Tories Block Special Session
Vote on G20 Inquiry
by C. L. Cook
 Those believing Canadian democracy skating on thin ice were bolstered in that belief Monday when Stephen Harper's Tory government filibustered a special session of the country's Parliament called in wake of the Toronto G20 meetings held in late June.
Harper just says "No" to inquiry vote.
The special Commons committee on public safety convened to determine when, or whether public hearings into mass arrests at the G20, the largest such action in Canada's history, and the myriad charges by those arrested, and others, of police brutality on the streets and within the jails and holding pens where the predominantly peaceful and legal demonstrators found themselves incarcerated should be held.
Stephen Harper has twice prorogued the Parliament at dicey times for his government. It was a maneuver never used before, and caused an uproar when pulled to stop a non-confidence vote against his government in December of 2008.
A year later, Harper again pulled the stunt, asking the Governor-General shut down the House when it appeared opposition parties would unite to form a coalition to bring down the minority Conservative government over the Afghanistan detainee scandal.
On Monday, one after another, Tory members gassed at length, delaying proceedings until time for a vote ran out.
Steven Chase of the Globe and Mail reports, the government accused the parties in the House of siding with "thugs and hooligans" in seeking an inquiry into events during the G20. Chase cites Conservative MP, Dean Del Mastro saying during his turn on the floor;
"I don’t agree with the NDP and the fact it seems to be lining itself up with anarchist groups that went to Toronto and caused damage. To recall this committee on an emergency basis is nothing more than a cheap political stunt."
Of the more than 1,000 people busted, 263 are reported to be facing anything larger than a blanket charge of "breach of peace." But more serious says the opposition is the manner those arrests were made, and the behaviour of police throughout.
New Democratic Party (NDP) MP, Paul Dewar accused the government of "scurrilous behaviour" in dismissing out of hand the need for an official inquiry, saying;
"When you have 1,000 people, the biggest mass arrest in Canadian history happen, someone’s got to be accountable. I think the accountability is with those who decided to have this meeting."
The government says they will not do anything before receiving the results of the Toronto Police Services Board's investigation.
Meanwhile, public rallies demanding an immediate investigation have been held across the country, with more promised this weekend in, among other Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver.
Human rights and civil liberties groups both within Canada and internationally condemned the police violence and arrests, while Iran took the opportunity to officially chastise Canada for failing to live up to its obligations to allow legal demonstration of dissent in the country.
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