There is a rhythm and flow to legislative and constituency life.
There is no handbook to show MLAs how to be an MLA. We learn from our constituents, respond to the needs of our communities and proactively reach out through meetings and dialogues to learn how we can improve our representation. Finding the fulcrum to balance the diversity of work is the challenge for every one of us.
The end of a session is easier than the beginning, because the end is subtractive. There is always a steady flow of work in every constituency in the province. While there are peaks and valleys in the volume, constituency work does not stop. So, when we begin a Spring or Fall legislative sitting we are adding a mass of legislative and committee work. By the end of session, we have accomplished much and the focus once again turns to our responsibilities in our constituency.
Each riding is unique with its own set of threats and opportunities, strengths and weaknesses. Election campaigns help candidates prepare for the workload and the variety of issues that they may face. However, it’s not until we are elected that we see the full range of needs.
As I wrote recently, some of my colleagues who live far away from Victoria have little time in their constituencies while we are in session. They will fly home late on Thursday evening and return to Victoria on Sunday afternoon. For MLAs from the interior, north, west coast and Rocky Mountains, this means just a few hours to reconnect with family, constituency assistants and constituents.
Listen, learn, improve!
When we adjourn for the summer, we all begin the process reconnecting. Saanich North and the Islands is classified as a semi-urban riding. Despite it not being a geographically large riding, it requires planning to visit communities on the Southern Gulf Islands. If I’m using the BC Ferries, I cannot visit more than one community per day. For some of my colleagues, their ridings are massive with communities hundreds of kilometres apart so their work of connecting with constituents is even more challenging.
With each passing session the transition is a little easier and I’m find the balancing point. I imagine each MLA will be taking a few days to decompress, well deserved after a long haul in Victoria. In the coming weeks I look forward to visiting communities in Saanich North and the Islands and across British Columbia. I am excited to listen and learn about how we can do a better job of representing our home!
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