NDP Call on Premier Elect Clark to Get to Work

Sunday, February 27, 2011 05:00 AM

Prince George, B.C.- The Interim Leader of the New Democrats, Dawn Black, has offered congratulations to Christy Clark on winning the Liberal Leadership race, and offered up some suggestions for action.

"Ms. Clark was a key member of the Campbell government and participated in some its most reckless decisions, like bringing in funding changes that led to the closure of a staggering 113 schools in B.C. And she's a strong supporter of the HST, a tax shift that's making it harder for families to make ends meet.

Black called on Clark to call MLAs back to work to look after some key issues. "Specifically, she needs to table legislation moving up the HST referendum; establish an independent third party review of the $6 million payoff to the B.C. Liberal insiders in the B.C. Rail corruption trial; and, table a new budget that invests in people, creates jobs, and helps B.C. families make ends meet.”

Black went on to say the New Democrats are eager to work on these issues. "New Democrats will work with the B.C. Liberal government on issues where we agree and continue to provide British Columbians with a principled opposition that offers them a positive agenda for change."

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Posted on Sunday, February 27, 2011 05:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Mercenary on February 27 2011 10:05 AM

Such BS....call and election!!

Posted by: gus on February 27 2011 10:10 AM

Hey ... it's Sunday today ..... LOL

Looks like the interim leader of the loyal opposition wants to leave a mark that intermim leaders are not just caretakers ....

Posted by: gus on February 27 2011 10:16 AM

right ... call an election while the opposition is leaderless and against the law of the province.

How about we play fair and allow the opposition to elect a leader, give that person a while to breathe as well, change the elections act if needed to call a general election prior to the date set for that in legislation, and then consider whether it is in the best interest of the people of this province to waste time on another election just because a few people in the peanut gallery are having hissyfits since they do not understand the way the politcal system works.

As I said. It is the easy thing to do for Gordon Campbell. Step down like a gentleman and let the lady run in your riding.

Posted by: Brownshoe on February 27 2011 10:22 AM

wow the sky is falling

Posted by: gus on February 27 2011 3:15 PM

It has been here as well. Had to shovel tha part that fell on our driveway. Unlike the City, I work on Sundays .. ;-)

Posted by: pion1 on February 27 2011 7:03 PM

Am not sure congratulations are in order. Something is wrong when the political system allows a none-elected person to become our Premier. Our political system needs an overhaul with the purpose to get us to democracy as advertised, for example, shouldn't the deputy premier get that post intil an election can be called ? Wonder how long this government will last ?

Posted by: socredible on February 27 2011 8:04 PM

Anyone can be sworn in as Premier, or Cabinet Minister as long as they have the support of the majority of the MLAs elected to the Legislature.

Normal practice is for people in Clark's situation to try to get a seat in the Legislature as soon as possible, usually through some sitting MLA resigning, and a by-election being held.

That isn't absolutely necessary, but it is the usual procedure. In the interim a deputy-Premier will be appointed by Clark from amongst the elected MLAs, and that person will fill the same role she normally would in debates, introducing motions, etc., if she were in the Legislature herself.

Executive authority is formally vested in the Lieutenant-Governor in Council ~ a Premier, whether she has a seat in the Legislature or not, is only the chief 'advisor' to the Crown in our system. And will be so long as she holds the confidence of the majority of the MLAs.

There really is no "democracy as advertised" in either our system, or the American one. We are a Constitutional Monarchy, they are a Presidential Republic.

Fundamentally, democracy involves you as an individual having the ability to make your own policy effective unto yourself. It is the ability to choose or refuse one thing at a time. So far as government goes, it is the policy of the majority. And so long as the majority in question is the majority we previously elected, their current policy is to have Clark as Premier. So there she is.

If you have a problem with that, it isn't the "system" that's at fault, but those we previously entrusted with a majority.