The NDP 11 session is a special one because the development plan wasn’t discussed during the Winter Parliament. It wasn’t unanticipated by many, but it didn’t come as a surprise. At the end of the discussions predicted to be December 1, the Sovereign will present to the country the State of the Nation Address after he prorogues Parliament and issues a proclamation to begin a new meeting of the Assembly.
The government’s plan was to have this session as entirely a special one with no other business other than NDP 11. The opposition insisted on having a normal session, arguing that the Sovereign, or anyone for that matter, cannot direct Parliament on what to do. The argument was that NDP 11 can dominate the business, but with no departure from the normal procedures. A compromise position was that there be questions for 45 minutes everyday. Once again, it’s clear that government business will dominate the Order Paper. The government assumes that it can use Parliament as it pleases in terms of passing stuff through it in a manner suggesting disregard for its role.
