The pace of government is both fast and slow.
April 11th marks the two year anniversary of the start of the 2017 British Columbia general election.
It’s incredible that we are already two years into the 41st Parliament. The last 24 months has been an extraordinary time for our province. A lot has happened and a lot has been accomplished.
In this business, days, weeks, months and even years melt away. My life in public service as an elected official began in November 2008, more than a decade ago. My son Silas was one. He would sleep in his car seat at my feet through meetings with the District CAO and police and fire chiefs, developers, neighbours, academics, industry professionals and my colleagues.
It’s mind-blowing to pause and recognize that a quarter of my life has been dedicated to learning and honing the craft of this work. Silas is now in grade 6, his sister Ella is already in grade 1. Through thousands of private and public meetings, briefing notes and decision points, elected life happens quickly.
Pacing it out
But, the pace of government is also slow.
Some issues boiling a decade ago remain unresolved and some files are not much further ahead.
In some respects it’s a case of managing expectations. Government is a high-volume business and there are a lot of people involved and a lot of policy to manage. At the same time, we have to find ways to become more efficient. When our constituents ask questions of government they deserve a timely answer.
In the end, government has to distill the interests of everything into balanced and honest decisions. A plodding pace is often best for that process.
It’s tricky balancing the fast/slow aspects of life in politics. We always want to get more done, but finding the right pace is important. Life is more than the politics. “The kids grow up quickly, enjoy them while they are young because before you know it…” advises my parents’ generation.
Yes, a “plodding pace” may be best for some government matters, in some eras. That pace is not appropriate in an emergency — such as the climate emergency. We must accelerate the pace and act on what we already agree must happen. The solutions are many and are being implemented in other jurisdictions. We don’t need more multi-decade plans, public consultations, targets and goals.
I suggest we need our governments to start moving at an emergency pace. Please keep reminding them of that, Adam!