The election of 2008 saw one of the lowest voter turnouts in federal election history. But one previously-obscure word seems to have lit a fire under politically apathetic Canadians — prorogation.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s decision to prorogue — in essence, shut down — Parliament for the second time in a little over a year has Canadians taking to the streets in protest this Saturday, Jan. 23.

Christopher White, an anthropology graduate student from the University of Alberta, is the creator of a Facebook group “Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament”, which has grabbed nearly 200,000 supporters in just two weeks. White, 25, hopes those who initially joined the group will take the next step and participate in the rallies.

“It’s one thing to join a Facebook group, it’s quite another to actually get involved,” White says. “For a lot of people, this is going to be the test to whether or not this has caught onto public opinion.

“We want to continue to raise awareness and make sure that the government and public know that this is an issue.”

“They’re taking it away from us, our democracy,” says Dianne Goodacre, an organizer of the Edmonton rally. “If we don’t grab it back, it will be gone.”

Edmonton’s anti-prorogation protest is planned as a march from Corbette Hall, at 8205-114th St., starting at 11 am. Saturday. Marchers will then head into the heart of Old Strathcona, to Gazebo Park on 104th Street and 83rd Avenue for the rally starting at noon.

By having the rally at Gazebo Park, White says he hopes to attract some attention from the Saturday crowds as the Farmer’s Market.

Edmonton-Strathcona NDP MP Linda Duncan says the more people who show up for the protest, the stronger the message will be to the government.

“We are only so many in the House,” Duncan says. “We need the public to stand up and express other feelings. I encourage everybody to get out to those rallies, and not only that, but help organize them because it is a lot of work.”

Even Conservative MP Mike Lake, of Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont, who is in support of Parliament being prorogued for the time being, is glad to see Edmontonians gathering together to take part in federal politics.

“I think it’s important for Canadians to express their political opinions,” Lake says. “The expression of political opinions is critical part of the process. Political expression is the cornerstone for Canadian democracy.”

Public opinion polls seem to indicate the prorogation decision has hurt the Tories. The Conservatives are now only two points ahead of the Liberals in the polls, as opposed to the 15-point lead they had in October, according to EKOS Politics.