Premier Campbell’s cancellation of the fall session shows his government is arrogant and out of touch with the concerns of ordinary British Columbians says North Coast MLA Gary Coons. Since the Spring session ended on May 29, it will be 9 months that Gordon Campbell has not had his cabinet in the legislature if we return next February as scheduled.
“The forest sector is in crisis, high energy prices are hitting B.C. families hard, the slowing economy must be addressed and there are continuing problems with seniors care and yet this Premier stumbles along saying there’s no work for the legislature to do. Is he that arrogant that he can’t see that people on Haida Gwaii, on the Central Coast and in the Prince Rupert region are struggling?”
Coons says that issues like resource roads, which were not dealt with in the spring session, are important to people in the region, and they need to be addressed publicly.
“I’ve heard a lot of concerns from people about the resource road act in particular,” said Coons. “I know there aren’t many resource roads in Point Grey, but that doesn’t mean that this issue shouldn’t be dealt with. People in this region want these roads made safer, and they want assurances that they will be kept open to the public.”
The resource road act was introduced in the spring session, but it was one of several bills which were not addressed due to a lack of time. Seven other measures, including the gas tax, were passed using closure, a controversial procedure which eliminates debate on bills being passed.
“How can the government ram ten bills through the legislature in the spring, with no debate, no scrutiny, no questions, and then turn around in the fall and say there is nothing to be done?” asked Coons. “It is pretty arrogant of Campbell to believe that British Columbians will forget his dirty tricks at election time.”
The North Coast MLA is disappointed that there will be no fall session because it means issues like the continued failure of the Ministry of Education to fund changes to class size and composition will be left on the shelf for another six months.
“The Campbell Liberal government is completely out of touch with British Columbians,” said Coons. “Classrooms are crowded, our schools are closing and many of our children are continuing to struggle with basic reading and math skills. The longer these issues are left on the shelf, the further these children fall behind.”
Coons suggested that since Gordon Campbell doesn’t have any of his own ideas, he might think about addressing a few of the things raised by New Democrats across the province, such as:
*Revamp the coastal ferry act to be accountable to ferry-dependent communities and honour the social and economic contract that the Campbell Liberal government broke with those that rely on ferries as an essential service.
*Bring in legislation giving our lowest paid workers a raise and indexing the minimum wage to inflation.
*Roll back the tens of thousands of dollars in ridiculous salary increases Campbell gave his top deputies.
*Axe the gas tax and take real action on climate change by targeting big polluters while providing British Columbians with alternatives to help reduce their carbon emissions. Gordon Campbell hit people with an ineffective gas tax while letting big polluters off the hook. When local governments spoke up about having to cut services to pay for the tax, he blew them off.
*Create a seniors advocate to improve accountability in the health care system. Gordon Campbell broke his promise to seniors and their families; he has forced seniors from their homes and let seniors care facilities hide their high hazard ratings.
*We must create an independent seniors advocate and bring in legislation to improve accountability and systems of care for seniors.
*Tighten the loopholes in the lobbyist’s registry. We need to bring in legislation to strengthen rules governing the activity of government lobbyists and to extend conflict of interest laws. Gordon Campbell refuses to hold his government accountable to British Columbians, and allows his friends to follow their own set of rules.
“I am extremely disappointed and upset with the unilateral decree by our absentee Premier. A fall session gives all MLAs, an opportunity to represent their constituents’ interests – to ask questions, raise important concerns and hold cabinet ministers to account,” said Coons. “The session would have allowed the Premier his chance to explain and defend his policies and his actions. Instead, Campbell’s legislature will sit for just a measly 47 days this year, one of the shortest sessions in a non-election year in decades.”
“This is a betrayal of the public interest and a betrayal of democracy; British Columbians deserve better!”