Conservative leadership candidate Michael Chong announced his plan Monday to end “egregious abuses of Parliament” by federal governments — and even took a swipe at his own party in the process.

“Both Liberal and Conservative governments have prorogued legislatures to avoid votes of non-confidence and debate over scandals,” Chong writes in a lengthy new policy proposal.

Stephen Harper used prorogation to avoid opposition questions about scandals during his time as prime minister. In 2009, Prime Minister Harper shut down Parliament for two months, effectively killing an inquiry into Afghan detainees, stalling government bills and allowing the Tories to take control of the Senate.

In 2013, Harper prorogued Parliament until mid-October, which ensured that he wouldn’t have to face opposition questions on the Senate expenses scandal for another month.

Harper wasn’t the only prime minister to use prorogation as a tool to escape political consequences. Liberal Prime Minister Jean Chrétien prorogued parliament for over 100 days and Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney’s prorogations lasted 68 days.

Chong said that in a 21st century democracy, prime ministers shouldn’t have the power to shut down elected legislatures to avoid losing votes of confidence or being held accountable for their decisions.

Chong said that, as prime minister, he would establish a new constitutional convention stating that Parliament must sit for two additional days to deal with unfinished business and votes before dissolution or prorogation is granted.

“I will also introduce a convention that the start of a new Parliament be announced at the same time dissolution is granted and that Parliament begin two weeks after a general election — rather than the current standard of 6 to 8 weeks — to ensure the government’s confidence can be tested as soon as possible,” writes Chong.

He says this plan will “rein in the power of the PMO to shut down Parliament to avoid a vote and avoid accountability. And it will increase accountability by ensuring the government is held accountable and confidence can be tested as soon as possible after an election.”