Too Much Work, Too Little Time

One of the consequences of a Legislative Calendar is that closure, limitation of debate, is automatically put in place so as to pass all business designated by the government by the date and time specified for adjournment. After Sunday, May 27, only four days remain in the spring Legislative session, but the budgets of four ministries, including the Premier's, have yet to pass, and eight bills have yet to pass second reading, including the controversial Bill 36 (Greater Vancouver Transportation Authority Amendment Act, 2007) and Bill 37 (Legislative Assembly (Members' Remuneration and Pensions) Statutes Amendment Act, 2007). Less controversial, but deserving of more than a few minutes of legislative debate, are Bill 37 (Human Rights Code (Mandatory Retirement Elimination) Amendment Act, 2007) and Bill 25 (Labour and Citizens' Services Statutes Amendment Act, 2007), which amends the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. For example, why does Bill 37 allow workers to remain employed to any age while allowing the WCB to terminate their coverage at age 65? Why does Bill 25 do nothing to make the process of filing FOI requests easier, less costly or less time-consuming? It is hard to imagine how the Legislature can get through the business that remains in just four sitting days. It couldn't do justice to the outstanding ministerial estimates in that time, let alone adequately canvass the issues raised in the eight yet-to-be-debated Bills.

If the NDP Opposition is worth its salt it will use every procedural motion in the book to delay passage of Bill 37, the 29% pay grab. By using the procedural amendments that are available, which allow each member to speak to each amendment, a 33 member opposition could delay second reading of a Bill by almost a month. Will the Campbell government be willing to limit debate through closure or Standing Order 81.1 (Time allocation) in order to drive through a 29% pay raise and a "silver plated pension plan", which could give Campbell $10,000 a month after retirement in 2013? Will necessary debate on the governance of Lower Mainland transportation, mandatory retirement and freedom of information be curtailed at the whim of the Legislative Calendar, as dictated by the Campbell government?

Campbell may not want to face question period for the 28 days set aside for a fall Legislative session, but the amount of unfinished business demands more than four days of debate. The last four days of May will reveal the extent of Campbell's commitment to open, accountable and transparent government.