Insults, disagreements bog down legislature
Alberta’s fall legislature sitting is off to a lurching start due to cross- floor partisan sniping and time- consuming wrangling over the rules of the game.
The disagreements concern time for debates, perceived slurs and even what time in the morning legislature members should sit down in the house to work.
“The ( Opposition) Wildrose is intent on focusing on what I consider to be unimportant questions,” NDP house leader Brian Mason said Monday. “I hope saner heads will prevail and we can get on with the important work that Albertans have elected us to do.”
The focus of the sitting is on the NDP’s first budget, which proposes extensive borrowing, higher taxes and a job creation plan.
But work is proceeding slowly as the Wildrose party attacks Notley’s New Democrats in the house, accusing them of stifling debate, slurring Wildrose policy and ramming through legislation.
The Wildrose notes the NDP will shorten debate days on the budget to seven — about half of what the NDP, when it was in opposition, said should be given. Mason said the new plan gives the opposition more time to ask questions of key departments such as health.
The two parties are also fighting over a proposal to begin debating bills in the morning. The current practice is to start after lunch and, if necessary, go deep into the night. The NDP wants to start at 9 a. m.
Last week, one Wildrose MLA after another stood in the house to demand a 10 a. m. start, saying it works better for them. Mason accused the party of filibustering.
Wildrose Leader Brian Jean said it’s not about petty issues such as start times, but the larger question of holding the NDP to account.
“Any attempt by a sitting government to change the ( rules of the house) usually means they’re taking shots at democracy and accountability because they want less accountability,” said Jean.
House debate time has also been chewed up by other issues.
After lengthy debate last week, the Wildrose asked Speaker Bob Wanner to rule on whether cabinet usurped a legislature committee by promising in the budget to freeze MLA pay.
There has also been a lengthy back and forth over whether the Wildrose party is being smeared by the NDP in house debate.
Mason, on Monday, said the Wildrose “are quite brutal in their criticisms of our government.”
“They’ve got to be able to take it if they’re going to dish it out.”
Progressive Conservative Leader Ric McIver said everyone needs to get back to work. “The public doesn’t want to hear their politicians whining, moaning ( and) complaining about their working conditions.”