Whither Representation?
Here in BC, we have a four-day session of parliament just underway this week, after 265 days without parliament in session.
That's right. 265 days. Two. Hundred. Sixty-five.
It's nearly a year since parliament was in session. And the only reason for this particular session to be taking place is to pass legislation to permit the government to spend money until the new Liberal leader and NDP opposition leader can be elected at their respective conventions.
Not only do we not have a working government, we have neither a leader of the house, nor of the opposition.
Of course, "the government" is largely the bureaucracy of public service employees, not the elected officials, who keep doing the day-to-day work of keeping the province running, providing services.
But it's very strange to live in a democracy where people elected to represent their constituents can effectively leave the ship uncaptained for so very long.
Do we need elected officials at all? Do we need parliament at all?
With no parliament in session, how are the voices of constituents heard? What business is actually transpiring? What legal reforms can be made? Why does no-one seem to care that a 265 absence is an affront to any democratic society?
Things are very, very broken.
That's right. 265 days. Two. Hundred. Sixty-five.
It's nearly a year since parliament was in session. And the only reason for this particular session to be taking place is to pass legislation to permit the government to spend money until the new Liberal leader and NDP opposition leader can be elected at their respective conventions.
Not only do we not have a working government, we have neither a leader of the house, nor of the opposition.
Of course, "the government" is largely the bureaucracy of public service employees, not the elected officials, who keep doing the day-to-day work of keeping the province running, providing services.
But it's very strange to live in a democracy where people elected to represent their constituents can effectively leave the ship uncaptained for so very long.
Do we need elected officials at all? Do we need parliament at all?
With no parliament in session, how are the voices of constituents heard? What business is actually transpiring? What legal reforms can be made? Why does no-one seem to care that a 265 absence is an affront to any democratic society?
Things are very, very broken.
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