Silencing Democracy Through Time Allocation

Time allocation, or closure, is when the government limits debate on a piece of legislation in either the House of Commons, or the Senate. It effectively silences your Member of Parliament and prevents them from doing his or her job.

This Parliamentary procedure is traditionally used for matters of great urgency and national importance. For example, from 1913 to 1956, a period of over 40 years, time allocation on debates was used 10 times.

However, since being elected with an majority government on May 2nd, a mere 10 months, the Harper Conservatives have used time allocation 16 times. (This does not include time allocation in the Senate, or in Committee.)

Look at the list below, and see for yourself how the Harper Conservatives have repetitively silenced democracy.

Date Bill Title Stage
June 15, 2011 C-3 An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011 At all stages
Sept 27, 2011 C-10 An Act to enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other Acts second reading
Oct 6, 2011 C-13 An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011 and other measures second reading
Oct 20, 2011 C-18 An Act to reorganize the Canadian Wheat Board and to make consequential and related amendments to certain Acts second reading
Oct 27, 2011 C-19 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act second reading
Nov 3, 2011 C-20 An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act second reading
Nov 16, 2011 C-13 An Act to implement certain provisions of the 2011 budget as updated on June 6, 2011 and other measures report stage and third reading
Nov 23, 2011 C-18 An Act to reorganize the Canadian Wheat Board and to make consequential and related amendments to certain Acts report stage and third reading
Nov 30, 2011 C-10 An Act to enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other Acts report stage and third reading
Dec 7, 2011 C-20 An Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867, the Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act and the Canada Elections Act report stage and third reading
Jan 31, 2012 C-25 An Act relating to pooled registered pension plans and making related amendments to other Acts second reading
Feb 7, 2012 C-19 An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Firearms Act report stage and third reading
Feb 8, 2012 C-11 An Act to amend the Copyright Act second reading
Feb 14, 2012 S-5 An Act to amend the law governing financial institutions and to provide for related and consequential matters second reading
Mar 6, 2012 C-10 An Act to enact the Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act and to amend the State Immunity Act, the Criminal Code, the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, the Corrections and Conditional Release Act, the Youth Criminal Justice Act, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and other Acts consideration of Senate amendments
Mar 6, 2012 C-31 An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the Balanced Refugee Reform Act, the Marine Transportation Security Act and the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Act second reading