Bevan-Baker had a point to make

In the P.E.I. Legislature, Island Green Party leader Peter Bevan-Baker often stands out for the calm and well thought-out tone of his comments and questions. So it is a little surprising that he would be the MLA to find himself on the outside looking in as the fall sitting of the Legislature drew to a close on Wednesday. Bevan-Baker was escorted out of the chamber after refusing to withdraw remarks that the Speaker of the House, Buck Watts, ruled unparliamentary.

The Green Party leader took no prisoners, taking aim at both the governing Liberals and the official Opposition Tories for turning the debate on important pieces of legislation into a “farce.” And, for that, he was asked to withdraw his remarks. He did not, and was expelled.

He took a stand. He held his fellow MLAs to account, and for that, he was kicked to the curb, mere days before Christmas.

Yet we’ve all witnessed displays in the legislative assembly that back up what Bevan-Baker had to say – heckling, scoffing, eye-rolls, interrupting speakers when they have the floor. In all those instances elected members of the Island legislature turn the assembly into a farce.

This is not what Islanders expect of their legislators.

They expect serious consideration and respectful debate on all pieces of legislation that cross their desks.

Maybe Bevan-Baker’s language was unkind. Maybe it rubbed some Liberals and Tories the wrong way. He might have even embarrassed them a bit, but to kick him out for that, in light of all the other misbehaviour that MLAs get away with in the Legislature? Tsk. Couldn’t our elected members just take their lashes and let it be over with? Apparently not. Government House Leader Richard Brown objected to the language and the message resulting in Speaker Watts agreeing. A quick motion later, moved by Agriculture Minister Alan McIsaac and seconded by Premier Wade MacLauchlan, and Bevan-Baker was out the door, followed soon after by the rest of the MLAs when the fall sitting closed.

So, now all the MLAs are outside of the rail, available to greet their constituents during Christmas and New Year’s festivities and to meet with them to address concerns prior to the Legislature going back into session next spring. Will they be as ill-prepared in responding to questions about Bevan-Baker’s remarks as the Green Party leader says they were for debates on the Water Act and other legislation?

And wasn’t that the whole point of the Green Party leader’s speech?

He gave his fellow MLAs something to chew on for the next few months.

Brown’s response only served to give constituents something to chew on, too. He got the Green Party leader kicked out for claiming some legislative debate was a farce.

But, really, for MLAs to get so caught up in themselves that they could not accept some criticism and learn from it, well, that’s the real farce.