Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

May 7th, 2008

BC Liberals ram through Legislation without debate

BC Liberal House Leader Mike de Jong announced yesterday that eight pieces of Legislation will be pushed through the House with absolutely no debate.  Using a mechanism referred to as closure, these eight bills will become law without ever being discussed in the House.

“It is shocking that such significant pieces of legislation will be pushed through without any scrutiny,” declared the MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke Norm Macdonald.  “These are not minor bills but in fact legislation that will have drastic effects for British Columbians.”

Bills that will not be debated include fundamental changes to our universal health care system, the implementation of the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), the instigation of a gas tax and changes to the wildlife act.

“This is a direct attack on democracy,” continued Macdonald.  “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 are intended to go through a rigorous debate process in the House to ensure that the public fully understands the implications of the bill and to give the government the opportunity to fine-tune the bill if necessary.

“Bill 21 attacks directly the concept of universality in healthcare, something that is fundamental to our system, yet the legislation will be passed without proper debate.

“Bill 32 implements the highly contentious TILMA with no 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.

“Bill 37 introduces a gas tax that places the burden unfairly on rural residents.  The tax does nothing to actually cut emission because it exempts the largest polluters.  This is being rammed down our throats with no public input.”

Macdonald says that people need to protest this government’s arrogant dismissal of our democratic system.

“If we accept that the government can act unilaterally without accountability we accept the erosion of our democracy, and I would hope that people across the province would reject this government’s agenda of secrecy.”