Speaker Milliken says he wanted legislative agenda completed

If you think it's unusual for the Speaker of the House to personally comment on the legislative agenda, and on the reasons for proroguing Parliament, you would be right.

Peter Milliken has spoken while far away from Canada, but in the age of the Internets, those little series of tubes can carry news from afar right back home real quick.

Traveling in India, Milliken happened to have a discussion reported in The South Asian Link Newspaper. This is what he had to say:

“I am a Speaker and a neutral person. I am not supposed to comment on the second consecutive prorogation. But governments have the right to do it even if it is for the wrong reasons... Personally, I feel that legislative business should be gone through in the scheduled manner."

Clearly, he did not agree with the timing of the proroguing of Parliament. He doesn't see why so much business had to be scrapped. And he hints that the prorogue wasn't done for the right reasons.

As for proroguing Parliament December 30th for the Olympics:

"At times when international conferences are going on and to facilitate the participation of Ministers there, the House can be prorogued for a week or two."

I was surprised to hear Milliken say anything about this. He himself says he really shouldn't be commenting.

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