The BC Legislature will adjourn on Thursday, 68 days before voters go to the polls. BC usually has a 28 day election campaign, from the time the writs are issued until the day votes are cast. The Legislature should continue to sit and debate the estimates for the 2005 budget until April 19th, but on March 7th the Campbell government tabled the largest Supply Bill in BC history followed by an order of closure (time limitation for debate). The Supply Bill will allow the government to spend almost $15 billion without line by line debate and without further authority from the Legislature. Gordon Campbell has focused attention on Bill Bennett's call for "not a dime without debate". The Campbell government so transparent that most people know that his arrogant government holds the Legislature in contempt.

Ironically, on calling the vote on the government's motion for limiting debate, Speaker Claude Richmond called Joy MacPhail to order and said: "If you wish to debate, please take it outside the Chamber." Only in BC is the provincial Legislature not the place to debate the people's business, or the government's $32.5 billion budget. Richmond is the MLA for Kamloops. First elected in 1983 as a Socred, he ran as a Campbell Liberal in 2001 after being out of the Legislature since 1991. On May 17, 2005, he'll be up against the NDP's Doug Brown. Without his pointed hat and high throne, Richmond may have to account for both the Campbell government and his rulings against the opposition.

The Campbell Liberals claim that issues are better debated throughout the province during the course of the campaign. There are a few differences. During the course of the election campaign voters are exposed to what the news media chooses to publish or what the political parties can afford to distribute. What takes place in the legislature is not subject to the whim of an editor, and it is available to anyone in the world at the click of a mouse on the Hansard website. No wonder the Campbell Liberals want to close the Legislature more than a month early.