Thunder Bay’s independent Member of Parliament worries a new policy could mean he’ll be getting the short end of the democracy stick.
A motion heading to procedure and House Affairs appears to promise more opportunity for independent MPs and members of non-official party status. That, however, is not the case, says Bruce Hyer (Ind., Thunder Bay - Superior North).
The motion is really about shutting those independent MP and small party members down in the House.
The motion would let them introduce amendments before committees, but there’s a catch.
"We can't debate it at committee,” Hyer said. “We can introduce it then speak for maybe 30 seconds.”
And when the bill makes its way into the House, Hyer said the Speaker of the House would then tell those MPs that they already had their chance to introduce amendments and wouldn't be heard.
Debating and introducing amendments to the House is one of the only opportunities MPs like Hyer have to challenge government bills he said.
"I don't know why he's (Stephen Harper) so worried about us. There's only a few of us," Hyer said.
Hyer has joined Green Party leader Elizabeth May and several independent MPs to challenge the motion. He's hoping party MPs see the danger of shutting down opposition.
"It was more democratic in 1867 and 1880," Hyer said of parliamentary rules.
