Oshawa, Tuesday January 5, 2010 — Local candidates and representatives from federal opposition parties are united in condemning the Prime Minister's request to prorogue parliament. In taking the unprecedented move of speaking with a shared statement, the parties hope to send the clear message that though they may be opponents during elections, they all uphold parliamentary democracy and accountability.

Ron Collis, Liberal riding association president for Durham, notes that prior to this government, proroguing parliament in Canada to avoid controversy had only occurred once before, in 1873. "If governments persist in recklessly using this as a tool for their own convenience, our democracy will be threatened", he warns. "Clearly the Harper government’s number one priority is to strengthen their own position regardless of how it might impact our country", he adds. "Immediate reform needs to take place to insure that the irresponsible use of this measure never happens again."

Gail Bates, nominated federal Green Party candidate for Oshawa says she is deeply concerned that the Prime Minister is proroguing parliament yet again in the hopes that Canadians will forget what's happening in the parliamentary special committee on the Canadian mission in Afghanistan. "I am equally concerned that her Excellency the Governor General agreed to the request", she says. "This is openly interfering with the ability of parliament to accomplish its work."

"Stephen Harper once called prorogation a way to escape accountability and hide from a shameful record", says Michael Maynard, acting Liberal riding association president for Oshawa. "Now he's done it twice in twelve months. It's a disgrace."

"Parliament ought to be discussing and voting on national policies that will transform Canada into sustainable, low-carbon economy", says Stephen Leahy, nominated Green Party candidate for Durham. "That's where Canada needs to go to succeed on the world stage."

Representatives from all three parties urge Colin Carrie, MP for Oshawa, Hon. Jim Flaherty, MP for Whitby-Oshawa and Hon. Bev Oda, MP for Durham, to make their voices heard in Cabinet and in caucus to urge the Prime Minister to respect the institutions of parliament and hold himself and his government accountable to voters.