I was originally going to call this post "Newsflash: Brian Mason is outraged!" but I thought that would just be playing into the oversensationalization of this non-issue of a mid-summer news story.
Related to my recent posts about the appointment of Justice Ernie Walter as Chairperson of Alberta's Electoral Boundaries Commission and the appointment of four Commission members by Premier Ed Stelmach and Liberal Official Opposition leader David Swann, the leader of the 2 MLA NDP caucus is outraged over Swann's recommended appointments to the Commission.
In duelling media releases from the NDP and Liberals, NDP leader Brian Mason was outraged that Swann didn't choose the two people Mason recommended. Mason claims that Swann didn't consult him enough about the choices, even though the two leaders met to discuss the appointments and Mason signed a letter to Swann with recommendations.
According to the Electoral Boundaries Commission Act:
(b) 2 persons, who are not members of the Legislative Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on the nomination of the Leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition in consultation with the leaders of the other opposition parties represented in the Legislative Assembly,The Act doesn't specify what 'consultation' needs to entail, but the history of childish tension between the Liberals and NDP would have led me to be encouraged that the two leaders had even met to discuss this issue. Alas, the media release and predictable outrage from Mason has likely undermined any good will in the 11 MLA opposition benches.
Next Post: An issue that actually matters.
UPDATE: Tune in! I will be on air with Calgary AM770s Rob Breakenridge disucssing this issue at 8:35pm tonight.
UPDATE (August 7, 2009): You can now listen to the podcast of last night's The World Tonight on AM770 where Rob Breakenridge and I discuss the Electoral Boundaries Commission issue. NDP leader Brian Mason calls in around the 10 minute and 58 second point in the podcast.
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31 comments:
I think the Libs handled it very well, for once. Having the chief of staff respond, rather than the leader, indicated their (rightful) view that Mason is being a tool and succeeded in pointing out this is a non-story. I love this quote, "Alberta Liberal Caucus Chief of Staff Rick Miller is mildly annoyed..." Too funny.
I don't know how Mason thought this would benefit the NDP. Just makes him look like a baby and distances Swann from Mason.
No wonder no one cares about AB electoral politics outside the realm of oil industry idolaters.
Next Mason will be demanding that Swann resign. ;)
Seeing as the NDP do not have enough members to have official party status in the legislature, Swan could have gotten away without consulting them at all.
I think he's trying to compensate for the size of his caucus.
You stay classy, Brian Mason. No wonder your party is running in fifth place in 90 per cent of the province.
Anonymous 1:08:00 PM:
Actually the Act says that the official opposition must consult with all sitting non-government members in the Legislature. Allowing the two parties with the most seats to draw the lines for the next election - without any dialogue with the other leaders - is outrageous. This process is a sham. How would you feel if I asked you want you wanted for lunch... then ordered my own lunch and ignored you while I ate it? If that's the way liberals consult it's no wonder First Nations can't trust them.
You can vent your spleen at Mason all you want Dave, it's pretty predictable.
I'd like to know what the Liberals have against Michael Phair, one of the NDP suggestions. Do you really think it's ok and fair of the Liberals to brush off a long time city councilor, with ties to the Liberal party, as some kind of partisan NDP ogre? He seems to me to be an ideal choice for the job. Far better than any of the other names suggested. Good on Mason for getting Phair to agree to it.
Instead of rejecting the idea out of hand, the Liberals could have appointed Phair and we would have gotten a better commission.
Further to the last point, the Libs have likely pissed Phair off with their characterization of him. I can't see him endorsing Laurie B. ever again. And they are not about to get their wish to see him run for the ALP anytime soon (something I recall Dave musing about/wishing for in the past.)
What a shame.
Another example of Mason kicking sand in the face of people marching with him.
Will he ever realize it is the PCs that are the real opponents to change, accountability, and responsibility in Alberta government?
Does Mason not realize that his non-sense will just serve to distract the media and Albertans from focusing on questioning the need to add any more MLAs?
The committee should have been allowed to consider if there was a need to increase the number of MLAs or just adjust the current boundaries.
The legislation makes no sense. Why should the Official Opposition party be forced to consult with other parties? In a healthy democracy, the governing party would do this.
Hey Stelmach, LISTEN UP.
We do not need more MLAs
Miranda: No, it does not say all sitting non-government MLAs. If you even read this post you would see that the legislation says
"(b) 2 persons, who are not members of the Legislative Assembly, appointed by the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly on the nomination of the Leader of Her Majesty’s loyal opposition in consultation with the leaders of the other opposition parties represented in the Legislative Assembly,"
Now because the NDP (unfortunately) do not have party status in the Legislative assembly. There is noone that Swan has to consult with.
The fact is that Swan did consult with the NDP, and Mason is throwing a tantrum because he did not get his way, as he usually does.
Mason's caucus is so small it doesn't even qualify as a party.
Time for the NDP to seriously look at the leadership and whether we are being properly served by Mason.
Enough is enough. This guy is out of control.
Brian should get back to focusing on more important issues, like voting for more pay raises for himself.
Why Michael Phair? Yes, he was a very good Edmonton councilor, but was he the right person for this? I have no idea, but just maybe the folks the Liberals named could be a better fit?
Well clearly the Liberal partisans have nothing better to do today.
I agree with the comments above about Phair. Mason laid a trap and Swann stepped into it.
What is wrong with Michael Phair Dave? This is a guy with election experience that the liberals have praised. Does he really deserve to be trashed by Rick Miller?
While I don't think this needed a press release, I too have to wonder about the wisdom of dismissing Michael Phair... Is this an Edmonton vs. Calgary battle? I like Swann but voted for Mp for a reason, and that's the Edmonton connection. We may lose votes over this if hay is made over the fact that we dumped on Phair. Brutal!!
Mason laid a trap and Swann stepped into it.
Exactly.
Poor old Brian means well, but he's been drinking his own bathwater so long that anything that doesn't taste like soap - say, being treated with respect by Dr. Swann - makes him revert to form. Form, of course, being a preference for fighting the Libs over fighting the Conservatives. Actually, I agree that Michael Phair might have been a better choice than Allyson Who?, but Brian just looks like a dweeb for complaining like this. Would the Knee-Dips, please, make Rachel the leader! It shouldn't be a problem now that her tiny perfect husband has stopped blogging...
I believe that Mason and the NDP have missed the opportunity to raise the debate beyond the realm of political self-interest.
As I said to Mr. Mason last night on Rob Breakenridge's AM770 show, the real issue isn't about NDP partisan appointees or Liberal partisan appointees, it's about whether or not it is appropriate for politicians to be appointing the people who are in charge of redrawing their electoral boundaries in the first place. No. I don't think it's appropriate.
Listen to the podcast of last night's The World Tonight
I'm sure most Albertans are busy talking amongst themselves about what an important issue this truly is.
The NDP have raised some important issues in the past year but this one has to rank near the bottom?
Boundaries are very important. They have been systematically gerrymandered by the Tories for a generation to put additional power in the hands of rural voters.
Last time the Liberals appointed people who not only didn't call the Tories on their crap, but actually voted for it.
Mason suggested someone not easily co-opted. Someone with the ability to bring attention to the games the Tories play.
Someone who could have made the boundaries better for both Liberals and NDPers.
Instead of accepting a good suggestion, the Liberals played politics and threw Phair under a bus.
I think we can all expect four more seats for Taber and suburban Calgary as a result.
Anonymous 8:47 said: "Last time the Liberals appointed people who not only didn't call the Tories on their crap, but actually voted for it."
One Liberal voted for it. One Liberal voted against it and wrote the desenting opinion that Edmonton should not lose a seat.
NDP? Didn't they change their name?
I miss Tiny Perfect Lou Arab. Are there any blogs who will now defend Brian Mason by slandering his opponents?? Why won't Rachel let him come out and play?
And Dave claims to be non partisan...
Seems to me if Liberals are this upset with Mason, he's doing his job.
Those that think Rachel Notley would be any different and/or better than Brian Mason as ND leader are on crack.
Spend some time with the woman.. or better yet spend some time with her braintrust/hubby Tiny Perfect Lou Arab.
Their entry into the provincial NDP has so far resulted in a loss of 2 seats. But those two celebrated like they formed government, because she had done the oh-so-difficult NDP task of holding on to Edmonton-Stratcona.
Make her leader (and in doing so inevitably show Mason the door) and watch their caucus size go from 2 to 1 in 2012.
Anon @ 2:08 - sounds great. Let's do it.
"While I don't think this needed a press release" That's actually a really good point that hadn't occurred to me. I'm really surprised at some of the press releases and attempts at media coverage by the NDP since Brookes Merritt took over. One release I received contained the word "gobbledeygook".
TPB is Notley's husband?? Now I like her more than ever!
Loved the podcast and how Mason's agreed with you in the end. He's playing politics.
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