Yukon Legislature a Laughing Stock.
If ever there existed a case for doing away with party politics, the moment appears nearer than we think.
An already tenuous faith in our legislative political system teeters on the brink of the absurd while some members dance back and forth across the floor at will for the sake of convenience, not conviction or integrity.
I suppose those values got checked at the door with a few MLA’s when they took their place on the bench while accepting their salary and generous tax free expense account.
Indecision pays big money. Not a bad five year gig especially when serving two similar terms reward the legislator with a drool-worthy indexed pension.
Not to say that territorial politics is without talent or integrity, Elaine Taylor shines in that department along with a few others.
In essence, the party politics of today’s legislative assembly conjures up the sound of an empty reverberating chamber producing unintelligible, hollow sounds.
Darwinian principles obviously do not apply to the evolution of politics or politicians.
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Let’s see. Do we give a prize to the first to be able to name all the MLAs that haven’t switched parties?
Having lived in the NWT before I moved to the Yukon, I experienced what its like to be a constituent in a no-party system. I love it. It’s not without it’s flaws, but it’s a kajillion times better than what we’re getting out of the party system here.
Are you thinking of running in the next election as an independent?
Thanks Michael,
Not sure about running as an independent but I am certainly interested in the question regarding how a no party system might be implemented.
Ken Coates, University of Waterloo, gave a lecture a couple of years ago on the North, including comments about the way the NWT are governed. The lecture was broadcast on CBC’s Ideas on May 9, 2008 – http://www.cbc.ca/ideas/calendar/2008/05_may.html
Information on Coates is on the U of Waterloo web page at http://www.arts.uwaterloo.ca/arts/ugrad/profiles_professors/KenCoates.html
Get in touch with him, he may have a few ideas for you to mull over.
Andre, thanks for those links. I will certainly follow up and report back.
Given that the incumbents are clearly comfortable with the status quo, the only way that can happen is if a high-quality slate of notable independents stands across all the ridings on that platform. In that way the people can choose such a system at an election by voting for and providing that slate with such a mandate.
If elected, the slate would amend the applicable legislation (Elections Act etc) forthwith and move to a second, party-free election immediately thereafter (within a few months max, preferably weeks).
It will only really work though if the political class has the capacity to accept such a convention and govern by consensus. Otherwise they’ll quickly return to their groups (if not in name) and childish self-important bickering to the detriment of us all.
Bottom line we need some higher calibre intellect in there. Unfortunately for you and democracy, Klondike is a one-party riding.
That much I’ve thought through. The sequence you’ve described illustrates how it might be played out.
I think voters in the Yukon can become the architects of any representational model they wish to construct, as long as it doesn’t conflict with the Canadian Charter. I suppose even that can be tested if needed.
The Klondike riding could provide a vehicle for this kind of change in thinking. I’m not entirely sure what the outcome would be if the status quo was challenged.
Given the right candidate(s) we might be surprised.
They can indeed and yes, with the right candidates we could all be surprised as the intimate nature of Yukon ridings does facilitate significant familiarity with candidates and hence places a greater value on that candidate relative to the party then elsewhere.
The other factor is the small sums of money required to run in a Yukon election. The successful candidate in Klondike spent a mere $11,787.83 in 2006 which is a pittance in electoral terms and negates the need that is seen elsewhere for big brand parties and the finance they bring.
That was actually one of the highest too. Many candidates elected on about $3,000 which could be raised at a yard sale.
It’s done in the NWT and Nunavut. The Westminster system of government that we use already allows for it. (Here’s an interesting article about it from the Canadian Parliamentary Review.)
Sadly, political parties exist to entrench themselves and grow their power base. However, if a majority of the MLAs were Independent and supported a no-party system, that would do the trick.
How do you get that to happen? Perhaps a temporary “party” of Independents?
Right, that’s the paradox.
One has to elect a ‘party’ whose main platform is to do away with itself and other politically ‘branded’ entities within the context of Territorial governance.
Of course this party of Independents would need a majority to execute their common goal.
18 seats in the legislature = 10 for a majority.
I suspect that if it becomes a high-profile issue, we might see some of the MLAs jump ship. How does it become a high-profile issue? A bunch of good, “organized” Independents run, make their displeasure with the party system the issue, and then we see what happens!
Honestly, I believe there is some disgruntlement out there regarding the party system.
It would be interesting to hear arguments for or against. In any event, the discussion should start sooner rather than later.
As to who will lead the charge? That remains to be seen.
Willard Phelps is the man apparently.
http://whitehorsestar.com/archive/story/poll-testing-waters-for-phelps-return/
Yes, that’s apparent.
Locally, Mr. Greg Hakonson is holding hands with Willard on this objective.
Both walked away from the Yukon Energy Corporation because of the ATCO scandal.
This falling out with Premier Fentie is obviously being exploited in order to springboard the ‘independent’ no-party movement.
Of course I agree with the notion that party politics is too cumbersome for a small community like the Yukon.
Getting there might be messy.