Please pass more laws?
Does anyone else see the humour in how the opposition parties, and certain Edmonton Journal columnists continue to complain at how the Alberta Legislature sits the fewest number of days out of all Legislatures in Canada?
Let me see if this makes sense, when a Legislature sits, they make laws, the longer they sit, the more laws they make. Now, I am not arguing that there isn't a need for certain new laws, however, once that needed legislation is passed, what further need is there for the Legislature to sit? The fact that the Alberta Legislature is only expected to sit 5o days this year should be seen as a success story. Its a GOOD NEWS story for the government.
Looks like once again the opposition has missed the point, this is beginning to be routine for them.
posted by Anonymous @ Wednesday, November 16, 2005
11 comments
11 Comments:
*cough* what about a little thing called "debate."
Otherwise, what's the point of having an assembly in the first place?
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
I could fill this entire blog with pages and pages of how the opposition parties waste everyone's time with their attempts to "debate". If they don't take the Legislature seriously, why do they insist on sitting for so many days? In fact, I have been inspired now to find some brilliant examples of oppositions "debating" real issues. stay tuned.
We're sure the 53% of Alberta voters who voted for an opposition party would see your definition of "wasting everyone's time" as "having their elected representatives heard."
Simply because you don't agree with what an MLA has to say in the house, they were elected to be there and deserve the opportunity to debate, be it a Tory, Liberal, ND, or Alliance member. It's called representative democracy.
We also look forward to the conclusion of your hansard hunt and have no doubt that you will discover brilliant examples of "debating" on both sides of the Assembly.
Ah yes, the 53% of voters who didn't vote for the conservatives. Its one of my favourites from the "I don't like this system because we can't win under it" crowd. I still prefer the Liberal argument of how 15 thousand more people voted for the 21 Lib MLAs, then all 62 PC MLA's combined. But then again, why would 211,000 people not turn out to vote? sure they were upset with Klein and Co. But isn't it amusing that all those people would rather not vote then vote for the opposition?
If representative democracy means wasting the Assembly's time with arguments that have no bearing on the issue at hand, then my degree is a complete farce.
Not sure what your argument is, Mr. C, or where the 21 Liberal MLA’s came from (the opposition is made up of 16 Liberal, 4 ND, and 1 Alliance MLA).
It seems to us that the issue the media is making is the tendency of the Tory Government to make decisions behind closed doors (namely, through Orders-in-Council), rather than through open debate in the Assembly isn't good for democracy in Alberta.
Name 3 items passed by order in council between the time the house adjourned in may till the time the house reconvened last week that should have been debated in the assembly. Otherwise you have bought into the poorly thought out tripe presented by 'the media'. It's better to do your research than to make unsubstantiated statements based on the groupthink presented in the pages of the daily papers.
Wow, this is turning into a genuine debate forum. Isn't democracy great!
The only issue the media seem to have is that in Alberta its so hard to get a good political story because times are good, the government is responsible and there are really no major issues. Sure they try to go after health care and education, but thats just generalization.
So, the media get excited about attacking the government for how few days they sit. They know, as the opposition knows, that only during session do potential stories come out, and quite easily too, any journalist can write a story, all he has to do is watch QP. Personally, i would love to just once watch the Assembly try to continue their business when there is nothing to do, which is what would happen if they sat more days. I can see the headlines now "Arrogant Government sits more days then necessary, Oppositions claims it is just proof of Klein's arrogance."
Speaking of the lack of real journalism... is it just me or does it seem like the Globe and Mail has taken it upon themselves to turn the rest of Canada against Alberta as we head into a Federal election? I say this for two reasons (there are likely more, but I only have two at this time).
The first is the article they printed a few months ago on the topic of the fake prosperity cheques... it's not often media prints internet spam jokes in their paper. But I guess the Globe and Mail will do anything to show Alberta in a negative light. Obviously they are incapable of REAL news.
The second article reminds me of the tactics used during the last Federal Election... the health care conspiracy between Klein and Harper. Seriously, a reporter should know better than anyone that to get to the bottom of an issue discussions need to be had and research needs to be done. There is no health care conspiracy… is there a anti-Alberta conspiracy?
I guess the Globe and Mail is above any need for research or actual news! It reminds me of a phrase a good friend of mine once used... they just "throw $%&* against the wall and hope that something sticks".
Globe and Mail:
I agree. Which is what makes this G&M headline so amazing... its actualy almost a shot at Paul Martin!
PM plans negative campaign
Post a Comment
<< Home