So, David Maher reported that on Dec. 5, the unrelenting House of Assembly members voted in unison to disband the existing all-party committee on democratic reform (struck in February 2019 by Justice Minister Andrew Parsons) and strike a new one.
It seems “The first one hadn’t met since the last sitting of the House. It was a committee that was resting with the Department of Justice. It was chaired by a Liberal, it had a majority of Liberal members and a few members from the other parties, and no representation of independents,” said Alison Coffin, provincial leader of the NDP.
In other words, the disbanded committee did nothing because the justice minister, when striking the first committee, did not strike whatever he was striking in his office with full force, thus a useless, weak committee was the result. Now a new democratic reform committee has been struck which will be more democratic than the most recent, weak-kneed one which was unstruck from its previous struck duties.
Coffin indicates that this new improved, more democratic committee (she didn’t say anything about enlightened) will lead the way to review significant issues such as: (1) changing the voting age from 18 to 16; (2) campaign contributions; and (3) the voting system. Unfortunately, with anything struck in our House of Assembly, there are the usual hiccups, coughs and wrong turns along the way.
It seems that, politically, nothing is about to change or will change going forward in terms of real democratic reform in N.L., but there may be an investment opportunity in low-hanging fruit and other stuff somewhere in our province.
First, it’s unclear how the committee will progress; second, it may take time before terms of reference are determined; third, there is no timeline for when the committee will report but it is hoped that it will not be dissolved before issuing its report.
Finally, to quote Coffin, “It may be a much longer process. There might be some things that are low-hanging fruit that we can agree on quickly, maybe other stuff that can come later.”
So, what do we garner from that? It seems that, politically, nothing is about to change or will change going forward in terms of real democratic reform in N.L., but there may be an investment opportunity in low-hanging fruit and other stuff somewhere in our province. At this time and for the foreseeable future, this typical committee of the House of Assembly does not know the parameters nor is there a timeline for any of this hanging fruit or other stuff to be picked — much like our recreational fishery. John Cabot and the boys would be appalled.
Nevertheless, it’s nice to know that our politicians are democratically alert during the winter months and that they are worth every cent they’re being paid (basic $95,000 to $150,000) for their astute ideas and the manner in which they decide how they will proceed. On behalf of one citizen who believes in real democratic reform, thank you. No doubt, our democracy is in capable hands with the politicians we elected in the last election.
And to Joe Butler who sincerely asked in his Dec. 4th letter to the editor “Why is Newfoundland and Labrador so poor?” Maybe a list should be compiled and posted on the internet for all to see. I’ll start with the following: the incompetencies of Muskrat Falls; the excessive salaries of executives at Nalcor; the excessive salaries and profits gained by companies associated with developing our debt-ridden boondoggle; the extreme mishandling of the south coast farmed salmon disaster; the soon-to-be exorbitant electricity rates as a result of extreme, out-of-control spending on Muskrat Falls; bending rules and making excuses at the highest political levels to allow good old-fashioned nepotism to keep its place in our bureaucratic system; allowing the federal government of Canada to control our fishery and offshore resources while getting little in return; robbed of the profits of Churchill Falls; paying outlandish prices for coastal boats that wouldn’t be used to carry people from one side of Quidi Vidi Lake to the other…
Mr. Butler, it’s all about quality decision making; accountability for all; honesty; open, clear transparency; while doing it to benefit all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, not just the few. The Newfoundland and Labrador government fails miserably on every count.
P.J. Dwyer
Gander
