To keep things simple, I’ve stuck with some of the most common annual resolutions. That way they should be easy to remember.
1. Lose weight
There are plenty of areas where government has grown a little hefty and spends millions on things we just don’t need. Like those provincial golf courses. Finally selling them would free up $4 million every year. Also, with all this talk of regional collaboration and bulk purchasing, why is alcohol never mentioned? We spend tens of millions every year maintaining our own liquor commission for a population of only 145,000. It doesn’t make sense. It’s time to look at how we could lose some bureaucratic weight by allowing Nova Scotia or New Brunswick to handle our booze.
2. Quit smoking
The MacLauchlan government has become very interested in blowing positive smoke about how great things are. Recently the premier penned a document called “The Mighty Island,” touted as a “framework for economic growth.” But it’s mainly just a rosy list of all the positive indicators within the province’s economy. The only actions promised are things all governments should naturally do to support growth and prosperity. There is also a whole new section of the government website dedicated to “P.E.I. success stories,” which includes news-feature styled articles and videos, written and produced by government staffers. There are also over 70 videos of Premier Wade MacLauchlan interviewing local entrepreneurs. How much time and how many resources have been dedicated to this spin machine? Island taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for smoke and spin.
3. Learn something new
The auditor general said repeatedly in her e-gaming report there were areas she couldn’t examine because of non-compliance with her audit (McInnes Cooper) and deleted emails. If witnesses would be allowed to appear at public accounts, we would undoubtedly learn new information. It would also be great to finally learn: whose emails were deleted?
4. Get organized
This one is for the Tories. It’s been over a year since you found yourselves once again leaderless. It’s time to see some action here. It’s good that you finally set a timeframe for a leadership convention for the fall of 2017, but so far we still have no date and no candidates. As the duly elected Official Opposition, it is incumbent upon you to ensure there are solid plans in place to install a permanent leader who can help your party develop policies and hold government to account. It’s about time Islanders see some meaningful organization on leadership.
5. Stop procrastinating
There are a number of big files on which government has been telling Islanders to wait and see. For example, we were promised the final energy strategy for the fall sitting of the legislature. It never materialized. We know a carbon tax is coming but have no details of how this will impact our pocketbooks. We know a second vote will be held on electoral reform, but we know only one of two options on the ballot. Will the moratorium on deep-water wells be lifted when the Water Act is finally passed? Islanders have a right to know the answers to these questions. Just tell us, already.
Teresa Wright is The Guardian’s chief political reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or follow her tweets about P.E.I. politics at Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa.
To keep things simple, I’ve stuck with some of the most common annual resolutions. That way they should be easy to remember.
1. Lose weight
There are plenty of areas where government has grown a little hefty and spends millions on things we just don’t need. Like those provincial golf courses. Finally selling them would free up $4 million every year. Also, with all this talk of regional collaboration and bulk purchasing, why is alcohol never mentioned? We spend tens of millions every year maintaining our own liquor commission for a population of only 145,000. It doesn’t make sense. It’s time to look at how we could lose some bureaucratic weight by allowing Nova Scotia or New Brunswick to handle our booze.
2. Quit smoking
The MacLauchlan government has become very interested in blowing positive smoke about how great things are. Recently the premier penned a document called “The Mighty Island,” touted as a “framework for economic growth.” But it’s mainly just a rosy list of all the positive indicators within the province’s economy. The only actions promised are things all governments should naturally do to support growth and prosperity. There is also a whole new section of the government website dedicated to “P.E.I. success stories,” which includes news-feature styled articles and videos, written and produced by government staffers. There are also over 70 videos of Premier Wade MacLauchlan interviewing local entrepreneurs. How much time and how many resources have been dedicated to this spin machine? Island taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay for smoke and spin.
3. Learn something new
The auditor general said repeatedly in her e-gaming report there were areas she couldn’t examine because of non-compliance with her audit (McInnes Cooper) and deleted emails. If witnesses would be allowed to appear at public accounts, we would undoubtedly learn new information. It would also be great to finally learn: whose emails were deleted?
4. Get organized
This one is for the Tories. It’s been over a year since you found yourselves once again leaderless. It’s time to see some action here. It’s good that you finally set a timeframe for a leadership convention for the fall of 2017, but so far we still have no date and no candidates. As the duly elected Official Opposition, it is incumbent upon you to ensure there are solid plans in place to install a permanent leader who can help your party develop policies and hold government to account. It’s about time Islanders see some meaningful organization on leadership.
5. Stop procrastinating
There are a number of big files on which government has been telling Islanders to wait and see. For example, we were promised the final energy strategy for the fall sitting of the legislature. It never materialized. We know a carbon tax is coming but have no details of how this will impact our pocketbooks. We know a second vote will be held on electoral reform, but we know only one of two options on the ballot. Will the moratorium on deep-water wells be lifted when the Water Act is finally passed? Islanders have a right to know the answers to these questions. Just tell us, already.
Teresa Wright is The Guardian’s chief political reporter. She can be reached at [email protected] or follow her tweets about P.E.I. politics at Twitter.com/GuardianTeresa.