[LINK] "Harper says Parliament brings 'games' and 'instability'"

[rfmcdonald]

Yes, our Prime Minister did say that.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is offering a new wrinkle on his reasons for suspending Parliament – the government can do more important work without MPs sitting in the Commons.

In an interview with Business News Network, the Prime Minister flatly rejected the notion that proroguing Parliament has left the country open to criticism it is not a stable democracy.

In fact, it is Parliament in a minority situation that is perceived by markets as unstable, said Harper.

"The games begin when Parliament returns," he explained. "The government can take our time now to do the important work to prepare the economic agenda ahead.

"That said, as soon as Parliament comes back . . . the first thing that happens is a vote of confidence and there'll be votes of confidence and election speculation for every single week after that for the rest of the year. That's the kind of instability markets are actually worried about."

The argument opens a new front in the rationale the Conservative government has provided for the controversial pre-New Year's decision to suspend Parliament until March 3, even though doing so kills a number of bills the government had been eager to pass.

Harper had previously cited a need to recalibrate the government's agenda as the economy moves from recession into recovery.

Harper repeated that argument Monday, but is now adding the instability of a minority government and the ability to avoid "the games" of Parliament as additional talking points.

The controversial decision has been criticized by commentators and newspaper editorials, and even drew a sharp rebuke from the respected British newsmagazine The Economist. It accused Harper of stopping inquiries into allegations of torture of Afghan prisoners and suggested he was guilty of "naked self interest."

Parliament had been set to return Jan. 25 but instead will remain dark until after the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, returning Mar. 3.