December 30, 2009
VANCOUVER- Joyce Murray, MP for Vancouver Quadra and Official Liberal Critic for Amateur Sport and the Vancouver Olympics issued the following statement on the Conservative Party’s prorogation of Parliament and avoidance of responsibility:
“The Olympic Games are about the athletes, the thousands of volunteers, and the communities that make these Games possible. The Olympics should NOT be about the politicians.
Yet, the Conservative Government has chosen to use the Vancouver 2010 Olympics for political gain. With the Mr. Harper’s request to prorogue Parliament in order to attend the Games’ festivities, 35 bills, various committees, and issues are at stake and needed government action will be delayed, if not lost.
Mr. Harper is trying to use a get-out-of-jail free card and avoid inquiry on the transfer of Afghan detainees – for which Conservative Parliamentarians have failed to attend the last two meetings.
If Mr. Harper wanted to support to Canadian athletes, he would support the democratic institutions that this country is founded upon. Canada’s Olympic athletes have worked the entire lives to represent their communities. It is shameful the Prime Minister is using them to serve his partisan objectives.
A successful and memorable Games in no way requires Canada’s politicians to stop working and ignore important decisions on the various bills and work by different committees.
While Canadian athletes strive for gold, the Conservative government has failed to reach podium. This failure in leadership will cost the country hardship and money waiting for important decisions.
And this time, Canadian voters and taxpayers are the losers.”
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