246,000 Canadians protest prorogue of House of Commons on Facebook polls show Harper dropped a 17% spread over Liberals

It’s hard to think more than 20,000 Canadians braved frigid temperatures on a late January Saturday to protest the abuse of democracy by the Stephen Harper government.  That is exactly what happened last Saturday.

They showed up to tell Prime Minister Harper they don’t like his brand of democracy that stops Parliament from working. The protest movement started with a university professor in Alberta, generally considered Harper’s home. From that Facebook group, there are now 246,000 Canadians who have created 90 groups on Facebook to take aim at the Prime Minister.

The largest group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament has 219,000 members and growing at 2,500 new members daily. The idea hasn’t petered out or died after the protest. The 246,000 Canadians angry with Harper are getting more vocal.

Pundits say Harper will tough it out and ignore the protests. He sent his Cabinet Ministers across the nation on Monday to sell the government story that closing the House of Commons is normal.

Revenue Canada Minister Keith Ashfield told Charlottetown Rotary on Monday “It’s nothing out of the ordinary. Parliament was prorogued 105 times in its history and in fact the average time in between prorogations is about a year so this is nothing unusual, nothing out of the ordinary, being driven probably by the Opposition more than anything else and maybe a little bit the media as well.” Charlottetown Guardian

One Facebook site helps Canadians develop a sense of humor by providing a Prorogue Everything – Do-it-yourself kit

Harper seems on a 15 day cycle of acceptance followed by fear and loathing by the Canadian population. One minute he does something positive like sing on stage or help Haitian earthquake victims. In almost predictable fashion, he makes some gaffe or opens the kimono to show a despot.

Edmonton showed up in force.