> Pierre Trudeau prorogued 11 times in 16 years; Jean Chretien four times in 10> years, including a four-month delay after Paul Martin became PM, to give> Martin time to get his government ready. Newly elected governments take over> within a few weeks, yet we’re asked to believe a sitting cabinet minister> needed four months to set up shop! > > Of course, Mr. Chretien’s true agenda was distancing himself from the auditor> general’s report on the sponsorship scandal and dropping the mess into Paul> Martin’s lap. I don’t recall manufactured outrage at the time by either the> press or the opposition — certainly nothing resembling the contrived> performance Canadians have been subjected to of late. Senator Moore was in> that Liberal caucus and ignores their conduct, yet now expresses concern> about an "affront to our democratic process." > > Prorogation did not "shut down Parliament" — it was already in recess.> Prorogation merely extended the recess by 22 days. Prorogation doesn’t mean a> prolonged shutdown of Parliament because that is not its purpose. Prorogation> is a reset button — a government can prorogue and open a new Parliament on> the same day if it wishes.