I’m pretty sure it wasn’t a typo on our part; Simcoe-Grey MP Helena Guergis told us this week everyone she speaks to about the prorogation of parliament is “pleased” the government is “taking a step back”:
“I am familiar with that, but that’s certainly not what I’ve heard when they (people) come into my constituency office and we have a conversation about taking a step back and recalibrating and taking a look at the global economic crisis,” said Guergis. “It is important that we take a step back and take a look at the agenda and make sure we are on the right track.”
Instead of outrage, Guergis said people are “pleased” with the shutdown.
I’m sure it would be an interesting argument to take to tomorrow’s rally in Barrie at the Fred Grant Memorial Square from 1 until 4 p.m. If she were invited, I have no doubt Helena would be able to explain — calmly and rationally — perfectly appropriate reasons to halt the business of government (as long as the PMO provided her with the script, obviously). Because the 200,000-plus people who have joined the Facebook site are obviously delusional (and probably Taliban supporters). And the 1,000 people who have signed up on a Facebook site supporting Harper and his decision to prorogue parliament are the true patriots.
Because even local Conservatives I speak to on a regular basis (generally the non-Kool-Aid drinking type) are shaking their heads on this one…
January 22, 2010 at 10:15 am
[...] 2: A local perspective on Helena’s interview over at the East-End Underground, the Enterprise Bulletin’s blog. The folks over there are as amused as I am at Helena’s [...]
January 22, 2010 at 10:34 am
A step back. That apparently means moving out of the public eye, moving away from media oversight, not engaging in public debate, and not working at what you’re paid to do – governing. It means less democracy, less participation, less involvement in the business of the country.
And this is supposed to be a good thing?
January 22, 2010 at 1:47 pm
As a woman and a citizen of Simcoe Grey, I abhor being represented by Helena. She only appears in our riding for photo ops and birthday parties. It has been well over a year since the last election and she has failed to appear at a meeting of council. We are going it alone through the very worst economic conditions of our lifetime.
The fact that Helena has done nothing for women in her position as Minister of State yet remains in that position shows how little regard our PM has for Canadian women.
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win”
Mahatma Gandhi
January 22, 2010 at 4:21 pm
CBC has outlined the cost to tax payers of prorogation. It’s alarming. Does Helena really believe citizens are pleased with such a cost?
Are we really pleased that government has closed down in the middle of a severe recession?
Are we pleased that the Senate Committee holing hearings on the Afghanistan prisoner question has been shut down?
Are we pleased all committees will have to be restarted and we will have to pay again for expert testimony, flights, eapenses etc.
I would really like to know the TRUE number of people who have indicated that they are pleased that government has shut their doors.
I suggest reading the blog inpolitical.
January 24, 2010 at 10:10 am
As a conservative I am deeply ashamed of this government and our “representative”. I find it hard to type appropriate words to describe my feelings toward our MP, but “pleased” is definitely not one of them.