POLITICAL POSTURING

If any Islander were to tune into the legislature proceedings that are happening now, you just might ask for the return of the test pattern that used to be played before live TV happened. Let me give you some examples of what I mean. Before the business of legislature begins, member after member get up and say hello to somebody in their district, make some announcement, listen to themselves talk, all the time hoping that somebody hears them. Now comes the exciting part of the proceedings: the “question period.” Now for those who don’t know what this is about, it is where the opposition is supposed to ask questions of the government and try to keep them accountable, with the Speaker there to referee the proceedings. Instead what is happening is the members getting up making speeches that were prepared by somebody in their party offices and somewhere there is a question. Then the government member will politely get up and thank the opposition for the question, say something — usually not answering the question — and sit down. This goes on and on with the opposition repeatedly asking the same question over and over. The opposition could easily get up and say, “I would like to thank the government member for answering the question but I can’t because they didn’t answer it.” The Speaker, in the meantime, is acting like a babysitter with no control. I thought the Green party were party of change, but they have become the most political posturing party ever to be in the legislature, bar none. The Liberals are like deer staring at headlights, not knowing what to do. The Progressive Conservative government should govern, not hoard information that Islanders are entitled to. The legislature is a place where things get done for the good of all Islanders. I think that Islanders deserve better behaviour from our elected members. If they don’t want to govern, then they should all stay the “blazes home.”

Bruce MacIsaac Charlottetown