Quoted from the Edmonton Journal (full article here):

OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to suspend Parliament was a failed gamble on the "cynicism" of Canadians, says Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

"He thought Canadians didn’t care, and it turns out they do care. They want their Parliament to work," Mr. Ignatieff told reporters in his first news conference since the prime minister convinced the governor general to prorogue Parliament on Dec. 30. "They didn’t like the way he gambled on their cynicism. And Canadians are not as cynical as he thought."

Mr. Harper has argued that proroguing Parliament, which kills all government legislation and winds down parliamentary committees, is a routine procedure that will enable the government to reset its agenda.

But one poll released this week suggests 53% of Canadians oppose the move.

Quoted from the Vancouver Sun (full article here):

OTTAWA — Parliament is creating an image of instability for Canada in global markets — and it isn't a bad thing that it has been suspended until the beginning of March, Prime Minister Stephen Harper suggested on Monday. In an interview with BNN television, Harper was asked if Canada's reputation as a stable democracy will suffer from his prorogation of Parliament.

Harper said there was "zero risk" of that.

In fact, he said it's when Parliament is sitting that Canada's stability comes into question. That's when "the games begin," he said, and his minority Conservative government faces the constant threat of defeat and an election.

Quoted from CTV Toronto (full article here):

OTTAWA - Prime Minister Stephen Harper is offering a new wrinkle on his reasons for suspending Parliament -- the government can do more important work without MPs sitting in the Commons.

In an interview with Business News Network, the prime minister flatly rejected the notion that proroguing Parliament has left the country open to criticism it is not a stable democracy.

In fact, it is Parliament in a minority situation that is perceived by markets as unstable, said Harper.

Quoted from the Montreal Gazette (full article here):

OTTAWA — More than 175 political scientists, legal scholars and university philosophers have attached their names to a letter protesting Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament.

It is the latest in a volley of criticism at Harper since he decided, on Dec. 30, to prorogue or suspend Parliament until March 3. More than 150,000 people have now joined the group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament on the social media site Facebook. And an editorial in the international news magazine The Economist was sharply critical of Harper's move, saying "Canada cannot afford a part-time Parliament that sits only at the prime minister's pleasure."

Join the Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament Facebook Group at:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=260348091419