Katelynn Northam is feeling really positive about the state of Canadian democracy these days, at least in terms of聽its grassroots.聽A flood of support聽for the upcoming anti-prorogation rally in Halifax is the reason why.聽
The third-year International Development student is one of the organizers of the rally on Saturday to protest Prime Minister Harper鈥檚 decision to prorogue parliament until March.
鈥淧eople are insulted鈥� by this decision, she says.聽鈥淗e did this clearly thinking people wouldn鈥檛 notice or care.鈥澛�
The decision to prorogue parliament means that any previous discussion on bills before Parliament will essentially start over in March when parliament resumes.聽Work by parliamentary committees, such as that investigating torture of Afghan detainees, also comes to a halt until parliament resumes.聽
It鈥檚 an issue Canadians feel so strongly about that they may just get聽up from their computer chairs and into the streets.
鈥淚t started with a student on Facebook in Alberta and snowballed into a decision to take this out of the Internet,鈥� says Ms. Northam.聽She notes that original Facebook page signed up 200,000 Canadians and now people in more than 30 cities and towns across the country are planning protest rallies for Saturday.聽
In Halifax, 1,400 people have joined the local Facebook site and 600 people聽have indicated聽they鈥檒l go to the rally which聽starts at 1 p.m. on Saturday in front of Province House.聽Ms. Northam says she鈥檚 encouraged by the range of people taking part, including retirees, young moms, local politicians and a good number of university students.
鈥淭he message is they can鈥檛 do things like this anymore,鈥� says Ms. Northam. 鈥淲e are sending the message that Canadians are paying attention.聽And maybe the government will think twice next time.鈥澛�
LINK:
SEE STORY: Anti-prorogation activists engaged, voting and older in The Globe and Mail