Edmonton website draws anti-prorogue protesters

Afederal cabinet minister from Alberta has defended Prime Minister Stephen Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament, even as thousands of Canadiansprotest the move at a Facebook website set up by an Edmonton man.

"Not all good work happens in Ottawa, alot of good work happens outside Ottawa,"Labour MinisterRona Ambrose said Thursday in Stony Plain, Alta.,following an event toannounce$125,000 in federal funding for the Horizon Stage Performing Arts Centre.

"Between now and March 3, which is our budget day, there's going to be a lot of work being done across the country to prepare for the budget. But also meetings continue we meet with stakeholders across the country," the MP for Edmonton-Spruce Grove said.

But even as Ambrose spoke, an Edmonton man's Facebook site protesting the Conservative government's shut-down of Parliament climbed to more than 90,000 members.

'It's an issue of principle'

Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament, a website set up by Christopher White, demands MPs get back to work on Jan. 25. White set up the site on Wednesday for those fed up with what he calls "Harper's undemocratic behaviour."

"To me it'san issue of principle,"White told CBC News. "We have a lot of people that are kind of talking about, 'OK, what's the issues he's avoiding: the Afghan detainee issue or to stack the Senate' or anything like that. But to me it's more about having a government that's accountable to its people and to me that goes beyond party lines.

"I mean, if it were a Liberal government or a Conservative government I believe my reaction would be the same," White said.

The opposition has accused Harper of deliberately shutting down a Commons committee investigating the government's handling of Afghan detainees.Harper has said the suspension will allow the government to consult with Canadians about the economy before the March 3 budget.

An EKOS poll released Thursday suggests that among Canadians who are aware of Harper's decision to prorogue Parliament, 58 per cent opposed the move.