About 400 people attended a rally in Halifax Saturday afternoon to protest Prime Minister Stephen Harper's recent proroguing of Parliament.

The demonstration was one of many being held across the country.

Participants carried placards and shouted anti-Harper slogans in front of Province House in the city's downtown.

Most of Granville Street was blocked off as the crowd swelled from about 100 at 1 p.m. AT to nearly 400 within an hour; their enthusiastic cheering and politicians' speeches seeming to attract more people.

Organizers said they want to remind people the House of Commons was supposed to sit Monday, but now important work won't get done until Parliament resumes on March 3.

They said they don't believe Harper will change his mind based on the demonstrations, but they're pleased their anger about the shutdown will be heard.

"This needs to be shown, not only to Stephen Harper, but to future governments as well that is not how this can be used," said organizer Brendan Sommerhalder.

"We can't use prorogation to run from our problems. Canada knows that that can't happen and we're making sure that they all know that too."

The countrywide demonstrations follow a protest that began earlier this month online. More than 200,000 people have joined the Facebook site against Harper's decision to suspend Parliament.

MPs were supposed to return to work on Jan. 25 after a holiday break, but Harper said he delayed the resumption of Parliament to focus on strategies for Canada's economy.

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff, NDP Leader Jack Layton and Green Leader Elizabeth May claim Harper prorogued Parliament to duck questions from the opposition about his government's handling of the Afghan detainee issue.

The opposition parties are planning to be in Ottawa next week, despite the prorogation, to hold informal committee meetings.