DOCSLIB.ORG

The Governor General's Decision to Prorogue Parliament

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Governor General's Decision to Prorogue Parliament PointsPoints of VieVieww PointsPoints de vue DiscussionDiscussion PaperPaper No. 7, January 2009 The GovernorGovernor General’General’ss DeciDecisionsion to Prorogue Parliament: ParliamentaryParliamentary DemocracDemocracyy DefendedDefended or Endangered?Endangered? AndrewAndrew HHeardeard Centreentre forfor Constitutionalonstitutional Studiestudies CCentre d’études constitutionnelles Th e Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament Heard PPointsoints ofof View/PointsView/Points ddee vuevue NNo.o. 7 PPointsoints ooff VView/Pointsiew/Points ddee vvueue iiss aann ooccasionalccasional ppaperaper sserieseries ppublishedublished bbyy tthehe CCentreentre fforor CConstitutionalonstitutional SStudiestudies atat thethe UniversityUniversity ooff AAlberta.lberta. Th e seriesseries isis designeddesigned toto publish,publish, inin a timelytimely mmanner,anner, ddiscussioniscussion ppapersapers ooff ccurrenturrent constitutionalconstitutional iinterestnterest ttoo bbothoth CCanadiananadian aandnd iinternationalnternational aaudiences.udiences. Th e CentreCentre forfor ConstitutionalConstitutional StudiesStudies waswas establishedestablished toto facilitatefacilitate andand encourageencourage iinterdisciplinarynterdisciplinary rresearchesearch aandnd publicationpublication ofof issuesissues ofof constitutionalconstitutional concern.concern. Th e CCentreentre isis hhousedoused iinn tthehe FFacultyaculty ooff LLawaw atat thethe UniversityUniversity ooff AAlberta.lberta. Th e CCentreentre gratefullygratefully aacknowledgescknowledges thethe fundingfunding supportsupport ofof thethe AAlbertalberta LLawaw FFoundation.oundation. PPointsoints ooff VView/Pointsiew/Points ddee vvueue eestst uunene ssérieérie dd’articles’articles ppubliésubliés ooccasionnellementccasionnellement parpar llee CCentreentre dd’études’études cconstitutionnellesonstitutionnelles ddee ll’Université’Université ddee ll’Alberta.’Alberta. AAuu ffaitait ddee ll’actualité,’actualité, eellelle ssertert à ddiffiff uuserser ppromptementromptement lleses documentsdocuments dede travailtravail parmiparmi lleses llecteursecteurs ccanadiensanadiens etet éétrangers.trangers. SSituéitué à lala facultéfaculté ddee droitdroit dede l’Universitél’Université ddee ll’Alberta,’Alberta, llee CCentreentre d’étudesd’études constitutionnellesconstitutionnelles a étéété ffondéondé pourpour faciliterfaciliter etet ppromouvoirromouvoir llaa rrechercheecherche interdisplinaireinterdisplinaire eett llaa ppublicationublication ddee ttextesextes consacrésconsacrés aauxux questionsquestions constitutionnelles.constitutionnelles. LLaa CCentreentre bbénéfiénéfi ccieie dudu généreuxgénéreux soutiensoutien fi nanciernancier dede l’Albertal’Alberta LLawaw FFoundation.oundation. AAuthor:uthor: DDr.r. AndrewAndrew HeardHeard isis anan AssociateAssociate PProfessorrofessor iinn tthehe DDepartmentepartment ooff PPoliticalolitical SSciencecience aatt SSimonimon FFraserraser UUniversity.niversity. HHisis ppublicationsublications oonn cconstitutionalonstitutional cconventionsonventions iincludenclude tthehe bbookook CCanadiananadian ConstitutionalConstitutional CConventions:onventions: Th e MMarriagearriage ofof LLawaw aandnd PPoliticsolitics, Toronto:Toronto: OOxfordxford UUniversityniversity PPress,ress, 11991991 ((2nd2nd eeditiondition iinn pprogress)rogress) aandnd sseveraleveral aarticles:rticles: ““JustJust WWhathat iiss a VVoteote ooff CConfionfi ddence?ence? Th e CuriousCurious CaseCase ooff MMayay 110,0, 22005”005” ((2007)2007) CCanadiananadian JJournalournal ooff PPoliticalolitical SSciencecience 3395;95; ““ConstitutionalConstitutional CConventionsonventions aandnd PParliament”arliament” ((2005)2005) 28:228:2 CanadianCanadian PParliamentaryarliamentary RRevieweview 7;7; “Constitutional“Constitutional CConventionsonventions andand EElectionlection CCampaigns”ampaigns” ((1995)1995) 18:318:3 CanadianCanadian ParliamentaryParliamentary ReviewReview 8;8; “Recognizing“Recognizing thethe VarietyVariety AAmongmong CConstitutionalonstitutional CConventions”onventions” (1989)(1989) CCanadiananadian JJournalournal ooff PPoliticalolitical SSciencecience 663.3. Th e aauthor’suthor’s vviewsiews ddoo nnotot nnecessarilyecessarily rreflefl eectct thosethose ooff tthehe MManagementanagement BBoardoard aandnd sstafftaff ooff thethe CCentreentre forfor CConstitutionalonstitutional Studies.Studies. CCentreentre fforor CConstitutionalonstitutional SStudiestudies / CCentreentre dd’études’études cconstitutionnellesonstitutionnelles 4448D48D LLawaw CCentreentre UUniversityniversity ooff AAlbertalberta EEdmonton,dmonton, AAlbertalberta TT6G6G 22H5H5 CCANADAANADA PPhone:hone: (780)(780) 4492-568192-5681 FFax:ax: ((780)780) 4492-995992-9959 [email protected]@law.ualberta.ca wwww.law.ualberta.ca/centres/ccsww.law.ualberta.ca/centres/ccs © CCentreentre forfor ConstitutionalConstitutional SStudiestudies 22009009 IISBN:SBN: 9978-0-9811751-0-278-0-9811751-0-2 i Th e Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament Heard I. INTRODUCTION in national politics, the right of the prime minister to lead the political system, and the We are fortunate that real crises are few powers of the governor general were all pitted and far between in Canadian politics. We against each other and called into question at have a fundamentally stable system of gov- some point. With such a potent concoction, ernment, and most political leaders both un- it is little wonder that matters boiled over. derstand and play by the rules most of the Th is study will try to unravel the main issues time. As a result, it is something of a shock involved and explain the constitutional rules when a real crisis erupts and fundamental which apply. diff erences unfold over basic constitutional rules. Canada’s parliamentary system has For some, the Governor General did the been under increasing strain for several years, right thing in acting on the Prime Minister’s but matters came to a head in late 2008. advice to prorogue Parliament. She correct- While Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s ly ensured that there would be a cooling off controversial decision to grant Prime Min- period before a new confi dence vote is held, ister Stephen Harper’s request to prorogue and she prevented hasty actions by opposi- Parliament was the high point of this crisis, tion parties to hijack Parliament and install there is so much more about this episode that themselves in cabinet, when the Conserva- needs to be understood. And it is crucial for tive Party of Canada had been empowered us to really understand this aff air because the by the last election to form the government. ramifi cations of the 2008 crisis are profound For others, however, the Governor General and enduring. One reason the events erupted inappropriately suspended Parliament and so quickly into a crisis is that they dealt with set a dangerous precedent for the future. the unwritten rules of the constitution, which Now prime ministers can avoid defeat on im- are seldom discussed in depth even at the best pending confi dence votes simply by prorogu- of times and, as a result, are subject to mis- ing Parliament, only to return months later interpretation and misrepresentation in times when they feel they have the situation under of confl ict. Th e tension was compounded by better control. Th e result is a severe blow to the unprecedented nature of much of what the principle of responsible government and transpired. Without clear and easy parallels Parliament’s ability to decide which party or to similar crises in the past, the public and parties has its confi dence as the government their advisors in the media were left confused of the day. Such widely divergent views at- as to what was or was not the proper course test to strongly held beliefs on each side that of action. Nevertheless, there were clear con- abuses of power were being perpetrated by stitutional principles at play that would have the other. been able to give better direction to the Gov- A clear review of the events as they un- ernor General and the Prime Minister if they folded is useful to refresh our memories about had been heeded. what exactly transpired and in what order. An examination of the 2008 crisis is need- Th is review is provided in Part II. Th en, the ed both to put events into perspective and to relevant constitutional rules will be reviewed. discern lessons for the future. Although the In order to better analyze the relevant consti- events were relatively simple, their context tutional rules and the outcome of the 2008 touched on deep and confl icting aspects of constitutional crisis, a fuller understanding our constitution. Th e meaning of elections, is needed of the nature of election outcomes, the role of Parliament in deciding who gov- the essence of parliamentary democracy, the erns, the legitimacy of Québec separatists signifi cance of the principle of responsible Points of View / Points de vue No. 7 1 Th e Governor General’s Decision to Prorogue Parliament Heard government, and of how governments are eral Party leader Stéphane Dion announced formed. Th ese matters are examined in Part within days of the election that he would re- III. In Part IV, the analysis turns to the role sign as leader, but would stay in offi ce until a of the governor general in a Parliamentary leadership convention to be held in May 2009 system, and continues, in Part V, with an as- produced a replacement. Harper remained sessment of Governor General Jean’s decision as Prime Minister, and there was no serious to prorogue Parliament. Th e concluding Part discussion that he should
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Acting Under Secretary of State. Ordered, That the Same Be Placed Upon the Journals
    THE SENATE 3 GEORGE VI seat therein, take and subscribe before Our Governor General or some person authorized by him, the Oath of Allegiance contained in the fifth schedule to the said Act, and also the Declaration of Qualification contained in the said schedule. And Whereas it appears to Us expedient to appoint Leslie Clare Moyer, Esquire, D.S.O., K.C., of the City of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario, Clerk of the Senate of Canada, known and designated as the Clerk of the Parliaments, to be a Commissioner to administer the Oath of Allegiance to the Members of the Senate of Canada, and also to take and receive their Declarations of Qualification. Now therefore know ye that confiding in the loyalty, integrity and ability of the said Leslie Clare Moyer, We of Our certain knowledge and mere motion and by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada do by these Presents assign, constitute and appoint the said Leslie Clare Moper to be a Commissioner to administer to the Members of the Senate of Canada the Oath of Allegiance, and t.o take their Declarations of Qualification, so required as aforesaid, and to receive their subscriptions to such Oath and Declaration. To have, hold and exercise the said office of Commisisoner as aforesaid and the power and authority hereinbefore mentioned unto the said Leslie Clare Moyer during Our pleasure. In Testimony Whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed. Witness: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved John, Baron Tweedsmuir of Elsfield, a Member of Our Most Honourable Privy Council, Knight Grand Cross of Our Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Member of Our Order of the Companions of Honour, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Our Dominion of Canada.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020 Speech from the Throne
    Speech from the Throne Her Honour the Honourable Janet Austin, OBC Lieutenant Governor at the Opening of the Fifth Session, Forty-first Parliament of the Province of British Columbia February 11, 2020 We begin by acknowledging the Lekwungen peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, upon whose traditional territories we are gathered today. As we open the fifth session of the st41 Parliament, we pause to remember the British Columbians we have lost in the past year. At least 57 Canadians perished on Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 in Iran on January 8. Fifteen of them called B.C. home. Our thoughts are with their families and the Iranian-Canadian community, who are coping with tremendous loss. We recognize appointed and elected officials who servedBritish Columbians and this Legislature: Conflict ofInterest Commissioner Paul Fraser, QC; the Honourable Ted Hughes; former MLAs Gillian Trumper and Norman Jacobsen. We thank those who stepped forward to serve at the local level: Oak Bay Mayor Nils Jensen, and Vancouver councillors May Brown and B.C. Lee. We honour the public servants who passed away this year, including forester Peter Fuglem, BC Parks employee Micah Messent, BC Mail employee Martin Payne, and conservationist Al Martin. We are grateful to the people who shaped B.C. arts and culture: writer Wayson Choy, actor Godfrey Gao, singer John Mann, Coast Salish artist Gus Modeste, and painter Gordon Smith. We recognize leaders in sport: Soccer player Brandon Bassi, mountain biker Jordie Lunn, and basketball player and Olympian Eli Pasquale. And Indigenous leaders and Elders: Former shíshálh Chief Stan Dixon, Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • The Sovereign and Parliament
    Library Note The Sovereign and Parliament The Sovereign fulfils a number of ceremonial and formal roles with respect to Parliament, established by conventions, throughout the parliamentary calendar. The State Opening of Parliament marks the beginning of each new session of Parliament. It is the only routine occasion when the three constituent parts of Parliament—that is the Sovereign, the House of Lords and the House of Commons—meet. The Queen’s Speech during State Opening is the central element around which the ceremony pivots, without which no business of either the House of Lords or the House of Commons can proceed. Each ‘Parliament’ lasts a maximum of five years, within which there are a number of sessions. Each session is ‘prorogued’ to mark its end. An announcement is made in the House of Lords, to Members of both Houses following the Queen’s command that Parliament should be prorogued by a commissioner of a Royal Commission. At the end of the final session of each Parliament—which is immediately prior to the next general election—Parliament is also dissolved. Following the Prime Minister’s advice, the Sovereign issues a proclamation summoning the new Parliament, appointing the day for the first meeting of Parliament. All bills must be agreed by both Houses of Parliament and the Sovereign before they can become Acts of Parliament. Once a bill has passed both Houses, it is formally agreed by the Sovereign by a process known as royal assent. Additionally, Queen’s consent is sometimes required before a bill completes its passage through Parliament, if the bill affects the Sovereign.
    [Show full text]
  • The Monarchy in Prince Edward Island
    The Monarchy in Prince Edward Island Canada’s History with the Royal Family per cent of the world’s people. Canada was created in 1867. By most standards, Canada, though a relatively young country, has a long- Constitutional Monarchy standing association with royal families. Thirty-two As a Constitutional Monarch, the Queen’s powers are kings and queens reigned over the country long before exercised by the Prime Minister or Premier who are Elizabeth II was crowned Queen of Canada. Canada responsible to the elected representatives of the people was explored, settled and grew during the reigns of in the House of Commons and the provincial British monarchs as far back as 1497. legislative assemblies. Though largely symbolic, the Crown is an integral part of our governmental Canada’s Governmental System structure. The Canadian Constitution limits the power and the Monarchy of the Crown in government, creating a primarily symbolic Canada is a federal state (that is, role for the Queen. Because the it has two levels of government, Queen resides in Britain, she is national and provincial) with a represented in Canada by the constitutional monarchy and a Governor General and in each of parliamentary democracy. Our the provinces by a Lieutenant head of state is the Queen of Governor. Canada. She is also the Queen of the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and many other Did You Know? countries within the British The Honourable Antoinette Perry Commonwealth of Nations. Acts is our current Lieutenant of parliament and many actions Governor. She was sworn into of our national and provincial office on October 20, 2017 and is nd governments are made in the the 42 Lieutenant Governor of name of the Queen, though the Prince Edward Island.
    [Show full text]
  • Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments
    UNION INTERPARLEMENTAIRE INTER-PARLIAMENTARY UNION Association of Secretaries General of Parliaments COMMUNICATION from Mrs. Jacqueline BIESHEUVEL-VERMEIJDEN Secretary General of the House of Representatives of the States General of the Netherlands and Mr. Geert Jan A. HAMILTON Clerk of the Senate of the States General of the Netherlands on THE KING IN PARLIAMENT: THE INVESTITURE OF A NEW KING IN THE NETHERLANDS Geneva Session October 2013 Dear colleagues, The Kingdom of the Netherlands had a very special day on April 30 of this year. On that day her Majesty Queen Beatrix who had been our Queen since 1980, abdicated from the throne and was succeeded by her eldest son, the Prince of Orange, who has become His Majesty King Willem-Alexander. Changes of the throne are rare in our country. So there was a lot of excitement about the change that took place. Looking back we can say that the day of the inauguration of our new King was a very festive day, without doubt the most festive national holyday our country has seen in modern history. It renewed the sense of unity of the country, and the awareness that indeed the Netherlands, although embedded in international organisations, still is a nation-state. What we want to demonstrate is the important role our parliament played in achieving the inauguration of our new King. Thus we want to underline that a monarchy can be functional , acceptable and accepted within a parliamentary democracy. The Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy, meaning that the position of the monarch is laid down in the Constitution.
    [Show full text]
  • 2020.09 Canada Speech from the Throne
    CANADA’S SEPTEMBER 2020 SPEECH FROM THE THRONE The Liberal Government’s Expected Fiscal Shift Keith Oland, Global Strategist IceCap Asset Management Limited September 21, 2020 Introduction ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 The Canadian Political System .......................................................................................................................... 5 Prorogation ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 WE Charity scandal and Bill Morneau .............................................................................................................. 7 The Speech from the Throne ............................................................................................................................ 9 The Liberal Party’s shift to the left ................................................................................................................. 11 How far will the shift be? ................................................................................................................................ 12 Reasons why the Liberal Party will significantly increase deficit spending ................................................... 13 Consequences of an increase in the national debt ........................................................................................ 15 Interest
    [Show full text]
  • Of Dissolution, Prorogation, and Constitutional Law, Principle and Convention: Maintaining Fundamental Distinctions During a Parliamentary Crisis
    Of Dissolution, Prorogation, and Constitutional Law, Principle and Convention: Maintaining Fundamental Distinctions during a Parliamentary Crisis Warren J. Newman* 1. INTRODUCTION The preamble to the Constitution Act, 1867, declares that Canada is to have “a Constitution similar in Principle to that of the United Kingdom”, which thus in- cludes a constitutional monarchy and a system of parliamentary and responsible government. The law of the Constitution of Canada is to be found primarily in the provisions of the Constitution Acts, as well as the rules of the common law and the royal letters patent relating to the exercise of the Crown’s prerogatives. The con- ventions of the Constitution are rules of conduct, informed by principle and prece- dent, which govern the exercise of legal power by constitutional and political ac- tors. The distinction between the legal and the conventional rules of constitutional behaviour are fundamental to our system of government, as the conventional rules are not enforceable by the courts, since they are not rules of law. This distinction guides us, from the standpoint of the separation of powers, as to the appropriate role of the courts and the legitimate purview of constitutional judicial review. It also assists in delineating the boundaries of the competency of constitutional law- yers and other constitutional experts such as historians and political scientists, respectively. On September 7, 2008, the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency Micha¨elle Jean, issued a proclamation dissolving the 39th Parliament. The dissolu- tion was on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Stephen Harper. The Governor General also signed the proclamation issuing election writs, which set the polling date for a general election to be held on October 14, as well as a proclamation summoning Parliament to meet in November.
    [Show full text]
  • Throne Speech and Debate
    Fact Sheet No. 15 THRONE SPEECH AND DEBATE When is the Throne Speech held? Every new session of the Legislature begins with the reading by the Lieutenant Governor of the Speech from the Throne. What is the Speech from the Throne? The Speech is written by the Government and is a summary of recent achievements, a statement of government policies and policy proposals, and an outline of the legislative program to be introduced into the Assembly. Typically, invited guests and dignitaries attend the reading of the Throne Speech, and for this one event only, are permitted to sit in guest seating areas on the floor of the Legislative Chamber and in the Chamber Loges. What is the Debate on the Address in Reply? The Debate on the Motion for an Address in Reply to the Speech from the Throne or the Throne Speech debate, as it is commonly referred to, is usually the principal business of the House for the eight sitting days following the opening day. On the day after the Throne Speech has been read by the Lieutenant Governor, a motion, called the Address in Reply, is moved in the House. This motion gives thanks to the Lieutenant Governor for the Throne Speech, and the motion also serves as the vehicle for debating the contents of the Throne Speech. The debate on this motion takes precedence over all other House business, with the exception of Routine Proceedings. What are the traditions associated with the Throne Speech debate? By tradition, the mover and the seconder of the motion for an Address in reply are new Members from the government side of the Chamber.
    [Show full text]
  • Members' Parliamentary Guide
    Members’ Parliamentary Guide May 2019 Members’ Parliamentary Guide House of Assembly - Newfoundland & Labrador FEBRUARY 2021 This version is dated February 2021. For the most current version, visit: www.assembly.nl.ca/Members Members’ Parliamentary Guide February 2021 Members’ Guide to TableResources of Contents & Members’ Role in the House of Assembly ...................................... 1 Allowance Structures of Legislature ................................................................... 2 Standing Orders .............................................................................. 3 May 2019 General Assembly ........................................................................... 3 Session......................................................................................... 4 Sitting .......................................................................................... 4 Parliamentary Calendar .............................................................. 4 Daily Sittings ................................................................................ 5 Recess .......................................................................................... 5 Quorum ....................................................................................... 6 Adjournment (Sitting) ................................................................. 6 Prorogation ................................................................................. 6 Dissolution..................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Legislative Activities 2019 | 1 As Speaker Until His Appointment in October 2007 As Minister of State for Seniors and Housing
    2019 Legislative Activities Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick Legislative Activities 2019 New Brunswick Prepared for The Honourable Daniel Guitard Speaker of the Legislative Assembly New Brunswick October 2, 2020 The Honourable Daniel Guitard Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Room 31, Legislative Building Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5H1 Dear Mr. Speaker: I have the honour of submitting this, the thirty-first annual report of Legislative Activities, for the year ended December 31, 2019. Respectfully submitted, Donald J. Forestell Clerk of the Legislative Assembly TABLE OF CONTENTS YEAR IN REVIEW ............................................................................................................... 1 NOTABLE EVENTS ............................................................................................................ 3 MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY Role of Speaker ............................................................................................................ 5 Role of Members .......................................................................................................... 5 House Activity ............................................................................................................... 6 House Statistics ............................................................................................................ 9 Members of the Legislative Assembly, as of December 31, 2019 ............................. 10 Committee Activity .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Governor General
    THE MONARCHIST LEAGUE of CANADA Justin Trudeau takes Oath of Office as Prime Minister before Governor General David Johnston. “I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors. So help me God.” – Canada’s Oath of Allegiance, sworn by many public officials Members of the Canadian Royal Family make frequent homecomings here. In May 2016, Prime Minister Trudeau joined Prince Harry in checking out facilities for the Toronto 2017 Invictus Games, Prince Harry’s sporting event for ill, injured and wounded soldiers and veterans. Our Canadian Monarchy © 2012-2021 by the Monarchist League of Canada. All rights reserved. All images remain the property of their respective owners 2 OUR CANADIAN MONARCHY Canada 150 portrait of The Queen, wearing the Maple Leaf brooch presented to her mother by George VI before their 1939 tour of Canada. Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada The Queen is the representation of all of Canada within one person. Together with her representatives and members of the Royal Family, she promotes “all that is best and most admired in the Canadian ideal”. Governor General Johnston gives Royal Assent in the Senate on June 19, 2017. 3 THE MONARCHIST LEAGUE of CANADA Canada: always a monarchy he lands that now comprise modern-day Canada Thave long been reigned over by hereditary leaders. Canada enjoys a history of functioning government that began to evolve centuries before European contact with Indigenous peoples. Many Indigenous groups were headed by a chieftain who was advised by a council of elders, not unlike the series of French and British monarchs in whose name the original colonies of North America were founded.
    [Show full text]
  • Speech from the Throne 2018
    The Path to a Better Tomorrow The 2018 Speech from the Throne Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, invited guests, and fellow citizens: New Brunswickers have opened this new era by electing a legislature with a diversity of parties and views. This legislature then chose to give a new executive council a chance to lead. Today, we continue that process. Your government seeks common cause with women and men of good faith across party lines. New Brunswickers challenged this legislature – to place province above party, to embrace shared dreams and reject old grievances. In the days ahead, this legislature shall give its reply. A choice: to embrace the challenge of shared governance and prove our great democracy can change and adapt. Or, we can shrink from the moment and fall back into the false comfort of partisanship and tribalism. Rising to meet the moment means hard work, honest debate and the potential of new solutions. Shrinking from this moment means telling New Brunswickers that we could not make this legislature work, and facing their uncertain judgement in a new round of elections. Across the world, harsh voices are rising, telling people to nurture differences until they become resentments and divides. Leaders rise to power telling citizens their differences cannot be reconciled by our democratic institutions. Too often, voices of division and nationalism urge us to reject common purpose and retreat into distrust. We have a choice. We have a chance to turn our small corner of the world into a shining example for the world. The people chose a legislature that pushes us to accept the discomfort of diverse opinions and the opportunity of creative compromise.
    [Show full text]