June 22, 2005

Opposition Critics

There are big differences between appointing a cabinet and appointing a "shadow cabinet". Cabinet ministers get an extra $39,000 per year, a car, support staff and some power; even lowly ministers of state get an extra $25,000 per year. Those who miss the cut get nothing but make-work assignments on caucus or legislative committees to keep them occupied and out of trouble. Unlike opposition critics, government backbenchers are rarely recognized by the media and almost never interviewed, but like backbenchers opposition critics get no extra pay or perks.

Some columnists may attempt to paint divisions within the opposition caucus that are equivalent to the cabinet-backbench divide on the government side, but that is fiction. It is true that some roles such as health, education and finance may carry more prestige, but there is ample work and opportunity for recognition for all members of the opposition. The role of an opposition critic is to meet with those who want to inform the opposition in the critic's topic area, work with party policy committees, be available to the media for interviews and debate the corresponding minister during budget "estimates debate". Any hint of a first and second string team won't be revealed until several weeks of question period have passed. That is when we will see whether all members are given time to ask questions or whether a "rat pack" emerges that takes the lead in what's called "QP".

Once critic responsibilities are assigned, members of the opposition need to avoid "poaching". When asked a question outside their scope as a critic, they should refer it to the appropriate member of caucus rather than risk contradicting what the official critic might say. Unlike an election campaign where all candidates are expected to comment on all issues, once the election is over and responsibilities are assigned, it is diplomatic for both cabinet ministers and opposition critics to confine their remarks to their official assignments. With 20 full cabinet ministers and 3 ministers of state compared to 33 opposition critics, the opposition can put more effort and attention into select priorities assigning every member some topic of responsibility; there is no opposition backbench with little or no responsibility.

The Liberals, and some media pundits, have focused on some members of the NDP caucus and questioned whether they would receive much of an assignment as critic because of their involvement in past governments. In announcing the critic duties, Carole James showed that she will not waste the experience and talent of any member of her caucus. Adrian Dix was appointed critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development, and Leonard Krog was appointed critic for the Attorney General. The Campbell cabinet shuffle created the Ministry of Labour and Citizen Services. Chuck Puchmayr, MLA for New Westminster, was named Labour critic. Citizen services may be a sleeper. It includes government agents, BC Stats, BC Online, BC Internet Services, BC Bid, Enquiry BC and the Canada-BC Business Service Centre and the Chief Information Officer. Harry Lali was made critic for "Citizen Services". The Campbell government has been busy privatizing or contracting out much of government information technology functions. There are rumours that by the end of summer government may contract out or "outsource" more than 2,500 'servers' that are used to store their day to day work or case files throughout government, in other words, servers that hold some of the most confidential information in government. Lali may have his hands full if those rumours prove true.