A Chance to Cut MLA Pay in Half
They earn too much for a part-time gig.
Empty chamber? Rumours of a one-day fall sitting.
Is it fair or proper that British Columbia's MLAs are paid a full-year salary when they work for half (or less) of the year? Put another way, should part-time MLAs be rewarded with full-time pay?
The question arises because of persistent rumours that the scheduled fall sitting of the legislative assembly either will be cancelled, or reduced to an insignificant one or two days with little or no legislative work.
For the past three decades, remuneration for British Columbia's MLAs has been based on two sittings per year. So, in the event that this year's only meaningful legislative sitting was in the spring, it seems obvious that B.C.'s MLAs should relinquish half of their current salaries.
That is, instead of being paid $75,400 for two legislative sittings, each legislator ought to get $37,700 for the spring sitting alone.
What about 'constituency service'?
A few readers, and most MLAs, will no doubt argue that British Columbia's legislators work full-time on behalf of their constituents, regardless of whether they are in the legislative assembly in Victoria, or at home in their individual electoral districts. That argument, however, reveals a profound misunderstanding of the fundamental role of our elected representatives. This is not surprising, as several such "misunderstandings" regarding our parliamentary system of government have been propagated in British Columbia in recent years.
For example, Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberals claim to "allow free votes" in the legislative assembly, and have broadcast so-called "open cabinet" meetings. Both claims are absurd.
Our legislators' responsibilities may easily be summarized: they enact laws, they approve the expenditure of public monies and they hold the government to account. "Constituency service" -- which is not particularly onerous, and in any event almost entirely performed by lesser-paid assistants -- has offered in recent years a useful excuse to dramatically boost MLAs' compensation. But it is not integral to the job our legislators are paid to perform.
Locke's job description
It is always useful to consult John Locke, the 17th century English philosopher, when considering the role of parliamentarians. Locke's writings -- notably An Essay Concerning the True Original, Extent, and End of Civil Government, published in 1688 -- helped to guide England through the transition from a monarchical, near-absolutist government to parliamentary democracy, and provides the theoretical foundation for representative governments around the world.
Locke believed that consent was essential to how members of a civil society were governed. In theory, people gave their consent when they surrendered the perfect freedom found in the "state of nature" (which, because it is without laws, is unsafe) to live under the rule of law, where they, their families and valued possessions ("property") might live in relative security.
In civil society, under the rule of law, "the consent of the majority" is necessary for the enactment and enforcement of those laws, and the expenditure of public monies (because taxes represent the government taking some part of each taxpayer's "property").
Importantly, Locke saw a conflict between the law-making and the law-enforcement functions. He argued that the two ought not to be undertaken by a single body, because it might "be too great temptation to human frailty, apt to grasp at power...whereby they may exempt themselves from obedience to the laws they make...and thereby come to have a distinct interest from the rest of the community, contrary to the end of society and government."
He therefore proposed two distinct entities in the "well-ordered commonwealth": a legislative body (to make laws), and an executive (to execute, or enforce, those laws).
In Locke's view, the legislators elected with the public's consent were responsible for overseeing the executive, which is "visibly subordinate and accountable" to the legislature, and can be removed "at pleasure."
Put simply, the executive operates with the consent of the legislature, which is elected with the consent of the voting public.
Important role
Locke's blueprint is easily seen in the Constitution of the United States, which outlines three distinct branches of government: the legislative (the Congress), the executive (the presidency) and the judiciary.
It is less readily apparent, but exists nonetheless, in the British parliamentary system of government.
In British Columbia, for example, we elect 79 representatives to sit as members of the legislative assembly. The MLAs, our legislators, are responsible for approving the expenditure of taxpayers' monies, enacting and amending laws (legislation), and holding the executive to account.
The executive is composed of 24 MLAs who are selected, and headed, by Premier Gordon Campbell. This body is known to most people as the "cabinet," but its formal name is the executive council.
It should never be forgotten -- although often it is, and especially by backbench legislators who seek elevation to the cabinet -- that the legislature is more powerful than the executive. To repeat Locke's phrase, the executive is "visibly subordinate and accountable" to the legislative branch.
The legislature has the power to defeat the executive on legislation, and may even force its removal on a vote of confidence, or on a bill concerning the expenditure of public monies.
Memorable examples in Canada over the past quarter-century or so occurred in 1979, when Joe Clark's Progressive Conservative government was defeated in the House of Commons; in 1988 when Premier Howard Pawley's government fell in Manitoba's legislative assembly; and in 2005, when Paul Martin's Liberals was forced to the polls after a loss in the House of Commons.
Part-time gig
Locke saw another clear distinction between the legislative and executive branches. The former was a part-time job, while the latter was full-time.
That is because laws "have a constant and lasting force, and need a perpetual execution." Consequently, "there should be a power always in being which should see to the execution of the laws that are made, and remain in force."
Put another way, because society's laws need to be enforced at all times, the executive always has to be available and prepared to enforce them.
This is the case in British Columbia, where cabinet ministers have full-time responsibilities, participating in executive council meetings, administering their portfolio and departmental duties, and overseeing Crown corporations and other government agencies.
It is much different, however, for legislators who are not in the executive. As Locke put it, since it takes relatively little time for laws to be debated and enacted, there was no need for a legislature to "be always in being."
Clearly, a legislature need not be assembled when it has no business to conduct. The legislator's job, then, is part-time.
Zooming pay rates
In British Columbia, for more than a century after we joined Confederation in 1871, MLA's responsibilities were seen as part-time. Barring unusual circumstances, the legislative assembly each year had just a single sitting, the focus of which was passage of the budget estimates. When the sitting was finished, the MLAs returned to their constituencies and their regular jobs; cabinet ministers remained behind to administer their departments.
The pay for MLAs, while generous, reflected their part-time assignment. In 1972, for example, B.C.'s legislators were paid an annual indemnity of $5,000 for the spring sitting, and also got a $2,500 tax-free expense allowance. (This was excellent pay for part-time work, considering that the average British Columbian's personal annual income then was a mere $4,240.)
But 1972 also saw the election to government of Dave Barrett's New Democratic Party. And on April 4, 1973, during a debate in the legislature on whether MLAs' jobs should be considered part-time or full-time, the new premier emphatically stated that "we are full-time MLAs."
In short order the sessional indemnity for B.C.'s MLAs was boosted from $5,000 to $8,000, and then the New Democrats instituted an annual fall legislative sitting to accompany the spring sitting. The MLAs' yearly salary was thereby doubled to $16,000. The following year, the NDP increased the tax-free expense allowance to $8,000 annually.
So where MLAs received $7,500 (the annual indemnity plus expense allowance) in yearly compensation when Barrett became premier, two years later that figure had skyrocketed to $24,000. (This figure was nearly four-times the average British Columbian's personal annual income, which was a mere $6,632 in 1974.)
Not long thereafter, MLAs were given public funds to open constituency offices in their local districts. Additional monies also were provided to employ assistants to staff those offices.
Nice work if you can get it
So, for the past three decades, British Columbia's legislators have been paid on the basis that theirs is a full-time job, even though there has been no statutory requirement that the legislative assembly each year have spring and fall sittings.
In 2001, Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberals won election to government with the promise of a "fixed legislative calendar." Instead of enshrining the policy in legislation, however, the new government merely amended the legislature's standing orders to provide for spring and fall sittings.
Section 2 of the current standing orders states that "the House shall meet (i) the second Tuesday in February to the last Thursday in May...and (ii) the first Monday in October to the last Thursday in November..."
And as has been the practice for the past five years, a parliamentary calendar was posted on the legislative assembly's website, which showed a 2006 spring sitting running from February 14 to May 18, and a fall sitting from October 2 to November 30. (Recently, I have had trouble accessing the parliamentary calendar online.)
Our MLAs are well compensated for this rather light workload. In the current fiscal year, each legislator will be paid $75,400 in salary, with numerous additional benefits. That is two-and-a-half times the personal income of the average British Columbian, which, according to Stats B.C., was $30,141 in 2005.
(B.C. MLAs' salaries would have been even higher -- $86,580 per year -- if a bill granting enormous increases in compensation to our legislators not been repealed following a public outcry and NDP leader Carole James reneging on a closed-door deal her party struck with the Campbell Liberals.)
And if that were not enough, in July our legislators awarded themselves a sneaky $35,000 per year boost to their constituency budgets, making the average $119,000 annually. (By the way, B.C. funds government agents working at 59 locations across the province to help ordinary citizens access government programs. See: http://www.governmentagents.gov.bc.ca/)
So here is another question: if each constituency office is fully staffed by taxpayer funded assistants, exactly what vital, full-time role does the MLA perform when the legislature is not sitting?
Half pay for half-time
It seems relatively straightforward. If B.C.'s MLAs want to work for less than half of the year, they should be paid no more than half of their current salaries.
The financial savings would total nearly $3 million ($37,700 multiplied by 79 MLAs is $2.98 million), all or part of which could be redirected to any number of worthwhile endeavours. For example, scholarships or bursaries for students in medicine or nursing who, upon graduation, will help to fill the growing shortages in those fields. Or, how about aboriginal initiatives? Or increased monies for the supervision and inspection of foster homes? The possibilities are endless.
In fact, it should not be too difficult to find any number of recipients more deserving of public monies than indolent legislators who seem reluctant to perform the work for which they are being paid.
Will McMartin is a veteran political analyst and regular columnist for The Tyee. Read his previous articles here.
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murdock
5 years ago
Comments on "A Chance to Cut MLA Pay in Half"
simple solution:
take the party (affiliation) out of the ballot and election process.
end the ability to easily organize the corruption.
verso
5 years ago
Good article Will. I think a case can be made for the amount of travel time (many) MLAs put in and time spent away from family... it's not for me to say wether the pay they make now is compensation enough for that or not.
That said, by scrapping the fall session is this government just saying they've run out of ideas?
gerrycgc
5 years ago
I agree, cut Val Roddick's salary. Don't do as much work Val. Hire less expensive foreign workers to do your job. Farm it out!!
Grumpy
5 years ago
I believe, when the legislature first sat in the 1870's, there was no political affiliations allowed and the Premier was chosen by secret ballot after the election. This would seem a good way, as it would take the personalities out of the election and put the onus on who people were votong for.
All this points to is massive reform of our political system and it isn't coming here you can bet on it.
Forget STV, I think what is needed is a fixed election date every 2 years, with elected persons in power for 4 years. This would mean 50% of the Parliment would face elections every 2 years and would certainly prevent the disater this province has had for the past 10 years!
As well civic elections should be every 2 years not 3, simply because civic politicians have become so removed from the electorate. The problem with so-called democracy in BC and Canada is, we don't live in one, we live in a benign oligaric dictatorship, where the voters are trundled out in show elecations and vote on issues mainly invented by the media and political pundits.
If those who say we live in a true democracy, then why are we not allowed to vote for people in the GVRD or TransLink? Why? The so called democratic politicians are afraid of democracy.
And now how can we sell this bit of nonsnese about Western democracy to the people in Afghanistan or Iraq? We can't!
rkewen
5 years ago
I have an even better idea than cutting their pay in half. If we are going to continue to have the same kind of opportunistic piggies at the trough occupying seats in the Legislature, why not have them Pay for the Privilege.
Pay for the opportunity to forge relationships to create cushy landings in the private sector when done serving the people.
Pay for the opportunity to access a gold plated retirement plan requiring only a few years of service to be "vested" and quite compatible with future "double dipping."
Once on the public teat, it is difficult to ever wean these guys, so why not make them Pay for the Privilege.
I know some will say that this will make it impossible for the "common" man to enter politics and succeed. Check the average or median household income of current "representatives of the people" and it will not be difficult to understand which people they represent and/or why.
In the Socred heyday the common profile of an MLA was "used car salesman" now it seems to be "lawyers." Why is it that the more disreputable professions/occupations are overly represented by "our" representatives?
Then we can move up to the Federal level where it helps to study spin (i.e. communications) to be in Cabinet or to be a defense industry lobbyist in order to be qualified for that Defense Ministry posting. Or how about a corporate turncoat jumping between the private sector and the public service in order to learn to frog hop from party to party as Minister of Giveaways, oops, I mean Trade?
They interviewed Peter Julian, NDP Trade Critic, on As It Happens last night. According to him, the Canadian taxpayers are on the hook for any shortfall in the GOP campaign donation of $450,000,000 due to companies that refuse to sign on to the deal if it passes Parliament.
Write your MP, write everyone's MP, this is a clear violation of the Commandment about "Thou Shalt Not Steal," and that's just for starters. If this deal goes ahead and Canadians allow it to happen and this government to pose as the government of "accountability," then Canada too has given hope all hope of a democratic and free society, and is racing the Americans to see who can embrace fascism the fastest and closest to their bosom.
Grumpy
5 years ago
I agree with gerry let's cut Val Roddick's salary, or better yet fire her. OOP's we tried that already, anyways $5 an hour foriegn workers would be fine or better yet, a fence post with hair, they work for free, yet we would get the same results!
Cynic
5 years ago
This article shows just how elitist and undemocratic our system is. What particularly galls me are the generous pensions, particularly those of our mps. What is the rationale for them receiving one and not us? Sour grapes here, but I don't see retirement in my future while people who park in the backbenches of the Commons for a mere six years get a fully indexed pension. Nice work indeed.
Logjam 603
5 years ago
A great idea. Let's apply it to other part-time workers.
Let's start with the teachers.
cmcl14
5 years ago
Come on. If we want to have decently competent people sitting in the legislature, we need to pay them. The cost of running the legislature is miniscule compared to the government budget. There is no point sweating the small stuff. I'm more worried about P3s and the Olympics.
Frank
5 years ago
And the loggers
alive
5 years ago
Why are YOU not a politician?
Probably because you know that it is a thankless job!
Only people with thick skin (like Emerson) can survive the complaints!
Why not study pictures (before and after)of some of those who really tried to do their best?
I think that Joy would be a good example of what a session in a very small minority does to you!
I agree that they travel a lot, but that it usually is to be remembered by the voters.
Then again, the voters demand to see "their" elected member, so it is a saw-off.
Should you feel that it is such a good job, nothing stops you from running for office, except perhaps that coming under media scrutiny suddenly will not feel so good?
I say thank you to those who actually are willing to sacrifice their lives and reputations, in order to try to better this society........yeah even the puppets, like Harpo and Gordo!
Rhea
5 years ago
Yes, because that's worked so well in the past to attract competent government officials, hasn't it? Right.
I say pay MLAs a for the hours they actually work, plus compensate them for travel expenses, just like any other employee who travels as part of their job. If they're getting a nice cushy salary for sitting on their duffs for half the year (or more, in many cases), why should they actually get motivated?
As for the travel, any halfway intelligent person realizes that the legislature sits in Victoria, ergo, they should expect to be spending the majority of their working time there. Don't like the travel? Don't run for public office.
fpass
5 years ago
-Grumpy, if you check the historical record, the non-partisan nature of BC's legislature between 1871 and 1903 led to more corruption, not less, as MLAs were bribed to support the ministry. And when the bribes weren't forthcoming, governments fell to non-confidence votes; the period was one of constant political uncertainty.
-Payment of MPs and MLAs is a relatively new phenomenon. Progressives lobbied strenuously for paid legislators for a very simple reason: it allows citizens who are not independently wealthy to participate in the legislative process. Previously, only the landed and professional classes could hope to sit in the legislature, as they were the ones who could afford to take time off work. It was easy enough for a doctor or lawyer to hang a "Gone to the Leg" shingle on his door for a few weeks each year. Try doing that if you're a millworker. There are benefits to a well-remunerated legislature.
BC Dude
5 years ago
I'm 100% in favor of cutting all pensions for politicians until they are 65, as they are no better than anyone of us (WE have to work even longer to pay bills) many could be charged with crimes against the betterment of their Citizen US, this would be a great step back to "Real Democracy" I've been on a Fed disability pension for 27yrs now (it started with $500. in around 76-78) and I get $890. a month (wow)& every day I have less purchasing power. Example = 1 can of Chunky Campbells soup = $2.78, insane.
Sad day for all of BC's (Canada's) working poor $40 grand or less a yr..
I was a T Q Journeyman Carpenter (4 year Apprentice ship) for the last 8.5yrs before my accident.
I started as a construction laborer, mill worker, underground miner, surface diamond driller, etc.
I worked hard for the Man & for what? $890. a month, poverty level is around 14grand for a single person.
So I'm very pissed off at all the underhanded greedy corruption going on in all levels of OUR Governments for selfish GREED as they sit up on their Gated “Lil’ Shangralas w/their rent a cop security guards in their “Lil†Smart cars, give me a break.
I say enough, WE here on The Tyee blogs agree WE need a great big house cleaning broom, no shovel to get rid of the bull in politics!
Even the AG,s office seems reluctant to bring justice to the BC Legislature Scandal which included Paul Martin and the Fed Libs? Fed Libs & Fed Conservitives are One and the same!
This happened on Gordo's watch? So many unanswered????'s?
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/
4 real news in this crazy world
http://www.iwtnews.com/home
Have a great day and play with your kids!
rkewen
5 years ago
BC Dude, unfortunately way too many people are in similiar circumstances to those that you describe. Watching Mayor Sam with Rick Mercer last night (repeat) I wondered if he would be so smug and twirling if he was trying to get by on 800 per month or so.
He was telling Rick how as mayor he didn't have to worry about parking in Vancouver. I guess that's good - because as a person on disability he probably couldn't even afford parking in Vancouver, even if he could find it.
But hey, remember, the poor are there because they are lacking in something. We'll have to see if we can determine what that lack is, is it genes, connections, gumption, luck - your guess now!
rkewen
5 years ago
When will the disabled, the mentally challenged and addicted and other such burdens on society get with the program and realize it is their duty to relieve society of their upkeep by not lingering on - sucking up pensions and such!
It's just the neo-con agenda followed to its logical results, don't accuse me of bad mouthing anyone. Darwinism isn't science, it's a hell of a good social program though.
Tieleman
5 years ago
My good friend Will McMartin can be counted on to be provocative but not necessarily practical.
Politicians in John Locke's ancient times were the rich landed aristocracy, gentleman squires and the like. They hardly needed to be paid at all and were demonstrably not working people.
The demands on MLAs today are enormous and it is not a full time job, it is an overtime job. Every MLA of any party I have ever met labours far more than a full work week - they attend evening meetings most nights, usually have events on weekends and have to travel constantly.
Will may disagree, but I want my elected representative on the job 100% for me, not working half-time and finding some other occupation the rest of the day.
And let's be honest - working people will be excluded if an MLAs job is half time. We'll be left with even more rich folks, lawyers, businessmen and other professionals who could be MLAs and still collect a partial salary on the side.
Otherwise we'll have only the wealthy, the venal and perhaps the corrupt who can be bought off by special interests looking for government favours.
- Bill Tieleman
mrpositive
5 years ago
I totally agree with "alive" and "Rhea", where it takes a special person to be able to handle the personal pressures of the political life.
Maybe this is why lawyers make up the majority. They are used to the abuse, debates, and statutes better than other professions.
Working Man
5 years ago
We already have a hard time getting intelligent people to run for office. Cutting their salaries in half is hardly the way to encourage this and would make it even easier for the wealthy to buy themselves a seat.
Just fillig space, this piece.
snert
5 years ago
I think their jobs should be contracted out or at least handled 3P. That way Gordon Campbell would be elligible for huge bonuses that the Premier could not normally get.
rkewen
5 years ago
Bill says:
My question, all cynicism aside, is what is your elected representative doing for you. When government is by order in council, for example, the parlimentary motions and dances seem little more than window dressing and diversion to fool the unwashed.
Or how's about a minority government, where the minority leader "allows" debate on such a significant issue as the deployment of Canadian soldiers in a foreign country, that never invaded or threatened to invade Canada, yet states out front what he is going to do, no matter how anybody else feels. Then to top it off he doesn't even have the respect for the opposition (who I MIGHT ADD - OUTNUMBER HIS MEMBERS) to stay in the chamber to hear what they have to say. Is this representation worth paying for at all, or even calling representation or democracy?
verso
5 years ago
lol -- best post of the day
mcdull
5 years ago
Boy With the governments of the last ten years representing us at Provincial and Federal levels don't you feel Dumped on. Provincially you rule for the Lower mainland screw the rest of the Province. Federally you rule for Quebec and Ontario and with Harper the U.S. No wonder so many People don't want to Vote or answer the cencus or have anything to do with Politicians at any level. We are not getting Value for ou money.
five4fighting
5 years ago
Yet another example of the profound disconnect people have regarding public servants. Scream when they don't live up to high expectations, but refuse to pay anywhere near what an equivalent position in the private sector would garner. You get what you pay for. Self-fulfilling prophesy. Be careful what you wish for. Etc.
murdock
5 years ago
Perhaps it would be best if the Fall session did go on...if only to allow the 3-6 opposition days, let the NDP show that they are still not competent to govern thru the policy and laws that they would propose in such a session.
Vote the silly ideas down, examine any interesting ones and call it a session.
Bottlepicker
5 years ago
Yes, yes, lets reform and have a democracy take the place of what we have now.
Working Man
5 years ago
I agree with murdock. The NDP was such a pathetically opposition last session it is much in the government's interest the have a full fall session so we can see their lame two plank platform in non-action again.
freebear
5 years ago
rkewen said: "But hey, remember, the poor are there because they are lacking in something. We'll have to see if we can determine what that lack is, is it genes, connections, gumption, luck - your guess now!"
Why are they called the less fortunate?
Because in many cases it is just that-good fortune or luck!
Many, or even most, who enter politics do so for the future connections with private industry. In other words cronyism!Imagine Ralph Klein who never finished high school (I am not sure he may have gone back to get his dilpoma) now as an authority on being a premier at some think tank (Fraser Institute I believe).
I do think it is unfair that elected representatives receive pensions when the majority of people have no such opportunity or can afford to contribute to one. Would a politician runing for re-election and then being unsuccessful be elegible for employment insurance?
And now politicians like Sullivan want to bring back public order by criminalizing the homeless! He should no better, but hey 'we' do not want those left behind by the 'Golden Decade' getting in the way of 2010.
How many peole do you really think want to live on the street, let alone welfare?
Perhaps all the unfortunate should be lined up and shot! (being sarcastic here people!), or as they do in some real winter cities, let them freeze to death!
G West
5 years ago
Speaking of homelessness, did anyone see Gary Mason's piece in yesterday's Globe?
Life on the streets: Big Apple's homelessness model bears fruit.
It's worth a look!
Working Man
5 years ago
G West, I also saw that article and I completely agree with it. However, it is not a purely provincial problem. Successive Vancouver city councils have done nothing about it other than pure window dressing, for example, the "four pillars plan." Pure hype on all sides, COPE, NPA, Liberal and of course silence from the NDP.
I also add that these 2000 or so people on Hastings St in Vancouver get waaaay to much press and waaaayyy to little action.
ursus
5 years ago
so the guy calling himself a workingman likes the present dictatorship eh, which part do you like the most the lies or the part where they seem intent on selling the province to the highest bidder! Terasen, B.C. Rail to mention a few, or how about giving publicly owned forest land to a private company!
G West
5 years ago
WM
At one point I thought the 4 pillars might be something better. Old friend of mine - whom I hadn't run into for years - was doing fundraising with the Vancouver Foundation for 4 pillars. She's convinced it is working....me, I ain't so sure. And, interestingly enough, she’s moved on to fund-raise for a different group too.
However, compared to the results Mason talks about in both New York and Toronto, it seems to me there is a real problem at the municipal level here too.
Vancouver Pols love conferences and schmoozing more than anything and Mayor Sullivan is a prime example (not that he's the first mayor who never saw a camera he didn't want to clamor in front of).
We don't agree on much WM, but I think in this particular file a little more work and a lot less 'talk' might actually go a long way to addressing the problem.
Working Man
5 years ago
Show me where I said that. I am all for an effective opposition. We simply do not have one in this province, which is a shame.
Working Man
5 years ago
G West, my business office is in Gastown (although I work at home as much as I can) and there is no way on earth the anyone can convince me what is going on downtown is in any way working. It is getting worse as a matter of fact, the worst I have seen in years.
The best way in my opinion, and far cheaper, is to provide decent social housing away from the east side combined with adequate support and psychiatric/addictions service. They would involve the other municipalities getting on board and the RAV fiasco has shown how likely that is to work. That is why we are in the mess we are in now. You can't build the housing in the Downtown East Side because that is where are the trouble is. People have to be removed from that environment in order to get their lives back on track.
Fact is, the problem in the downtown east side does not affect enough people in the lower mainland for them to actually do much about it. It would be cheaper and more humane to help these people out than to constantly arrest and hospitalise them.
TimL
5 years ago
I think there is no doubt MLA's should be FTE's. ;) Otherwise the executive (including cabinet AND the bureacracy) receive less oversight, and citizens have less access to MLA's to make their voices heard.
Alternatively, could we simply rely on journalists? I don't think so.
Do MLA's need extra incentives to empower their electorate and investigate the bureacracy and other important work? It's called an election.
ursus
5 years ago
We never had it when gordo was in opposition either, when I have the time I will look for your comments supporting gordo.
Working Man
5 years ago
I am not sure of that, ursus, Premier Campbell was dead set against the Fast Ferries long before the debacle happened. When in opposition, the Liberals also went after the "fudgit budget" like jackals, not to mention the welfare ministry over the Matthew Veaudrauil case, to name just a few. The Liberal reaction to the disasterous "fair wage" policy was equally rabid, correctly predicting huge job losses. I could go on but all the stories are achicived at CBC.
ursus
5 years ago
The ferry debacle should be looked into I am sure a lot more will come to light then the media has given us, the fudget budget was nothing compared to what gordo has gotten away with in my opinion. You got the jackal part right! Surpised you didn't mention the liberal darlings from b.c.t.v. showing up at clarks house with the cops.
Little inside help maybe, oh right it was on a scanner, but then no other media types heard it and lots of folks scan! I also remember the liberals saying how we were in so much debt under the ndp and the head accountant for the province proved it was a lie.
The fair wage policy was studied by an economist by the name of Kuhnen if I remember her name correctly and it was her opinion that the fair wage policy was a good deal for the taxpayers and any jobs lost were probably just being regained by the folks who had lost theirs to the low ballers doing a lot of substandard work, you do get what you pay for.
We get some good seismic activity near the lower mainland and we will all find out in a hurry who has been doing quality work and who hasn't.
DPL
5 years ago
Silly us. Gordon decides twice a year sittings and even the dates. Now Gordon decides maybe they will sit this fall and if so for a very limited time. If that is a democratic system you could fool a lot of us who actually believe th Premier was doing a good thing by selecting sitting days. if I recall it was so MLA's could get ready for the house sittings, travel and all that. Gordo wakes up one morning and decides " Ill show those opposition folks who is boss. No sittings till I want them. In opposition he railed against the NDP Premier for telling him when the house would sit. Mind you he railed about a lot of things. IN his first turn to bat the opposition was a grand total of two. By gosh things changed and suddenly a viable opposition started asking questions. So let's shut them down right now. Fill your boots Gordo, this crap will come back to haunt you. Are you afraid to actually stand in the house and answer questions? Hey maybe the upcoming Basi trials might have resulted in some embarrasing questions? Maybe the CNR derailings or a few others I can think of.
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
Working Man,
The Supreme Court ruled that the "fudget budget" was untrue and that the only "cooking" done was not of the books but of public opinion by the Liberal party and major media, particularly Canwest Global. Even after the ruling, this media-created lie continues to be perpetuated by people I believe would not intentionally lie. Please look into what you are saying here, Working Man: you have been misled. Do not go to CanWest Global or the Liberals for the truth on this. You can go to the Liberals' auditors, however: they found the NDP books to be in order and more than above board using conservative accounting techniques.
Working Man
5 years ago
Fine. Get a platform with more than two planks that can win an election. Make a good opposition. Stop being silent. Then you might win. It is pretty elementary yet you still cannot adapt.
alive
5 years ago
Wman
Heaven forbid we should have a fair wage structure!
How would the golden boys be able to make an excessive profit?
You still stink and are a disgrace to the name of "working man"
I don't know whom you figure that you represent, your views are just too weird!
Elliot
5 years ago
one sitting = half pay.
great deduction will. maybe it's time you got a real job.
IAMC
5 years ago
Like we all fire on all cylinders 24/7?
These politicians should be credited with at least stepping up to the plate. Whoever decides to run for an MLA position is parking any career they had. For some, they never had a career, so they ran for the NDP. Victoria is full of these wannabees. And I don't have a problem with that. If any politician is dedicated to their cause I can understand their need to do whatever it takes to get elected.
Once they are elected they have a forum.
The forum has been pulled out from under the NDP's feet. So sorry.
G West
5 years ago
sez Ron Erwin.
That certainly leaves a lot of latitude for Campbell and his clones, doesn't it Ron?
herbie
5 years ago
OMG pay them a WHOLE $75,000? GEE that's a LOT!
Shall we adopt this stupidity of the Reformers on the right, as their agenda is that if MLAs get paid squat, only the wealthy will run as MLAs. The wealthy sure as hell aren't NDP.
Look at it this way: a hockey GOON earns 10 times what the Prime Minister of the country does. Is a goon worth more than the head of the country?
Stop falling into the typical left-wing trap of taking something away from someone else and equating that with bettering yourself. It degrades everyone.
rkewen
5 years ago
Herbie had a question:
If you mean currently, the answer is yes!
Will
5 years ago
To Bill Tieleman: I was almost giddy to see your reply to my unworthy scribblings in The Tyee. Have you tired of trying to knock sense into Spector?
But imagine my surprise in seeing that when presented with the choice of having $3 million in scarce taxpayers' dollars go to foster children, aboriginals or students, you argued that the monies should go to the over-paid legislators! Guess the disadvantaged can take care of themselves, eh?
And if you think that MLAs work more than full-time for their compensation, what does that say about cabinet ministers who get the full MLA pay plus another $39,000 per annum as members of the Executive Council? Are you suggesting that Kevin Falcon, Olga Ilich, et al work 150% of the time? That would be, er, 36 hours a day! (I guess its true what they say about New Democrats and math....)
Seriously, Bill, you're correct that my article was intended to be provocative. It is outrageous for the government to cancel the scheduled fall sitting. Mike De Jong insults the intelligence of every British Columbian when he says that the only purpose of having the House sit is for the government to pass legislation, and if it has no legislation the House should not sit.
I don't care how much we pay our legislators if it means we get intelligent, conscientious, hard-working, and compassionate British Columbians sitting in the Legislative Assembly. Almost no price is to high to pay for the very best MLAs.
But the notion that we're paying our legislators to sit in their constituency offices or attend evening meetings is, frankly, nonsense. We're paying them to sit in the Legislative Assembly, and that's where they should be this fall, as scheduled, from October 2 to November 30.
Will
freebear
5 years ago
Just another blow to the body politic-meaning the constituents out there.
No debate of ideas, policies, programs is sad. How else to we find solutions for the good of all British Columbians?
Open government!
Right!
Stuart
5 years ago
My email to Mr Campbell and Mrs James
Dear Honorable Mr. Campbell and Mrs. James
You are both to blame for the disservice you give to the BC public, we have many issues to debate and bring to the publics attention yet you choose to take a nice fall break and not sit in the legislator. You can say that you have no bills to pass and that your doing great work from your local ridings etc but really we the public have no way of knowing. The only access the majority of us have is to follow the BC legislator, please don't insult the public with this excuse. As Mr. Campbell your the provincial leader or manager how can you justify this action or should I say no action, it is an insult to every taxpayer who supported you.
And Mrs. James, talk about weak opposition. It's not enough to wine or complain for a day or two. You must make a strong stand on this issue and force the ledge back to work. If I was leader I would have all my MLA's show up every day to work and set up on the front lawn of the ledge, set up chairs for the Liberals saying missing in action. I will be watching how this plays out , I have some pull in the tri city areas and watched two riding that were very close last time around.
lynn
5 years ago
Agree completely, Stuart.
The Oppositon's job is to oppose and to oppose in an effective manner...not to complicitly co-operate.
We already know the Campbell Liberals have no respect for the idea of governance. Now the real question is do the NDP?
If the NDP MLA's are not all out on the lawns of the Legislature with their protest signs admonishing Gordon Campbell's undemocratic one or two day sitting, then we are in dire need of a more forceful and courageous Opposition and a more effective Opposition leader.
With the Basi and Virk trials coming up, continual train derailments, massive Olympic over-runs, increasing homelessness, and serious concerns about the state of our health system, the same concerns for our education system....where is the people's voice in all this, that speaks on behalf of our concerns? Why such silence from our elected MLA's (that supposedly represent that voice)?
Tieleman
5 years ago
McMartin and I agree on at least one thing - there is no way the session should be cancelled.
If this out of ideas government has no legislation to deal with important problems in our province - which it should have - than at least our elected officials should examine, discuss and debate them publicly - ask for input, hold hearings at the Legislature.
I believe that one issue alone - the prevalence of poverty on our streets - should be of more than enough concern to warrant a session.
As to McMartin's admonition that the $3 million saved by cutting MLA pay could be used to help the disadvantaged - sure, but why not have an all-volunteer, unpaid Legislature with NO MLA pay at all?
I'm willing to pay a decent price for democracy and full time elected officials.
If you want to truly help the disadvantaged, let's talk about increasing welfare payments, disability benefits and a host of other services inadequately provided by government through the elimination of a raft of tax advantages and other benefits to business and the wealthy first.
I think Will and I could easily find $300 million, not $3 million, to spend on more worthy causes.
And for some reason I think that a Legislature full of multi-millionaires wouldn't make poverty reduction a priority!
thomas49
5 years ago
Geez...i gotta get into politics fast !
Where else can you lie your face off to the great unwashed...vote yourself a huge raise...and then...and then...CUT YOUR WORKING HOURS !
Whoever said you couldn't fool the public all the time?
Go out of the country for a couple of months and come back to Herr Kampbell telling us he is going to save us money by not working in the house,he's going to work from home...PHONE IT IN !
Hey ! show me where i can sign up,which big business cabal should i suck up to ?
When i was in Machu Pichu,I thought what an incredibly sophisticated species we are...since being home,i have lost that wonderment.
Nice being home and having that COLDSHOT of REALITY...we are not as sophisticated as we would like to believe.
Stuart
5 years ago
You said it,
It is an insult to us all, I am sick of the weak NDP going along. I wonder how many back bench NDP MLA's secretly look forward to the extra break, this is an insult to both sides, I say start a letter campaign targeting the leaders and MLA's , tell them your pulling support and money. I'll say it again, your pulling out your money. Next time they send letters or call for money , tell them, I usually donate 150 per year but I'm cutting it back to 75 now due to your only working PT. Get out to the nomination meetings and start taking seats away from the idle slobs who don't care enough to make a stand.
I got one for ya, have bogs and media attention as to what the MLA's are doing in the fall, get pics of a few on the beach etc, Hey here's Gordo in Hawaii in September. Here's Carole fishing in the Caribou at their cottage etc. Lets do a Michael Moore BC style.
We get the democracy we deserve, I can't believes the media silence on this, image if the NDP pulled this stunt. Why bother with the circus , the public is a non issue.
Working Man
5 years ago
Stuart, I also concur. When the NDP got their 30 odd seats last election I was really looking forward to an effective opposition holding the government to account. I have never in my entire life seen an opposition as lame and the present NDP.
They are hamstrung by one huge stone around their neck, one that Sask and Manitoba NDP have rid themselves of, official ties to the unions. The BC NDP knows that they may (however unlikely, they can always home for another Vander Zalm) hold power again. If in that unlikely even, all those unions are gonna like up with their hands out like they did with Chairman Glenn. Then they have the choice of saying "no" and pissing off their bankrollers or saying yes and putting the provincial budget down the crapper. Chairman Glenn said "yes" to his masters and caused a virtual economic meltdown in BC.
Carole is not that stupid. She realises she has to sever the ties with labour because until she does, she'll have to stay silent on hot issues.
Just like she stays slient now. All she can do is continue "meeting with ordinary British Columbians (which is usless because you're only listeing to the choir bitch) and run her two plank platform which was and still is a miserable failire.
A difficult situation for Carole, for whom I have a lot of respect. Unfortunately, she is too nice for politics.
Will
5 years ago
Bill: I think we agree on two things -- the fall sitting of the legislature should proceed as scheduled; and Bill Bennett is the best Premier in British Columbia history!
The reason I suggested that our MLA's pay be cut in half if the fall sitting is cancelled, is because capital punishment seemed too severe. The public has to have some recourse when their elected representatives refuse to show up to work, but how do we show our displeasure?
The fact is that last year, all of the MLAs (including your NDPers) snuck through an exhorbitant pay increase for themselves, but buckled when the public howled its displeasure. Now all of the MLAs, in both parties, seem united in a desire to avoid performing their scheduled legislative duties.
You may think they deserve full pay, but I think even half is better than an afternoon in the stocks, or being tarred and feathered, which is probably what we owe the slackers.
Will
PS. Regarding your first post, John Locke was a leading figure of the Enlightenment, and so wasn't an "ancient" but an "early modern." And he didn't represent the interests of the landed aristocracy (the Tories), but spoke for the rising merchant class (the Whigs) who certainly were the "working people" of their day.
Stuart
5 years ago
I agree with you somewhat working man but disagree on other points. Yes the current NDP is weak and needs more guts, they need a stronger leader. If I was an NDP MLA I would go public that I am going to make myself available everyday at the ledge . If my party didn't like being embarrassed then I would sit as an independent or Green if they wanted me. Yep, see how that would play out,
As far as support goes, come on now, in BC both parties garner around 32-35 % support at any given election with few exceptions. You have to know who your supporters are and not insult them or abandon them, you would never see Gordo crapping on his supporters or BC elites, in fact he usually rewards his supporters via tax cuts etc, 70% of corporations donate to the BC libs and then he rewards them Asap, you will never see Gordo crack down on certain supporters.
Any pollster will tell you that the election is usually decided by the 10-12 % of folks who are undecided up to election day.
So to win you need to rally your base and win maybe 7-8% of the undecided who will vote for someone.
Quite funny to actually see Gordo tying to sway people to the Green party in Dying days of the last campaign. BTW the NDP only lost by 5000-6000 votes last time, 3 to 33 seats is not a bad comeback.
The problem is that Carole is trying to hard to appease those who will never vote for her, anti union
CanWest clones who don't give a sh*t and only want their tax cut at any cost. It would be a cold day in hell before these folks supported her. But what she is doing is taking for granted the money time and effort of those who supported the NDP. I went to the CUPE rally in support of the teachers, over 5000 showed up ready for a fight and what , nothing , no Carole , No speeches by MLA"S etc, bunch of cowards.
missing in action. If I was an MLA , my Speech, I know this is illegal, I know your on the front lines, but I'm with you every step. And if need be I will be jailed for my support because some things are worth fighting for and I will not cower for those Liberals who use the courts to remove human rights. If need be we will support a general strike.
Instead we get pay raises and reduced hours for MLA's
Working Man
5 years ago
Very true. Calling us "anti-union" is a bit of a red herring. Unions are in serious need of reform and that is why their membership is in decline.
Carole has virtually cloned the Liberal platfrom. With the record of previous NDP governments in BC, the will keep enough of the swing vote from voting for the NDP.
And the Liberals know it.
Mel from Calgary
5 years ago
This article should be in every newspaper in the country.
Frank
5 years ago
Mel, what would be the point of printing an article on democratic institutions in your province? When did you guys last have a change of gov't? Before Trudeau was born wasn't it?
Frank
5 years ago
Why? You are. Its like saying, Frank, you're anti-Campbell. Ya, so?
Unions membership is in decline, has been for a long time but it has nothing to do with reform. For example, to prove that assertion you must have an idea of what reforms are necessary?
Nope, ties to the unions don't hurt the NDP ay all. If the NDP didn't get union support it wouldn't make one bit of difference to the election result.
The only problem with the NDP right now is they're invisible. In fairness to them, if they did bring anything up the media wouldn't run with it anyway, they'd instead argue with the NDP. What Campbell had going for him when he was in opposition is a media that would trumpet every sentence he uttered like it was coming from the messiah.
verso
5 years ago
So true...
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
I'd like to echo what Frank has said about the major media being unwilling to publish anything that runs counter to the desires of the Campbell government.
Thank you Will McMartin for bringing this forward. I am going to ask my NDP MLA what he is going to do to earn his pay while the legislature is not sitting. Why are the NDP MLAs not publishing information in coffee shops and where-ever they can about the current state of BC and how they would do things differently. I feel so uninformed by our leaders and our mainstream media that it as if I had fallen asleep for a few years and woke up in the Kansas. And where are the Liberal MLAs with any real guts (possibly an oxymoron)? Not that I am religious, but, the truly caring Liberals (possibly another oxymoron) have to know in their hearts and souls that they are sinning - they are unethical/immoral.
Tieleman
5 years ago
Note to posters: Try watching the media before making ad hominum comments about how bad they are towards the NDP.
Last night's Global TV top story was about how the False Creek Surgical Centre is using MRI machines at St. Paul's publicly-funded hospital to privately charge $1300 per MRI!
Adrian Dix, NDP MLA, uncovered the situation and was featured prominently in the story.
On CKNW and other media earlier in the day, Shane Simpson, NDP MLA, revealed that the BC Liberal government was holding a meeting for park development proponents at Cape Scott - accessible only by helicopter!
In 1996, despite alleged overwhelming media support for Gordon Campbell, the NDP under Glen Clark won the provincial election.
The media may well favour right wing parties, particularly editorially, but I hate it when people who should know better are more comfortable complaining than actually looking at the facts.
- Bill Tieleman
Tieleman
5 years ago
As for Will McMartin -
1) They are not "my" NDP MLAs and I said publicly the pay increase was an enormous and boneheaded mistake on their part, as well as by the Liberals.
2) Bill Bennett BC's best premier? You are not only truly a Socred, you are delusional as well.
3) The NDP, including leader Carole James, have called for a full session this fall - not as you claim:
"both parties, seem united in a desire to avoid performing their scheduled legislative duties."
Only one party has cancelled the session - the Liberal Party that promised to hold it.
4) John Locke an "early modern"? Would that be the same John Locke born in 1632?
And the latter half of your comment that "he didn't represent the interests of the landed aristocracy (the Tories), but spoke for the rising merchant class (the Whigs) who certainly were the "working people" of their day." is laughable.
Time for you to read a little Karl Marx instead of your usual dose of Groucho!
- Bill Tieleman
switek
5 years ago
Why don’t we just ask the MLA’s to work for nothing. I can’t believe that McMartin is so completely out of touch with all of the crap that any elected person has to put up with. If McMartin thinks the job ends in Victoria he is clearly a fool. If the job is such a gravy gig maybe McMartin should run, than he can donate half of his paycheck to some able bodied loser on East Hastings.
Frank
5 years ago
Whoa Bill, I'm not in that demographic. Unless there's been a natural disaster I prefer the written word over an hour long smiley infomercial. As for Dix, will the story have legs? Of course not. It'll be like Campbell's first term and everything from cuts to Leg raids will appear once and then disappear off the radar.
CKNW? Now that they've lost the Canucks I can't imagine ever tuning in to them again. But having had, at one time, my radio dial on 980 for more than a decade I can be pretty sure that the hosts and callers spent more time attacking Shane Simpson and defending the Libs? Did Bill Good ask Shane why he hates BC so much?
That was a fluke result, he should have lost. More people voted against him than for him. Its also the reason many NDP'ers like first-past-the-post, its the only way they'll ever get elected.
And financially. Although I'm sure local papers balance people like the premier's brother, Jon Ferry, and Fazil Mihlar with lefties like... Well, I'm sure they're thinking of hiring some.
lynn
5 years ago
...gotta quote my Mom who said to me today..."you know what you've got when when a government determines that the legislature is no longer necessary?"
Think about it.
woody
5 years ago
The ones that deserve no pay and boot in the ass out the door are the Senators in Ottawa, the money we pay out for them and all their support staff is sickening, what a waste money
ursus
5 years ago
I haven't heard anyone mention that Carol James was in the Hospital being treated for cancer, that might have a bit to do with her ability to oppose the a.c.o.a.!
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
Lynn, your mother is a genius. I wonder if the major media could ask that question (left unanswered) of their viewers as a closing query on tomorrow's afternoon and evening news?
dangrice.com
5 years ago
Elect the military, choose the government by lottery, ostracize those who do a bad job.
The Greeks did it best, screw the Romans!
rkewen
5 years ago
Neo-cons like the BC Liberals, the pseudo Conservatives in Ottawa and the Repugnant Party to our south don't believe in government. They want to be in control, but are only interested in appeasing their own greed and that of their cronies. The common good is a term used by commies and such.
Grover Norquist captured the wing nut philosophy best when he said the goal was to "shrink the size of government until it could be drowned in a bathtub." Cancelling half of the already minimal amount of time the legislators spend doing thing like legislating, debating or investigating issues of import to all British Coulumbians is just part of the shrinkage process.
It seems to me that the only time what happens in a legislature is anything more than "lets dress up and perform meaningless rituals" is in a minority government situation. Of course under the iron hand of Harper, even this is changing as he announces policy like changes to the Articles of Confederation or troop deployments as if it is up to him alone and his cabinet full of those who aren't allowed to have an opinion that wasn't vetted by the king Harp Seal.
These guys only get away with all their criminal activities because most people are too busy to pay attention and mis-informed when they do make some effort to follow the pea under the shell.
Bailey
5 years ago
Lynn, I like your mother.
When exactly was that court case supposed to come up? You know, the one where Liberal bagmen come up for trial on money laundering, bribery, political corruption and fraud charges? This fall, wasn't it?
Might be inconvenient for the crooked bastar...scuse me, for the legislature to be in session with all the attendent opportunities for opposition questioning while that little sideshow was going on.
How nice to be powerful enough to completely avoid having to answer for criminal misdeeds. Kind of like being able to hold the next cabinet meeting after the premier gets out of a foreign jail in Maui.
Why don't we just call an election while the useless twits are on their extended holiday? There must be some way to do that, a citizen initiative of some kind. Like a recall petition or something. Even if we couldn't make it actually happen, it would express our feelings on the subject publically.
Mr. Beers? Seems like the kind of series a free press might make something of, don't you think?
G West
5 years ago
Thomas 49 - you were missed; how's Harald Kann? He's been away a long time now too.
Cheers
rkewen
5 years ago
The fine article by Frank Dobbs, "Ralph Klein's Real Legacy," new this morning in the Tyee, should be read partly as a companion piece to Mr. McMartin's article here. They both are about the tendency to run government for the governing party and their cronies with a minimum of awkward interference by the peeeeeples.
The kernel of his message (emphasis mine):
We normal folk, working, disabled, retired etc. just squabble among ourselves about diversions they create and fan with their compliant media. Meanwhile the corporate elites calmly go about amassing all the goodies, even though they can't possibly use them all and people are dying all over the world as a direct result of their policies.
G West
5 years ago
Insightful comment rkewen.
busy today - catch you later
BC Dude
5 years ago
Lynn, you have a great Mom! ["you know what you've got when when a government determines that the legislature is no longer necessary?"
]
Here's another Eye Opener!
DO NOT KEEP SILENT when your own ideas and values are being attacked. ...If a dictatorship ever comes to this country, it will be by the default of those who keep silent. We are still free enough to speak. Do we have time? No one can tell." -- Ayn Rand, Philosophy
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
BC Dude:
I find it incredibly ironic that we can use the holy icon of darwinism/capitalism/objectivism, Ayn Rand, to admonish the BC Liberals, Alberta government and the Feds for their methodology! Good Job!
RickW
5 years ago
Who knows what could be next......
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire
SharingIsGood
5 years ago
RickW,
Thanks for the reminder. I think your link would do well to be placed with the current Klein article. ...SIG
Jack's
5 years ago
rkewen
To my knowledge the MLA jobs are (hopefully) not pensionable. What happens is that they are able to donate their complete pay to RRSPs.
BC Mary
5 years ago
Didn't Premier Gordon Campbell shut down the BC Legislature early last spring ... stopping the debate on ... the budget, I think?
Whatever it was, it shut down an active discussion, exposing even then, the fallacy that there's nothing to discuss.
There was a deep rumbling even then that the Basi/Virk trial seemed to be coming up, and that Campbell's maneouver was meant to shield the government from embarrassing questions.
Time for some constitutional stalwarts to write another letter to the Lieutenant-Governor, seeking a proper Fall Session of the Legislature, eh?
And watch for some pre-trial activity in BC Supreme Court on 18 Sept. on behalf of Basi, Virk, and Basi.
BC Dude
5 years ago
Campbell is a wanna be Dick-tator who is breaking up OUR PUBLICLY OWNED CORPORATIONS and we stand by and let this happen on OUR watch, OUR children will thank us for this travesty!
Campbell is a puppet to his "Handlers" with a great place in the future world, he and many others have Sold their Souls for what?
We are all being led to the USA's leader’s dream of the "Corporate Militarization of the World" those are Eisenhowers farewell speach to the nation in 1961! http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst306/documents/indust.html
Check it out but it's been on TV many times in the past 4-5 days.
9/11 an inside job as there is no profit in peace only in armes manufacturing totaling 1 Trillion USD dollars a year with a profit of 25+% for a very few Pigs!
$1,000,000,000,000.00 that's a lot of people in the world being fed, medical, educated, jobs, the end of poverty!
blueswag
5 years ago
If,in a case of an "Employee of the Crown" (Bureaucrat of any sort!)trying to withhold any information, try mentioning charge # 337 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC 337).
anne cameron
5 years ago
Well, every now and again someone calls "election" and these people show up in public willing to kick, bite, gouge and roll in the dirt with each other for a chance to get a job.
No more do they get the job and they decide it doesn't pay enough and vote themselves a hefty raise.
Now they want to work half time for full time pay.
Using their own rules and philosophy we should fire the lot of them as of yesterday.
Bums, the lot of them, just bums, regardless of party affiliation. Bums.
BC Dude
5 years ago
anne cameron I agree 100% with you and we can do it lets take over the Government Buildings that sit empty while Gordo sits back smugly smiling at our more or less compliance or resignation to this Drunken dick-tator!
They canceled the Fall Legislature sitting?
Gordo is a freakin coward who is run by his handlers, big biz with a big boat.
Come On Carol James Lets get this show on the road!
bcndpcaucus.ca
http://bctrialofbasi-virk.blogspot.com/
BC Mary
5 years ago
This seems like a good time to share the following note I received today from Western Wilderness:
Sat., Sept.23
"Ring-Around-the-Legislature Rally" for Ancient Forests
and Jobs on Vancouver Island, where we need 500 people
to pre-commit to coming so we know if we'll have enough
people to join hands and encircle the entire BC
Government Legislative Building in Victoria.
In addition, we're going to make a "VIDEO PETITION"
where each person will say their name and where they're
from to a videographer who will film everyone while
walking around the entire ring, and then we'll give the
tape to the BC government (and put it online on our
website) as a "video petition" to register the position
of 500+ citizens about the fate of our ancient forests.
PLEASE email (wc2vic@island.net) or call (250-388-9292)
us back if you can come out to this historic event!
Plus, don't forget we're aiming at 10000 signatures on
our petition by Sept.23, which you can sign online and
download hardcopies at viforest.org (see the
incredible maps there, too). Let us know if you can
commit to filling out 1 or more sheets (10 signatures
per sheet).
So far, as of Sept.13, we have 55 people preconfirmed
for the Ring-Around-the-Legislature rally and about
2400 signatures on the petition (online, hardcopies,
and commitments). We need YOU to help out and email us
back!
The fate of our ancient forests - whether they'll go
the way of the once mighty bison herds and the eastern
Cod stocks, or remain towering in all their majesty -
is dependent on YOUR actions now!
-Ken Wu, Western Canada Wilderness Committee
***************************
Saturday, Sept.23 - "Ring-Around-the-Legislature" -
Rally to Protect Vancouver Island's Ancient Forests and
Jobs
11:30 am Centennial Square in Victoria, then march to
Legislature
12:00 noon Legislature, encircle building, then
speeches
Speakers so far include:
- Robert Morales, Chief Negotiator, Hul'qumi'num Treaty
Group
- Chief Judith Sayers, Hupacasath Band (Nuu-Chah-Nulth
Nation)
- Ken Wu, Western Canada Wilderness Committee
- Lisa Matthaus, Sierra Club of BC
- and others...
Satellite photos taken in 2004 show that 73% of
Vancouver Island's productive ancient forests have
already been logged. This includes 90% of the valley
bottom ancient forests with the largest trees and where
the most biodiversity resides; 87% of the productive
ancient forests on the South Island (south of Barkley
Sound/Horne Lake); and 99% of the Coastal Douglas Fir
zone on the southeast side of the Island. Meanwhile
only 6% of Vancouver Island's productive forest lands
are currently protected in our parks, and the remaining
ancient forests are rapidly being clearcut and
converted into biologically simplified tree
plantations.
At the same time as protecting ancient forests, an
important way to ensure the protection of local timber
industry jobs is to ban raw log exports and instead
create a guaranteed second-growth log supply for local
mills through the establishment of regional log
markets. Since the BC Liberals have come to power,
they've allowed the export of 19 million cubic metres
of raw logs to be exported to foreign mills in the US,
Japan, and Korea, while allowing companies to shut down
their BC mills while retaining their cutting rights on
public lands.
The fate of BC jobs and of the Upper Walbran Valley,
East Creek Rainforest, Nahmint Valley, Nootka Trail,
Clayoqout Sound, Upper Tsitika Valley, and hundreds of
other wild ancient forests needs YOUR voice!
Call the WCWC at 250-388-9292 or email
for more info. See our website viforest.org and wcwcvictoria.org for more background info.
BC Dude
5 years ago
This very evil BC (F)Liberal government dosen't have the moral fiber of a rabid dog!
Corruption in our Legislature 3yrs ago, come these are organized criminals running this Once Great Province!
The World Organization on human rights has given Canada and especially BC harsh failing grades on poverty, homeless, Sgt Peppers over (gestapo) reaction to peaceful protests
DJT
5 years ago
Well, after the Auditor General's report of the other day regarding the Olympics (gee, what a surprise) I guess Gordo was just being crazy like a fox, eh? Not enough business to warrant a fall sitting. Yeah, right.
BC Dude
5 years ago
The MLA's should have their salaries and benefits slashed in half!
If I go to work and miss a day I don't get paid for this and rightly so.
So what makes MLA's better than us working poor?
Campbell has slashed the social fabric of our once great British Columbia our homeless rate is way out of control because of Gordo's ruthless, bigoted, war on our most vulnerable citizens, who will be next?
THIS dictatorship of a drunken coward who's afraid to answer to all the questions that would be asked in the fall legislature! Legislature Scandal, Teresan, 2+ BILLION for a 2010 Winter Olympics, which if put to a referendum would lose by a great majority because it will only fill the pockets of the few so-called elite or as they like to be called "the crème dela crème" to me sour cream! lol
Gordon Campbell's liberal criminals has got to be toppled as he was not democratically elected. CanWest media was able to use the green party which they've never endorsed before to split/take away the NDP votes as they would have had the majority of the votes. This is how the American politics works with big business footing the bills/bribes!
I've had enough of S Harpers cozying up to the Bush Cabal of War Criminals!
"THIS IS FOR THE FUTURE OF MY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN'S CHILDREN!"
http://stopwar.ca/
So I'm going to put myself along with thousands of other peace loving people on the war in Afghanistan on October 28 starting a waterfront station @ 1pm and ending at the Vancouver Art Gallery 2 p.m.!
It's 9:30 a.m. just on news about four more Canadians being killed in this immoral war in another land with no meaning except to fill the pockets of the war machine, big business!
"THERE IS NO PROFIT IN PEACE"
IT'S TIME TO PUT THE GOVERNMENT BACK IN THE HANDS OF PEOPLE WHERE IT BELONGS!
FEDERALLY, PROVINCIALLY and REGIONALLY!