CONTEMPT OF PARLIAMENT DOWNFALL OF HARPER GOVERNMENT
Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer
Election launched as government the first in Commonwealth history found in contempt
OTTAWA, ON – The Harper Government’s refusal to provide key documents requested by Parliament, and its misleading of the House of Commons on altered documents, has led to its defeat on historic Contempt of Parliament charges Friday.
“It was with great sadness that I today voted non-confidence in the Government of Canada,” said Thunder Bay-Superior North MP Bruce Hyer after the vote. “I have always believed in cooperation and compromise, and have hoped that Mr. Harper would choose to exhibit those qualities. He was elected by 37 percent of the voters, but has made it more and more clear that he wants and expects 100 percent of the power and control. Anti-democratic behaviour by him and his party has deteriorated into deception and dishonesty. He does not even follow the principles and promises upon which he ran for election.”
The Liberal motion passed by a vote of 156 to 145 Friday afternoon stated “That the House agrees with the finding of the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs that the government is in Contempt of Parliament, which is unprecedented in Canadian parliamentary history, and consequently, the House has lost confidence in the government.”
The Prime Minister is expected to visit the Governor-General and ask for a dissolution of Parliament Saturday, triggering the 41st general election.
“This is the unfortunate culmination to a history of Mr. Harper’s growing disrespect for our democratic institutions …and for the majority of Canadians who have a different opinion,” said Hyer. “He prorogued Parliament twice to avoid accountability, his government is facing electoral fraud charges, his associates are under investigation for influence-peddling, he’s refused to be truthful on finances and program costs, and the list of scandals he’s facing is long and growing daily. But despite all this unethical and potentially illegal behaviour, it’s his attempts to circumvent the checks and balances built into our system that have defeated him. For our system of governance to work, MPs must have the information they need – the documents, the proper costing of programs, the truth – so we can hold the government to account. This helps save the country, and taxpayers, from the worst excesses of waste and corruption. Checks on government excess – basic government accountability – is something we simply cannot afford to lose as a country.”
“It’s has been a great honour for me to represent the people of Thunder Bay-Superior North as their Member of Parliament. I think my record shows that I will always put their interests first, no matter what. I hope that they will choose to rehire me to stand up for them in Parliament.” concluded Hyer.
