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Even if Parliament opens Jan. 25, Canada's federal government will still be far from democratic.

As a result of Democracy Watch's campaigns and nation-wide coalitions, about 65 undemocratic and accountability loopholes and flaws have been closed/corrected in the federal government in the past 15 years, but see details about the 90 loopholes that still need to be closed to make the federal government democratic (and a link to an Action Alert to write a letter to federal party leaders about closing the loopholes) at:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/SummaryOfLoopholes.html

And Harper has not eroded Canada's democracy any more than any other federal Liberal or Conservative government in the past 20 years. For example, Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien prorogued Parliament 4 times, one of which was to call a snap election when conditions were favourable for the Liberals, and another of which was to avoid the release while he was Prime Minister of the Auditor General's report on the Liberals' Adscam sponsorship scandal. Chrétien also shut down the inquiry into deaths of detainees at the hands of Canada's military in Somalia, and the inquiry into deaths of Canadians because of tainted blood.

For a comprehensive, detailed report card on what Harper has actually done, and not done, in the area of democratic reform, good government and government accountability, go to:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsDec1609.html

And to see a comprehensive, detailed report card on what all the federal parties promised in this area in the 2008 election, go to:
http://www.dwatch.ca/camp/RelsOct1008.html

So while the arbitrary prorogation of Parliament may be the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" -- the lightning rod that provoked voters' anger at the Harper Conservatives, it is very likely not the real source of the anger (secrecy, lack of action on environmental protection,

And again, opening Parliament on Jan. 25 (which is all the movement is calling for) will not make Canada a democracy.

Hope this helps.

Duff Conacher, Coordinator
Democracy Watch

P.O. Box 821, Stn. B
Ottawa, Canada
K1P 5P9
Tel: (613) 241-5179
Fax: (613) 241-4758
Email: dwatch@web.net
Internet: http://www.dwatch.ca

Since 1993, making governments and corporations more accountable to you, and changing Canada into the world's leading democracy