If you can get away with it once, well, just keep doing it.
That seems to be Christy Clark's pattern as she enters her second term as B.C.'s premier.
After all, she managed to get re-elected after only having the B.C. legislature sit for 36 days going back to May 31, 2012. And now she says there will be no fall legislature session.
We were raised in a Canada that seemed to respect debate and public wrangling - or at least consider it an essential part of democracy. Clearly, that has become an outdated view.
Clark obviously believes it is not only a waste of time, or worse, a detriment to democracy.
Perhaps she's right.
Who really needs to have an opposition ask questions? It's not as if we don't trust politicians in power.
After all, would they try to raise their salaries, push mega-projects through bureaucratic back channels, hire friends? And, even if they did try those things, the media would catch them, wouldn't they? Surely, all those Freedom of Information requests are a fine substitute for public accountability in the legislature, aren't they?
Unfortunately, the lack of hue and cry from the voters and the general public is merely emboldening political leaders all across Canada. Legislatures in many provinces have cut back sitting times, and, of course, there's Stephen Harper's prorogue.
It's no wonder most folks remain sanguine about the lack of legislature sittings. Years of name calling and chest-beating debates that appear staged have left the average citizen cynical. We can't blame them. We too are tired of false outrage and staged attacks.
But removing the forum for any debate or questioning is, frankly, much worse.
Clark should at least be revisiting MLA remuneration if she intends to reduce their work weeks so dramatically. It would be the fiscally responsible thing to do.
