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Appeal of court case heads to Supreme Court of Canada Set out below is a letter to the editor by Democracy Watch Coordinator Duff Conacher which was published in the October 1, 2010 issue of the National Post. Dear Editor: As democratically important as her prorogation decision, outgoing Governor General Michaelle Jean should also explain why she granted Prime Minister Harper his request for a snap election in September 2008 when Parliament had passed (and she had approved) a bill in May 2007 that fixed the next election date for October 2009. According to the Prime Minister and all other Conservatives who talked about the bill during the parliamentary review, the only way in which an election could occur before the fixed election date was if a majority of MPs voted against the government on a matter of confidence (for example, on a budget or other significant bill). A vote of non-confidence had not occurred before Prime Minister Harper went to the Governor General in September 2008. Four provincial premiers have followed their fixed election date measures, as has the government of the Northwest Territories, and the three other provincial governments with such legal measures have shown no signs that they will violate them before their fixed election dates in fall 2011. Democracy Watch has recently filed its application with the Supreme Court of Canada to have its appeal herad to have the federal fixed election date measures upheld by the Court. Sincerely, Duff Conacher, Coordinator Democracy Watch |