Recent events on Parliament Hill have riveted the nation -- and no where was that more evident than at the U of T Faculty of Law on December 5. Despite the busy exam period, a panel discussion on the Governor General Michaëlle Jean’s decision to prorogue Parliament attracted overflow crowds of students, alumni, media and the general public to the Faculty. More than 50 people who could not attend watched the event on a live webcast.
The question on everyone’s lips at the event, organized by the law faculty’s David Asper Centre for Constitutional Rights: “Was the Governor General’s decision constitutional?” The panelists invited to weigh in on the historic decision included leading Canadian constitutional scholars and law professors: Lorraine Weinrib and Lorne Sossin; former Governor General Ed Schreyer; U of T political scientists Peter H. Russell and David Cameron; Liberal MP Bob Rae; and NDP MP Joe Comartin. Conservative MP Peter Kent was also scheduled to speak, but was delayed at the airport and could not attend.
A webcast of the panel is now available.
Click here to read more about the panelists.
The event was covered by the national media and by blogs.
- "Politicians, scholars say Governor General must dispel secrecy," Toronto Star, December 6, 2008.
- University of Alberta Faculty of Law - Faculty Blog - "Live Blogging the “Constitutionality of the Prorogue” Debate", December 5, 2008.
- Mentioned in "Fresh pressure on Dion to resign Liberal leadership," National Post, December 6, 2008.
- "Former governor general Schreyer says it was Gov Gen's prerogative to prorogue," Canadian Press, December 6, 2008.
- "Politicians, experts wax on prorogation with little consensus," 570 News, December 5, 2008.
- "2 parties better than 1: Rae," Sun Media, December 6, 2008.
