Three days, one night of raising the issues

The democratic process in BC provincial politics received a three day window of opportunity last week, as the NDP managed to turn a quick in and out session into three days of debate (well filibustering is more like it) on some of the issues facing the province.

As has been documented in the past, the provincial Liberals chose not to have a fall session this year. Giving the public the feeling that there wasn’t much in the way to discuss, as in the Governments opinion, things in the province are apparently going so well that everyone is happy.

Instead of the time honoured tradition of a Legislative session and debate in the Legislature, the mechanics of government will work through the Premiers office as well as that of the Governmental Ministries. Leaving us with little in the way of an accountability session to be provided for in the Legislature until at least the spring.

So with that in mind, you have to take your opportunities when they arise and the opposition did that last week, forcing the government to at least go through the motions of parliamentary procedure for a couple of days. More of an inconvenience than anything else, but at least they had to punch the time clock for a few days.

The Daily News highlighted the concerns of the local MLA Gary Coons in the Friday edition of the paper.

PLIGHT OF CANNERY WORKERS RAISED IN VICTORIA
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Friday, December 1, 2006
Page one

The recent abbreviated sitting in the legislature didn’t stop North Coast MLA Gary Coons from bringing the plight of local shoreworkers to the forefront.

“Our caucus was in the legislature for a rare sitting earlier this week and we gave the Gordon Campbell government a lesson in democracy,” said Coons. “The Liberals wanted to come to Victoria for a day and then sneak away without being asked any tough questions. Well, we didn’t let that happen, we didn’t let them just walk away.

“We kept them there for three days and through the one night. We forced this arrogant, uncaring government to listen to provincial and local issues and concerns that did not have the opportunity to be democratically discussed, due to Gordon Campbell’s decision to cancel the fall session.”

On Wed., Nov. 22, the MLA presented a petition and individual letters to the Minister of Finance — a total of 127 letters and more than 500 signatures. The petition calls on the government to raise welfare rates and index them to inflation, remove arbitrary barriers to accessing welfare, allow recipients to earn at least $500 per month before it is deducted from their welfare cheques, and to raise minimum wage to $10 per hour and abolish the $6 training wage.

When Coons was given the chance to speak again this Wednesday he brought the plight of local fish workers to the floor of the legislature again despite it being 12:30 in the morning.

“I recently submitted to the House 127 individual letters and over 500 signatures from my constituents in Prince Rupert. I have not had the opportunity to question where this government is heading for helping the most vulnerable,” he said.

“It is vital that Income Assistance rates be adequate to ensure recipients, who have no alternatives, are able to subsist above the poverty line without enduring undue hardship.

“Due to the horrendous fishing season on the North Coast, many are in need, and took to a “Dignity Campaign” asking assistance from this government.

“My constituents would have wanted me to bring up these, but unfortunately I could not.
“Why? Because this government refuses to sit and refuses to do the work of this House … they refer to it as ‘busy work’.”

The North Coast MLA called the government ‘uncaring’ and ‘arrogant’ for their response so far to the difficulties being faced by many shore workers.