Reality check: Prorogation since 1984

Stephen Harper has repeatedly used prorogation to evade issues, avoid controversies and run away from accountability. He has now prorogued 4 times , equaling the number of times Jean Chretien used this Parliamentary hammer to shut down the House of Commons.

Brian Mulroney prorogued 3 times in almost 9 years as PM, Jean Chretien 4 times in just over ten years and Stephen Harper 4 times in seven and a half years in office.

Mr. Harper prorogues once every two years – far more often than Jean Chretien (once every two and a half years) or Brian Mulroney (once every three years).

In terms of total days spent prorogued, Harper has now reached 181 days (in 7.5 years) Chretien 145 days (in 10.1 years) and Mulroney 68 days (in 8.8 years).

Parliament

Prime Minister

Date

length

Reason for prorogation

41st Parliament: 2011.06.02 -

HARPER

2013.09.13

33

Shut down parliament to avoid questions on the Senate expense scandal and PMO cover up

40th Parliament Term : 2008.11.18 - 2011.03.26

HARPER

2009.12.30

63

Shut down parliament to avoid the Afghan detainee issue

40th Parliament Term: 2008.11.18 - 2011.03.26

HARPER

2008.12.04

53

Shut down parliament to avoid confidence vote that would have toppled the government

39th Parliament Term: 2006.04.03 - 2008.09.07

HARPER

2007.09.14

32

Shut down parliament to declare mission accomplished on five priorities from election

37th Parliament Term: 2001.01.29 - 2004.05.23

CHRETIEN

2003.11.12

82

shut down house to avoid AG report on sponsorship and hand over to Paul Martin

37th Parliament Term: 2001.01.29 - 2004.05.23

CHRETIEN

2002.09.16

14

Shut down parliament to avoid tabling of a Public Accounts Committee report on sponsorship

36th Parliament Term: 1997.09.22 - 2000.10.22

CHRETIEN

1999.09.18

24

Shut down parliament to put off questions about several growing scandals plaguing Chretien govt

35th Parliament Term: 1994.01.17 - 1997.04.27

CHRETIEN

1996.02.02

25

Shut down parliament to provide cover for shutting down the Somalia Inquiry

34th Parliament Term: 1988.12.12 - 1993.09.08

MULRONEY

1991.05.12

1

One day prorogation

34th Parliament Term: 1988.12.12 - 1993.09.08

MULRONEY

1989.02.28

34

Shut down parliament after Mulroney had passed controversial Free Trade Agreement

33rd Parliament Term: 1984.11.05 - 1988.10.01

MULRONEY

1986.08.28

33

Shut down parliament to reboot while Mulroney trailed in the opinion polls

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