SURELY the latest in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's lengthening list of decisions to prorogue Parliament has nothing to do with Auditor-General Michael Ferguson's decision to examine the travel and living expenses of all senators.
Just as surely, we jest.
Of course it does. When negative news becomes annoying to him, Harper has previously shown contempt for tradition and cut off debate that damages his party by closing up the parliamentary shop. In 2008, he did just that rather than risk facing a nonconfidence vote that could have toppled his minority government.
There's no fear of losing control of Parliament this time, but it's clear Harper and the Tories have heard enough questions from the NDP and the Liberals on senator expenses to last them a lifetime after news leaked that his office had paid Senator Mike Duffy, a Harper appointee, $90,000 to refund improper expense claims.
No session, no Question Period, no more annoying headlines and news bites. That may be good for the party, but it's not so good for the public face of democracy in Canada.
Meanwhile, no word on what Harper plans to do with such trivial items of government as pending legislation - one of which is, ironically, a bill on Senate reform.
If Harper truly wants to "hit the reset button" and deliver a throne speech on jobs and the economy, there is nothing to stop the prorogue of Parliament happening in September the day before a throne speech. Nothing but the difficult part of democracy: accountability.
