MAY: By denying my right to speak, Parliament is weakened

[Oscar]

MAY: By denying my right to speak, our Parliament is weakened

[ http://elizabethmaymp.ca/by-denying-my- ... -weakened/ ]

On Thursday, March 26th, 2015 in

Other Articles by Elizabeth:
http://elizabethmaymp.ca/category/news/ ... /articles/ ]

When I was first elected, the consensus among parliamentary observers was that I would never be heard from again. One MP, so it was said, cannot do anything in Parliament. Fortunately, I did not accept the accepted wisdom. I firmly believe in the essential role of Parliament as the living, breathing expression of our democracy. I cling to principles that exist more in the breach than in the observance – that all MPs are equal, that the prime minister is first among equals, that Parliament is supreme with the prime minister reporting to parliament – and not the other way around.

The right to speak on behalf of my constituents is something I asserted from my first day in the House. As each leader stood to welcome the new Speaker, I stood and was recognized. It is not for the major parties to decide who gets to speak. It is the Speaker who makes that decision – a point made clearly when Conservative MP Mark Warawa complained that his party whip had denied him his right to speak, infringing on his privileges. Speaker Andrew Scheer neatly side-stepped the abuse of power by that party whip, by pointing out that Mr. Warawa should have stood and tried to catch the speaker’s eye. Failing to have done that, the Speaker ruled, he had not actually lost the right to speak because he had not tried hard enough. No one could ever accuse me of insufficient effort. I have been recognized to speak in the House more often than any other member.

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The debate about extending the military mission in Iraq by 12 months and starting bombing against Syrian targets as well is a solemn and sober one. All voices and viewpoints in the House should be heard and respected. I can only imagine that the excessive hyper-partisanship as an election approaches explains the actions of Conservative members. That and the Prime Minister’s effort at a joke in replying to Tom Mulcair on Wednesday does not bode well for an informed and reasoned discussion.

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MAY: Why I am fighting Bill C-51

[ http://elizabethmaymp.ca/why-i-am-fighting-bill-c-51/ ]

Date: 2015/03/19 -- Category/Categories: Articles by Elizabeth, Bill C-51

The reaction to Bill C-51 has been widespread and the opposition is growing. While its short title is the “Anti-Terrorism Act,” it is both more and less than that. It is less than “anti-terrorism” because it is likely to make us less safe. The act gives new powers to CSIS to act in Canada and ...


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MAY: Re-engaging in the world: Canada has a short runway to prepare for COP21

[ http://elizabethmaymp.ca/re-engaging-in ... for-cop21/ ]

Date: 2015/03/19 -- Category/Categories: Articles by Elizabeth

Globally, nations are engaging, with varying degrees of enthusiasm and ambition, in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the deadline negotiations set for December 2015 in Paris. It will be the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21); the deadline for a workable comprehensive treaty. Deadlines have come and gone. We had ...