Prorogation: It’s what we deserve

Upon hearing that Prime Minister Stephen Harper had prorogued Parliament yet again, my mom exclaimed “Thank God! Now we don’t have to listen to those politicians all through the Olympics.” If anyone wonders how the Conservatives are able to get away with repeatedly scuttling the democratic process in this country, this is your answer.

It’s a safe bet that this attitude is shared by many people across the country. And it serves the interests of the Conservatives for people to feel this way. As Michael Ignatieff pointed out in his editorial in Friday’s Free Press, the government has done everything in its power to steadily erode public confidence in politics.

The problem of political apathy can’t be laid entirely at the Conservatives’ feet. The sponsorship scandal and three successive minority governments have gone a long way towards that as well. But it almost seems to be a part of the Conservative party platform that the less faith the public has in our democratic institutions, the better.

The better, at least for them. Shutting down Parliament not only saves the government from the potential storm brewing over the Afghan detainee issue. It also saves them from having to immediately face any embarrassment during the Olympics, which are sure to be plagued by protests from any number of groups and organizations.

Distrust of the government is the central pillar of the Conservative ideology, which was made all too clear by their willingness to kill their own cherished “get tough on crime” bills which were still making their way through Parliament. This move may deepen the contempt many Canadians hold our politicians in, but don’t expect us to take time out of watching the Olympic hockey tournaments to do something about it.