Hugh Whiteley of the Council of Canadians led local protesters in a rally on Saturday against Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s recent decision to prorogue Parliament. An estimated 300 people gathered downtown in front of Old Quebec Street for the rally, which was followed by a discussion at Knox Presbyterian Church led by panelists Phil Allt, Byron Sheldrick and Susan Wheeler. Rally organizers collected more than 200 signed letters to send to Harper demanding an immediate recall of Parliament. Further discussion of the need for parliamentary procedural reform will take place on Feb. 8 when Queen’s University professor emeritus Ned Franks presents a lecture on “The State of Parliamentary Democracy in Canada” at War Memorial Hall on the U of G campus at 7:30 p. m.
