NDP pushes plan to limit PM's power - Would affect ability

BYLINE: Mia Rabson
SOURCE: Winnipeg Free Press

Canada's opposition parties aren't letting prorogation go down without a fight. NDP Leader Jack Layton Wednesday pledged to introduce legislation when Parliament finally does resume in March, that would limit the powers of a prime minister to prorogue the House.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, meanwhile, is beckoning his MPs to the nation's capital next week for a series of panel discussions to take the place of the debate that would have happened had Parliament resumed Monday as originally scheduled. "(Mr. Harper) gambled on the cynicism, disenchantment and disillusion of Canadians," Ignatieff said of Harper's Dec. 30 decision to suspend Parliament until March 3. "I have to tell you, having done a tour of campuses from coast to coast, he gambled wrong."

Both the Liberals and NDP held caucus planning meetings in the national capital region this week. The Liberals met in Ottawa while the NDP gathered just north in picturesque Wakefield, Que.

Layton emerged from the NDP retreat with a plan to have Parliament agree to prorogue only after a vote in the House of Commons.

"It shouldn't happen whenever the prime minister feels like it."

He also said the three opposition parties -- NDP, Liberals and Bloc Qubcois -- will hold unofficial committee hearings on the Afghan detainee controversy while Parliament is out.

Many believe Harper's decision to prorogue came mainly to shut down a parliamentary investigation into the detainee issue. Harper himself has said it was to allow the government to "recalibrate" his agenda with a view to slaying the $56-billion deficit.

Manitoba NDP MP Pat Martin said his caucus is feeling solid after their three-day retreat.

"We came out of our caucus retreat feeling pretty good and very election ready," Martin said.

Manitoba Liberal MP Anita Neville said there was an optimism and energy among her fellow Liberal MPs that should serve them well in the coming months.

Neville has been tapped by Ignatieff to organize and host a day-long session on economic security for women, one of at least six roundtables or panel discussions planned by the Liberals for next week. Others include jobs, political interference in independent agencies, veterans and health.

The week is also part of the Liberal lead-up to a "thinker's conference" in Montreal in March.

Ignatieff made clear Wednesday he wants his party to dump the feeling they are the "natural governing party." Neville said that's a great idea.

"We got complacent," she said. "Canadians are expecting more of us now and we have to deliver."

Neville said the tenure and tone of the caucus meeting in Ottawa this week was more substantial than it has been in the past and included presentations by well-regarded experts on issues such as deficit cutting.

mia.rabson@freepress.mb.ca

A 'growing' issue

MANITOBA NDP MP Pat Martin, often known for attention-getting stunts and comments, has vowed he will not shave until Parliament is recalled by Prime Minister Stephen Harper. "I'm growing a beard and I'm not going to shave it until we go back to Parliament," said Martin.

A former union leader, Martin likened Harper's padlocking of Parliament to being locked out by the boss.