Going Prorogue answered
Anthony asks:
The next question I have is, what will proroguing the government actually accomplish from the Conservatives’ point of view?
Technically, it’s parliament that is prorogued, not the government.
It will be stalling the inevitable. The Canadian charter says that parliament shall convene at least once a year, but the government cannot function without supply (i.e. money to run the government) – so at the very, very, very latest there will need to be a supply vote in mid-March.
Proroguing the parliament, however, will be a delayed surrender signal. The Conservatives would get flack for whatever happens in the economy between now and then, and the Liberals, NDP and Bloc will keep on the attack.
If I was Harper, however, I’d put the question on the fiscal update motion and let the government fall, and then go to the GG and get her to call an election. Then you’d be in opposition for a few months while the public fumes over Prime Minister Dion.