December 1, 2010

Mr. Anderson: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Well, we've spoken a lot on this bill, obviously, or on a few amendments on it, anyway, over the last little while. I'd like to sum up my arguments for why I cannot support this bill. We talked a little bit earlier about what I think is some clear political interference that went into the report, from the first to the final report, of the Electoral Boundaries Commission in certain ridings, so I can't support it for that reason.

I can't support it for the reason that I do not feel that this province needs four additional MLAs. I do not feel it's justified to have four additional MLAs. I think you could redraw the boundaries appropriately, even out the constituency populations as much as possible, and that would have been fine going forward. You know, I would have had more of a stomach for four additional seats had I felt that the role of an MLA as it pertains to his role as a voting member in this House was legitimate.

The Member for Red Deer-South talked about a meaningful role for MLAs, having more meaningful representation, I believe his words were. That's right; we do need more meaningful representation. When I sit here and I look at the other side – let's just take four bills and use them as an example. Bill 43 from last year, the agriculture marketing act I think it was, something like that, essentially the check-off bill, where we talked about whether the check-off was mandatory or not, that you have to allow choice: that bill was passed. Now, however you feel about that bill, for or against it – I was in the caucus still, and I was for the choice. I supported the agriculture minister on that. That was my choice, and I voted that way in caucus and in this Legislature, and I stand by that choice.

I know for a fact that there were many, many, many members of that caucus, who I won't name because that's not fair to them, who clearly did not agree with that bill, and if they had had the freedom to vote on that bill, they would have voted against it. If you add up the people on this side of the House at that time and the opposition that were against it . . .

Some Hon. Members: Relevance. Relevance.

Mr. Anderson: How is this not relevant?

The Deputy Speaker: Hon. member, please sit down. I just want to read something here. Standing Order 23(c) says: “persists in needless repetition or raises matters that have been decided during the current session.” Just pay attention. Things have been decided already.

Mr. Anderson: We're cutting off democracy in this House. You know, I hope I can represent my constituency here. I hope I can do that. Maybe I can't even do that.

I'll talk about it again: meaningful MLAs, meaningful representation. If we're going to have four more MLAs, you need to have MLAs that are able to freely vote, not act like trained seals. I know for a fact that there are people on the other side of the House that continually vote for bills in this House that they vote against in caucus, or maybe they don't even vote in caucus. It depends if we have a vote, like with the human rights tribunal. You remember that vote that never occurred.

The point is that they vote against these things in one area, and then they vote for them in another area. That shows me, Mr. Speaker, that it is not meaningful to be an MLA in this House, and that is wrong. It is absolutely wrong. If we want to have meaningful representation in this House, we need to have free votes, period, on every piece of legislation.

When you go into this House, you are the people's representative. Each and every one of us is the people's representative. We're not loyal to parties, or we sure shouldn't be. We're not loyal to donors or special interests or lobbyists. We're not loyal to the Premier. The reason we're not loyal to those people – we can be loyal to them, but they're not the ones that we are most loyal to. The people that we are most loyal to, most accountable to in this House should be the people that we represent, first and foremost. Now, if that loyalty lines up with loyalty to the Premier and loyalty to the party, great, but if it conflicts, our duty as members is to vote for what is in the best interests of our constituents, plain and simple. That principle has been entirely lost by this PC government. Look at the lack of democracy and bullying . . .

Video:

Meaningful MLAs, Meaningful Representation
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