In this case, the Prime Minister has shut down the House for five weeks until after the Vancouver Olympics.
If a vote of confidence is scheduled, prorogation would be prohibited under the Liberal plan.
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Trumping NDP, Michael Ignatieff lays out tough new prorogation rules - The Globe and Mail