In all my years working within the political system of this nation, I have never heard anything as appalling as the premier's admission to the National Post, and I quote her comment in the event some of you may not have seen it: "When the House rises at the end of [May], you're never going to find me in Victoria.... I try never to go over there. Because it's sick. It's a sick culture. All they can think about is government and there are no real people in Victoria...."
And some people wonder why I am concerned about democracy in our province?
Shortly after Christy Clark was sworn in, I was invited to meet with her at Canada Place, which is where the premier and cabinet generally hold office when not in Victoria. As you can imagine, I was pleased, and impressed, to have an opportunity for a private conversation with the premier.
Clark asked what I was particularly interested in and I replied that high on my list was reform of the legislature: I felt that democracy was suffering at the hands of tradition, and that we needed a serious look at how MLAs participated in the legislative process.
We needed to look at how committees worked and make them more independent; at how votes were conducted and enable more opportunity for free votes; at creating opportunity for MLAs to truly represent their constituencies instead of their parties; at how MLAs could contribute to legislation instead of being completely ignored during debate. The list is a long one.
The premier was excited. She wanted to work together on the issue. She even mused that perhaps I could go as her representative to a Preston Manning conference on democracy. She asked me to write her a letter outlining draft terms of reference for a committee that would look into legislative reform. She would respond with her own comments and we would get started on the work.
Well, it took awhile to put together such an important letter to the premier, but we did it and we sent it. And I have never had a reply.
And I can see why. Why would she want to reform a system that is locked down and under her control? That would allow MLAs to truly represent their constituents? That would enable committees to set their own agendas and pursue topics of critical public interest?
That would let committee members hear witnesses and examine legislation with an expert eye? That would even allow such a simple gesture as letting committees actually meet? Why would she want to reform a system that enables the "sick culture" she herself leads and manipulates?
A premier who thinks the legislative process is "sick;" who complains that all MLAs think about is "government;" and who can't wait to get out of Victoria, is no premier of mine. And the sad thing is that not one of her backbenchers can contradict her, because party discipline requires either their silence or their resignation.
Their voices represent their party, which is the reason I ran as an Independent. I am committed to being your voice in Victoria - when we are actually allowed to be there, that is.
