Is Wade MacLauchlan afraid of democracy?

We should be grateful for the lesson in democratic-phobia Wade MacLauchlan has shown the people of PEI. He has worked against the wishes of the majority, he has disbanded democratic bodies, repealed democratic policies and procedures in an attempt to usurp the will of the majority and initiate his vision of the Island.

A vision rooted in division and outdated centralization policies. A vision that owes more to private and corporate greed than to the will and needs of ordinary Islanders.

We have seen the extraordinarily bad optics the Liberals create for themselves over and over again.

It is clear they fail to learn from their past mistakes. There is now a litany of failed election promises, poor decision making and failed, biased “public consultation” processes. Issues like; disbanding the elected English Language School Board, the School Closure Process, the Three Rivers Amalgamation and most recently the Fox and the Cow debacle.

These issues stick in the public’s throat and choke the life out of important democratic conversations about the future of the Island. Not to mention any chance the Liberals have to be re-elected (roundabouts, education, sweetheart loans to party supporters, Mill River, seniors care, PNP, the rural health care crisis, unsound land expropriation policies, the Cornwall Bypass, oh and did I mention roundabouts? The list goes on….)

A government that fails to learn, is going to fail. The rats are leaving the ship before they are tainted with the smell of failure and desperation that we are starting to see from the Liberals (and they want to be first in line for plum lobbying jobs-See Doug Currie). It is important for Islanders to be rid of this corrupt influence on public policy and democratic freedoms. It is important for them to undo the centralization policies that have put the lives of rural communities in jeopardy and weakened this “Mighty Island”. What is Wade MacLauchlan’s next democratic enemy? The next opponent in the Liberals ongoing fight to usurp democracy and implement their policies despite the will of the public: electoral reform… again.

If you’ve seen anything on the proposed vote you know that the Liberal government is stacking the deck against a true democratic vote on this issue. They are using biased language, procedures and policies that will ensure they get the answer they desire. They like the status quo, change would not be in their best interest.

An example that the fix is in: for proportional representation to be successful it has to get votes from over 50 per cent of the registered voters, not just over 50 per cent of the ballots cast. Once again, people who don’t vote will be credited with a no vote simply by not marking the ballot. By not marking your ballot or abstaining from the vote on this issue you are really voting NO. You cannot abstain from voting, because abstaining will be a NO vote. This is another example of the current government creating confusion and bias around an issue that should be clear and concise.

This will be the Premier’s lasting legacy: that he did not trust democracy. That he wilfully abused democratic institutions. That he preferred predetermined and biased results to true democratic freedom.

It is a sad and disappointing legacy. We expected more, we should demand better government. If you are not angry, you are not listening. We should vote for change.

Richard Toms, Georgetown, We Are Rural Strong