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Commentary: MLAs should sit as Independents
Commentary by Chris Clegg
for Smoky River Express
Last week Progressive Conservative MLAs Rob Anderson and Heather Forsyth decided to cross the floor of the Alberta Legislature and join the Wildrose Alliance Party.
Jumping ship is not new for politicians when they see the boat may be sinking. Sometimes they join a winning team, sometimes they end up with egg on their face and remain in a minority government, which is the political desert void of any oasis. Belinda Stronach comes to mind. And what perfect initials for a politician!
For the most part, politicians who jump ship actually don’t get too much respect from most of the public. They’re seen by many as a crybaby who takes their bottle and goes where they can get it filled best.
Normally, I couldn’t care less what Southern Alberta politicians do, especially given the fact the ruling PCs have such a large majority. Losing two MLAs is not the end of the existence in Premier Ed Stelmach’s world but it should serve as a wakeup call that things are not all right in Ed’s Kingdom.
But what got my dander rising was the ludicrous, stupid, brain-dead suggestion from one of the Southern Alberta PC association bosses that a byelection should be held immediately to force the turncoat MLA to earn a new mandate from his/her new party.
Excuse me, but why should the good people of Falher, High Prairie or Slave Lake pay for a byelection for a riding in the south when an MLA decides to cry foul and run to the nearest party willing to give them a soother and blanket?
We did not elect the turncoat and should not be responsible to pay for it! Period!
The Alberta government should write into law that any MLA leaving their party between elections should have to sit as an Independent MLA. There should be no leapfrogging to where the grass is greener.
Such a rule would stop the wooing of MLAs or MPs by one political party to another. No more political games to be played; just get down to the business of running the government you were elected to do.
To suggest the other ridings in Alberta should pay for a byelection is insane. We can all agree when an MLA dies or resigns, a byelection is necessary. But jump ship? No!
As far as I’m concerned, the MLA can go sit by themselves in a corner. They can still serve the government and their constituents. If they feel so strongly another party is the ‘Flavour-of-the-Month’ in a year or two, join when the election is called.
Simply said, the people in Alberta should not have to pay for the decisions of Anderson and Forsyth.
In a year or two when the next provincial election is called, the people of Southern Alberta will deal with Anderson and Forsyth as they see fit. It’s the right time and the only time it should occur.
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