Submission BOLSTAD-0368 (Online)

Eleven changes should be made to our system of representative government. [4 pages]

Summary:

1. Abolish the party / adversarial system.

2. People need to be able to elect their MLAs.

3. An individual should be able to run for multiple MLA positions.

4. Basic pay for all MLAs and the leader should be set at middle management.

5. The MLAs elect a leader from their elected members.

6. All cabinet decisions are made by consensus by allMLAs who are expected to be present. The concept of a caucus should be abolished.

7. All MLAs are responsible to make decisions In the interest of the Province and Canada. How? By having to answer to the media on their public discussions and voting as well as referendum challenges where a majority of the population is against a certain decision. Also by the following:

8. At each election the voters tick a yes or no box to determine if their cabinet has done a good job of governance in the preceding term. If the vote is won the MLAs receive a pay bonus (say 10% per year).

9. Public issues currently raised at local MLA offices are added to a list and each MLA takes their turn to work on the next issue on the list.

10. The number of MLA positions is determined by the average work load of issues received and cabinet time to cover all issues annually.

11. Cabinet discussions should be open to the public and media. The only exceptions are National Security issues where there must always be a degree of secrecy.

Why:

1: Abolish the party / adversarial system.

It is old English and no longer respected.

It sets contrary thought as the standard of society (example: the Courts).

Even if one side has a good idea the other sides must oppose it as it is their role in an adversarial system. Wasting time and development of the best choices.
The waste of resources is astronomical when parties get into power and change all the previous parties systems, appointments and directions.

The public is tired of having to choose the lesser of the party evils when they are seeking good governance.

MLAs may join parliament with good intentions but get dragged into towing party lines.

Decisions are made in the interests of the party and not Provinces or Canada.


2: People need to be able to elect their MLAs.

There is still a strong following of the bible in our society. It started with select the good men among you to be your leaders.

People know their local candidates.

It gives a local, personal face to the abstract cabinet.

It gives a local voice to the centralized decision making.

3: An individual should be able to run for multiple MLA positions.

Occasionally we are privileged to have great leaders. Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill or special quiet individuals we get to know.

Imagine the public support, cost savings and advancement possible if say five top individuals were totally elected as the cabinet.

If a person is believed to be able to take on the workload, shows excellent governance ability and has the support of the people they should be able to offer their service where they see fit.

4: Basic pay for all MLAs and the leader should be set at middle management.

Who have we attracted with high pay? Lawyers, business people the top echelon of society. Those who can afford to run. Not a cross spectrum of our society or people showing excellent governance.

The public is hostile to high pay and inability to influence it especially when good governance is not shown.

People who seek office should be there for altruistic reasons. To serve, to better our nation to lead. Not attracted by the money. The current system encourages the money and power attitude in both individuals and society.

It keeps MLAs in touch with the realities of their people. The majority of society is not in the high paid brackets.

5: The MLAs elect a leader from their elected members.

The public have elected the best representatives they can.

The MLAs elected must choose the best amongst them.

If they choose wrong they can elect another. They can rotate it between top individuals if they wish. They all stand or fall as a team so the pressure is on them to elect a team leader.

6: All cabinet decisions are made by consensus by all MLAs who are expected to be present. The concept of a caucus should be abolished.

This avoids the flip flop of changes of parties.

To make the best decisions everyone needs the facts.

To make the best decisions needs the input of everyone.

To live with the decisions needs the consensus of the team's majority.

7: All MLAs are responsible to make decisions In the interest of the Province and Canada. How? By having to answer to the media on their public discussions and voting as well as referendum challenges where a majority of the population is against a certain decision.

This is the change required. From individual, regional, lobby group or party interests to provincial and national interests.

From adversarial to consensual.

From groups to a team.

If there is a very unpopular decision referendum can be used to reverse the decision. Examples are the sale of B.C. rail etc. If the majority of the population wants one direction the cabinet must abide.

Cabinet must be the servants of the people not the dictators to (as is the current feeling).

8: At each election the voters tick a yes or no box to determine if their cabinet has done a good job of governance in the preceding term. If the vote is won the MLAs receive a pay bonus (say 10% per year).

A worker should be paid for their time and effort hence the base salary for elected MLAs.

If a worker is productive they should get a bonus. This is the incentive to do a good job and be productive.

A no vote is an effective rebuke if cabinet has not represented the will of their people.

Because it's a team that is decided on it encourages team effort by all MLAs.

Because it is a team vote it avoids locals rewarding locals.

9: Public issues currently raised at local MLA offices are added to a list and each MLA takes their turn to work on the next issue on the list.

Currently MLAs look after their local issues. This encourages focusing on a locality.

By the team taking on all issues from all areas they achieve a provincial and national focus.

It shares the work load evenly between all team players.

Everyone has the same access to cabinet assistance no matter if you are in a rural or city area. Admittedly there may be extra cost but I believe it opens the door for the people by creating equality.

It helps prevent lobby pressure on and bad decision making by individual MLAs.

No MLA can pick or choose they just get the next problem on the list, ensuring fairness.

MLAs can always request assistance of others or the whole cabinet depending on the problem and strength of others but responsibility for the individual issues lies with the MLA.

10: The number of MLA positions is determined by the average work load of issues received and cabinet time to cover all issues annually.

People believe there are too many politicians. That they are too expensive to run and they create jobs for their friends.

If there is an outside and independent public decision as to the work load we give to our cabinet and how hard we expect them to work

If we are satisfied with the time it takes our problem to be addressed by the next available MLA

Then it will limit the size of cabinet to a) What is required. b) What the people decide. c) What the people decide to spend.

By doing so the power is returned to the people.

11: Cabinet discussions should be open to the public and media. The only exceptions are National Security issues where there must always be a degree of secrecy.

This is self explanatory.

Some politicians will argue for in camera discussions for issues of commercial sensitivity, however total openness stops public alienation as in the sales of provincial assets.

Where public assets are being discussed the public has a right to know.

Transparency prevents mistrust and shady practice.

Cabinet must be the servants of the public not dictators.