Prime Minister Jean Chr tien at least makes an effort to get to Question Period. But Parliament has lost its relevance as a place where important issues are debated and decisions are made. A mere three bills were passed in the entire fall session. Even cabinet is dwindling in importance. The Prime Minister and a small cluster of his advisers make almost all of the key decisions.
City hall is still a lively, open debating forum.
But even it is fragile. Harris' abrupt decision, last month, to chop 13 positions on Toronto city council, without public consultation or debate, showed how easily democratic institutions can be weakened. Toronto will manage with a smaller number of council members. Ontario will get along without its Legislature for three months. The nation will scarcely notice a further diminution of Parliament.