Prorogue? No thanks.

The mood at yesterday's gathering was clear: prorogue is not in the best interests of Canadians.

We gathered at what's become the traditional spot, north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery, and made our way through the downtown streets to Victory Square.
There were a few politicians in attendance, among them Adriane Carr and Hedy Fry (and it's worth clicking on the 30-second video posted at her site). But aside from this handful of NDP and Liberal MPs (and of course, the Green candidate), can you imagine? Not a single Conservative showed up. You'd think they'd have wanted the chance to enlighten us as to why they think proroguing is the right thing to do and not just the avoidance tactic it appears to be.

The mood of the day was positive, with lots of conversation among strangers. Even the police riding along on their bicycles were mellow and ready to chat. Funniest sign was the one that read "Canadians want perogies, not prorogues" with the best part being the fact she was handing out perogies to those who wanted a snack.

Now, if only the government could get the message that people do care about how we are governed -- and that we want our elected officials in Parliament to get back to work. If you feel like phoning Hunky Steve and reminding him that there's lots to do, his number is on the final photo on this post.

It's all bad

I don't think that's about to become the new catch phrase its opposite has. But considering today's news, it's hard to view the day as one with anything good about it. And really, just how much depressing news can fit into twenty-four hours?

Five Canadians -- four soldiers and a journalist -- died in Afghanistan today. It was a deadly day for Americans there too. Days like this, it's doubly hard not to think it's a mistake to be over there in the first place.

And to top things off, it looks as if we're back in 'prorogue' mode, with Steve Harper shutting down Parliament until March, after the Winter Olympics.

I'm not sure what kind of government this is -- walking out the door at will -- this time appearing to do so to avoid important questions about our country's possible complicity in torture. The shutdown also gives Harper a window to weasel out of reporting on our plans for climate change, an item we are supposed to give an accounting on by the end of January. But with government 'not in session', that won't happen.

I know this isn't news to anyone. It's been blaring all day. Still, it leaves me feeling shattered. This is where our taxes go? These are people we elected? And a question: if there's any sort of emergency between now and March, what happens? Or does Steve maybe expect we'll just call up Obama and he'll take over?

A bad way to end a year. A worse way to end a decade.

Word of the Year for 2008

I've been reading bits from here and there about what the Word of the Year might be.

Of those I've read about, I like staycation (a vacation that doesn't involve travel) and monumentous -- a great hybrid if ever there was one.

But my candidate -- at least for its arrival as a completely new word (I bet I'm not alone in this admission) is what happened to our Parliament: prorogue.


I'm also partial to the new significance that tossing one's shoes has taken on -- not just what you do when you walk in the door.

Happy Last Day of 2008.