Marking 20 years
of bold journalism,
reader supported.
Views

Don't Let Me Near the Kids

I refuse to tell students political fairy tales.

Rafe Mair 28 Jan 2008TheTyee.ca

Rafe Mair writes a Monday column for The Tyee. Read previous columns by Rafe Mair. To hear Mair's new webcast, visit www.rafelive.com.

image atom
I'll just scare them.

Recently I was invited by other former MLAs to visit classrooms and explain to bright-eyed children the important role played by members of the British Columbia legislature.

Now it's not that I don't like kids. But I'm not eager to tell them certain fairy tales. So letting me near the idealistic youth of today is probably not a good idea, as I'll explain.

From December 1975 until February 1981 I was an MLA, and until a few weeks before I resigned as an MLA, I was in cabinet. I have very fond memories of my time in the cabinet and, without exception, of my colleagues -- even those with whom I, from time to time, profoundly disagreed.

That said, I have no nostalgia arising out being in the legislature because most of it was an utter waste of time.

I'm a member of the Ex-MLA's Association. I pay my dues but have little interest in it. I recently received, along with many other MLAs, a letter from Doug Symons, Doug having been an MLA during the '90s. I don't remember if he was in cabinet or not. If he wasn't, he's terminally naïve. If he was, he's serving up a huge plate of horse buns.

Here is his letter:

 

The Association of Former MLAs
of British Columbia

January, 2008

Dear Former MLA,

At a recent meeting of the executive of The Association of Former MLAs of BC it was agreed to canvass the membership to see what support there might be for a "Former MLAs Speakers Bureau." The intent being to form a list of members who would be interested in going into schools (if invited) to speak to a class/classes of students about the workings of our provincial legislature.

A little history on the layout of the legislative chamber, the passage of bills, what various MLAs do within the legislature and in their constituencies, as well as questions and answers from the students could be possible topics for a half to one hour presentation. [Emphasis mine]

A few of us will be putting together a suggested presentation outline and possibly some visuals to aid those interested in participating . . .

If you are interested there are a few other points worth noting: . . .

I cannot emphasize too much the need to keep your remarks in the classroom non-partisan. By the time a comment goes home, embellished, and then to the school board some little comment can become a big issue. [emphasis mine]

Finally, if you are interested in this enterprise, please let me know so that I may supply you with further materials and keep a register of those participating. Possibly at a later date, we can share experiences that may be beneficial to each other.

Thank you,

Doug Symons

What I wrote back

My immediate answer was simply "not interested." I then wrote Mr. Symons as follows:

 

I think I should flesh out my refusal.

Kids should learn that the legislature/House of Commons is theatre only and that to pretend that it serves any purpose except to shed figurative blood rather than blood on the street is fraudulent. Bills pass because governments (cabinet) want them passed. Committees meet if the government wants them to and then must deal with issues as they are instructed (exception being Public Accounts). Paid whips are farcical let alone paid deputy whips. Parliamentary secretaries are appointed so that idle hands don't do the devil's work.

There is no such thing as debate in [our] legislature if by debate you mean trying to bring people to your point of view. In five years I didn't hear anything even remotely like a debate. I heard a lot of bullshit -- and contributed my share -- for the record or in hopes of promotion from the backbench.

Kids should learn that 50 per cent + 1 in the legislature/Commons gives 100 per cent of the power and that with the exception of the power for a limited time to delay, opposition members can only hope to catch the ear of the media.

Kids should know that 'responsible government' is bullshit and that instead of it being power up, it's power down. They should know that party leaders can bounce recalcitrant MLAs/MPs from caucus and prevent people properly nominated from running under the party banner.

For the above and countless more reasons I have refused to help the Youth Parliament -- not because I don't want to help young people but because I don't want to lie to them.

Rafe Mair

Sorry kids, the facts

What I said in my letter is of course the truth. If members of the legislature, cabinet and backbenchers, opposition and government alike, pretend that I'm wrong, it's all make believe for the obvious reason that they don't want the public know the farce in which they play an integral role. If it were otherwise, a member voting against his party wouldn't be a big deal; whereas, in fact, unless it's a rare free vote, it's a very big deal indeed. And if it involves a money bill, the government MLA is shown the door.

But what about committees?

Apart from Public Accounts, they are chaired by a government member who, with his colleagues, perform under the party whip. Nothing of embarrassment to the government is put on the agenda and if, somehow, opposition members get too close to the bone, the chairman simply adjourns the committee sine die (with no date for re-convening).

To see what happens in real life take the Special Committee on Sustainable Aquaculture, which had an opposition chair and an opposition majority. They laboured mightily and tabled their report in the legislature. That report contained a finding that fish firms should go to closed containment. You would think this would force the government, if not to act, at least react.

But Louis XIV and his government have simply done nothing.

And nothing will be done to unsettle the fish farm companies, all of which have an abiding cozy relationship with the government.

A better message

The Association of Former MLAs of British Columbia should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for wanting its members to present to students a version of provincial governance that bears no relationship to what really happens.

This same organization could perform a truly worthwhile exercise by informing the province's young people what really does happen.

They should urge those students, as they move along in life, to insist upon reforms so that MLAs do indeed have power to act independently in a legislature constituted for that purpose rather than perpetuate a parliament like that of Poland before the wall came down.

Related Tyee stories:

 [Tyee]

  • Share:

Facts matter. Get The Tyee's in-depth journalism delivered to your inbox for free

Tyee Commenting Guidelines

Comments that violate guidelines risk being deleted, and violations may result in a temporary or permanent user ban. Maintain the spirit of good conversation to stay in the discussion.
*Please note The Tyee is not a forum for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, denying its existence or minimizing its risk to public health.

Do:

  • Be thoughtful about how your words may affect the communities you are addressing. Language matters
  • Challenge arguments, not commenters
  • Flag trolls and guideline violations
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity, learn from differences of opinion
  • Verify facts, debunk rumours, point out logical fallacies
  • Add context and background
  • Note typos and reporting blind spots
  • Stay on topic

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist, homophobic or transphobic language
  • Ridicule, misgender, bully, threaten, name call, troll or wish harm on others
  • Personally attack authors or contributors
  • Spread misinformation or perpetuate conspiracies
  • Libel, defame or publish falsehoods
  • Attempt to guess other commenters’ real-life identities
  • Post links without providing context

LATEST STORIES

The Barometer

Do You Think Naheed Nenshi Will Win the Alberta NDP Leadership Race?

Take this week's poll