More than 200 protesters filled the parking lot of the building that houses the office of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound Conservative Member of Parliament Larry Miller on Saturday afternoon to express their frustration with the decision of Prime Minister Stephen Harper to prorogue parliament.
The event was one of hundreds held across the country on Saturday.
The non-partisan rally featured a variety of speakers who denounced the Prime Minister for what was described as a lack of respect for parliamentary process and traditions.
“As far as I'm concerned, the recent prorogation and the previous prorogations are an assault on the democratic traditions of our country,” Randy Dryburgh of the BGOS Green Party of Canada told The Independent before the rally began, “It is unacceptable, and we can't stand for it.”
Dryburgh stressed that though he is a member of the Green party, the rally on Saturday was a non-partisan event, and he was attending as a citizen, and a concerned Canadian.
He was one of many at the rally who were requesting that concerned citizens sign a petition to “Direct MP Larry Miller to return to Ottawa” on January 25 as was originally planned prior to the prorogation.
“We the undersigned residents of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound demand that you give up your “Democracy Break” and return to Ottawa on the proper resumption date of Parliament, January 25, 2010. Your government is facing serious questions on a number of fronts, and important issues face the country on a daily basis. That is why it is unacceptable to us that you are spending months away from the place where these issues must be resolved,” read the first paragraph of the petition.
Protesters arrived carrying placards, flags, and banners emblazoned with anti-Harper, and anti-prorogation slogans. Protester Kristine Hammel even boiled up and distributed some fresh “Pro-Roguies” to the rally attendees.
Federal Liberal candidate for the riding Kimberley Love told reporters that the Canadian people deserve better representation than what is being delivered by the Harper government.
“I think we are losing a lot of voices,” said Love, “Parliament is supposed to be the voice of Canadians.”
Love is heading to Ottawa on Monday as a representative for the riding of Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound to participate in a series of round table discussions with Liberal caucus members. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has declared that his members of parliament will report to work as scheduled on January 25 in spite of the parliamentary break.
As she stood under the large “Larry Miller” sign on the side of the office building, Love said that though Miller and his Conservative caucus are on break, her attendance for the Liberal caucus sessions will ensure that the Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound riding will have representation in Ottawa.
MP Larry Miller was not present for the rally.
When asked by The Independent if she felt that this latest prorogation might be the final straw for the current minority government, Love answered with cautious optimism.
“We're belling the cat,” said Love referencing Aesop's fable 'The Mice in the Council' in which a group of mice determine that in order to make themselves safe from the dangerous cat, they need to tie a bell around its neck to warn them when he is near.
“The Canadian people are going to be more suspicious of Harper and his government, people will be more watchful,” she added.
Among the many speakers at the event were both Dryburgh and Love.
“What is most important is that the institution of parliament be respected,” Dryburgh told the crowd, “This Prime Minister avoids accountability.”
Love echoed those thoughts during her time on the podium.
“Stephen Harper's ploy to padlock parliament is far from an isolated act,” she said, “We have a Prime Minister that doesn't believe in parliament, he only believes in partisanship.”
The most inspiring of the many speeches given during the rally was delivered by someone who arrived at the rally not expecting to speak at all.
19 year old Owen Sound resident Jonathon Farmer learned about the rally on the social networking website Facebook, and decided to attend. As he was standing listening to the other speakers, he was asked by event organizers if he would say a few words in order to have the voice of youth represented.
Farmer who claims to have no affiliation with any political party, used the opportunity to deliver an off the cuff speech that wowed the crowd.
“More than 200 people are here, that is fantastic,” beamed Farmer, “But in a city of 22,000, we are only a start.”
“I called Mr. Miller and tried to ask him some questions about why the government is being prorogued...it was a very interesting conversation,” he continued bringing about a round of laughter.
Farmer closed his speech with a passionate opinion about the state of government in Canada.
“I think it is frightening that I am growing up in a country where this is becoming routine. When people are not pulling together, they're pulling apart. If our parliament is not pulling together, then they are pulling apart.”
The hour long rally was capped off with an impromptu march through the downtown streets of Owen Sound. Passing cars honked in support as the long line of placard carrying protesters marched toward the Owen Sound City Hall building.
