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Opposition Leader Roger Grimes says the government’s refusal to debate the
decision to close the public galleries of the House of Assembly indefinitely
is a clear indication that Premier Williams and his MHAs want the galleries
to remain closed.
"With government’s refusal to debate this motion, is now apparent they
are quite happy to have the public galleries closed and avoid any scrutiny
and criticism," said Mr. Grimes. "This has been something this government
has been wanting for the past couple of weeks. The Premier does not want
protesters in the galleries and he is hiding behind the Speaker’s ruling to
bar people.
"If government wanted the public galleries re-opened they would have
permitted debate to take place on this decision. Instead, they are trying to
hide behind the authority of the Speaker. This is shameful and the people of
the province should be aware that it is the government by their refusal to
participate in this debate, not the Speaker, who have ultimately made the
decision to keep the public galleries closed.
"This action is unprecedented in the Province of Newfoundland and
Labrador. The rules provide to have people removed from the public galleries
if they violate the rules. The rules have never provided for barring
innocent people prior to any misconduct ever occurring. This is a new rule
the Premier is trying to bring in by himself.
"If this government continues to use this decision as an excuse to bar
people from their public House, we as the Official Opposition will not be
willing to participate in the proceedings. This government must realize that
it is not the Premier or his members that make the rules for the House of
Assembly, it is all 48 members from the three political parties. They must
also remember that we live in a democracy, not a dictatorship, and the right
of peaceful assembly is protected under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms."
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