An undemocratic approach to governing, MLA says

By CAROLYN GRANT
Kimberley Daily Bulletin

May 12th, 2008

Last week the provincial Liberal government invoked closure in the Legislature, meaning the spring session will come to an end on May 29.  With closure invoked eight bills introduced by the Liberals, ranging from action on TILMA (the BC Alberta trade bill) to gas taxes to health care, will become law without debate in the House.

To say that NDP Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald is unimpressed with this action, would be an understatement.

“It is shocking that such significant pieces of legislation will be pushed through without any scrutiny,” said Macdonald.
“These are not minor bills but in fact legislation that will have drastic effects for British Columbians.

“This is a direct attack on democracy.  The BC Liberals know that if the details of these bills become public, people will not accept them.  Instead of making sure that adequate time was given to go through the proper debate process, the Campbell government held back legislation until the last possible moment.”

Bills being passed include:

Bill 20: Oil and Gas Activities Act

Bill 21: Medicare Protection Amendment Act

Bill 24: E-Health (Personal Health Information Access and Protection of Privacy) Act

Bill 29: Environmental (Species and Public Protection) Statutes Amendment Act

Bill 32: Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement Amendment Act

Bill 37: Carbon Tax Act

Bill 42: Election Amendment Act

Bill 43: Miscellaneous Statues Amendment Act (No. 2)

“Bill 21 introduces sustainability into health care,” Macdonald said.  “It’s a way of limiting care.  It directly attacks the concept of universality in health care, something that is fundamental to our system, yet the legislation will be passed without proper debate.

“Bill 37 introduces a gas tax that places the burden unfairly on rural residents.  The tax does nothing to actually cut emissions because it exempts the largest polluters.  This is being rammed down our throats with no public input.  We should be talking about this.  It’s not as if the gas price isn’t already onerous for rural residents.  But Campbell wants us to pay more and more.

“Bill 32 implements the highly contentious TILMA with not public discussion.  Despite the fact that local governments across the province have passed resolutions opposing TILMA, the Liberal government is pushing it through without even a minimum of examination.

“They are not going to debate it.  That’s a pretty outrageous way to impose laws.”

What it all boils down to, Macdonald says, is a government that does not want to be accountable to the electorate.

“We sit less than the Canadian Senate.  No government tries to escape scrutiny as much as this one does.  This session ends on May 29, which is the result of a Liberal law when they were 77 to 2 in the House.  And we never have a complete fall session.  It’s just a fundamentally undemocratic approach to things.”