In a recent podcast with my brother-in-law Nick Gilchrist, we discuss the process for bringing a Bill forward, the formal Legislative steps it goes through prior to adoption and the role of the opposition in the process.
He asked me if the role of the opposition is to just simply oppose everything the government does?
His question highlights an important point for me as a Member of the opposition. This is where there is confusion between governance and politics.
A Member motivated by good governance asks: how can I make this Bill better?
A Member motivated by politics asks: how can I make government look silly?
Opposition has a role on behalf of all British Columbians to hold government accountable, to ask questions, poke, prod, push, pull, dig and test. Our job is to ensure Bills withstand the tests. The official opposition do much of this work on the floor once the Bill is introduced. If a Bill does not withstand the legislative tests then it will be opposed.
The BC Green Caucus is in a unique situation. Due to our confidence and supply agreement with the BC NDP, on some legislation the government consults with us much earlier and more often. This is not always the case and some Ministries do a much more thorough job than others.
With our confrontational system of government, there will always be some level of politics played as political parties angle to advance themselves in mind of the voters. The problem is when the politics overtakes the governance.
It’s a fine line; however, it’s helpful to ask the question: are they trying to improve the work or just make government look silly?
Image by Robin Higgins from Pixabay
So is Forestry one of the agencies that lets you work with them?
Cutting old tree groves aught to be criminal, not something that can be done with no consequences.
Especially when the enabler is an agency of the government. Is there no remedy?
The forestry minister has to tell the truth- the trees are being cut down and when there are no more trees there will be no jobs for cutters or nature guides.