It's been pointed out elsewhere that the Cons are invoking closure on multiple difference types of legislation in order to ensure that their sweeping changes aren't subject to proper public debate. And in most cases, their excuse is that the bills have largely been introduced and debated in a relatively similar form before, so they're free to short-circuit any democratic processes now.
Needless to say, we shouldn't buy the argument for a second. But to the extent that is the Cons' explanation, it bears mentioning that the provisions of the Cons' recently-introduced gun registry bill ordering the immediate destruction of all records (to ensure that provinces can't set up their own registries) are nowhere to be found in the pseudo-private member's bill the Cons previously used to push the issue. Which should make this one bill that demands a full debate even on the Cons' account.
I think the main issue is that Harper just fundamentally views standard parliamentary procedures as obstacles to his agenda opposed to stalwarts of the democratic process.
ReplyDeleteWell done by him - particularly if it's possible to get updated info before the Cons set fire to the current registry.
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