NEWS
metronews.ca Wednesday, October 17, 2012
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McGuinty controls the message by proroguing: Prof ALEX BOUTILIER
alex.boutilier@metronews.ca
Closing Queen’s Park gives the provincial Liberals a chance to regain control of the message, according to an expert on parliamentary governance. Dr. Lori Turnbull, a political science professor at Dalhousie University who also co-authored a book on prorogation and constitutional reform, said Dalton McGuinty’s decision to prorogue the legislature speaks to the government’s ability to control the message. Rather than step down as premier and have the party select an interim leader, McGuinty promised to stay on until a leadership convention is called at the “earliest possible opportunity.” “If there was an interim leader appointed, well, then today we’d be back at the House and we’d be dealing with the same issues, just a different guy,” said Turnbull on Tuesday.
“Whereas now, nobody is talking about the issues we were talking about yesterday. Now the big issue is why McGuinty resigned, whether he’s going to run against Trudeau (for leadership).” McGuinty announced late Monday evening he would prorogue parliament and ask the party to select a new leader. That means all bills and committees from this short session — such as the committee investigating Energy Minister Chris Bentley for withholding documents on cancelled power plants — die on the vine. “It’s a purging of what the House has been doing,” Turnbull said. “Taxpayer dollars went to all that work, and now it’s flushed down the toilet.” Errol Mendes, a professor of law at the University of Ottawa, drew parallels to Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue the House of Commons in 2009 amid the Afghan detainee controversy and the threat of a non-confidence vote. “Harper did the same thing,” Mendes said. “I think it’s about time both at the federal level and the provincial level for clear rules (about) when these type of actions can and cannot be done.”
NEWS
Deja vu? Proroguing is no more popular than when Harper did it in 2009, but serves the same purpose
Prime Minister Stephen Harper, right, and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty shake hands after a news conference in Toronto in 2009. McGuinty’s decision to prorogue the Ontario legislature leads one professor to draw comparisons to Harper’s decision to prorogue parliament in 2009. DARREN CALABRESE/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Naqvi to mull possible leadership bid with family
Yasir Naqvi GRAHAM LANKTREE/METRO
Yasir Naqvi is doing more than “not ruling out” a bid for the leadership of the provincial Liberals. The Ottawa Centre MPP and Ontario Liberal Party president said he looks forward to discussing throwing his name in the ring with his family — as soon as he has a chance to actually see them. “I’ve not even gone home yet to connect with my family, so obviously I’m look-
ing forward to that opportunity,” Naqvi said Tuesday. “You never say never in life, and it is a very exciting time in our party. Right now there’s great opportunity for renewal.” “Renewal” seems to be the watchword for provincial and federal Liberals of late. It was used a number of times by outgoing Premier Dalton McGuinty, who announced Monday night that he’ll be
stepping down as leader just as soon as the party selects another. There is no timeline set for the selection of a new leader as of yet, Naqvi said. Normally, the party is required to select a new leader within six months, but because McGuinty remains leader, that doesn’t come into effect. If he runs, Naqvi said he will recuse himself from his role as party president. Speculation abounds as to
who else will put in a bid for the leadership. Finance Minister Dwight Duncan’s name has been mentioned, as has embattled Energy Minister Chris Bentley. Ministers Eric Hoskins (Youth Services), Deb Matthews (Health), Glen Murray (College and Universities), Charles Sousa (Immigration), and Kathleen Wynne (Municipal Affairs) are also rumoured candidates. ALEX BOUTILIER/METRO