Watchdog calling for changes to unwritten rules surrounding minority government

VICTORIA (NEWS 1130) – BC is facing its first minority government in over 50 years and a democratic reform organization says the rules surrounding how things should operate inside the Legislature are far from being written in stone.

“There are unwritten rules. No one really agrees what they are because they’re unwritten. As a result, lots of things can be done by the premier and the ruling party that are really unfair and undemocratic,” says Duff Conacher with Democracy Watch.

He says the existing rules don’t make clear which party will get to try governing first; when the legislature will open; when it can be closed; what a vote of non-confidence is; when and how the opposition parties may get a chance to govern or when and how the next election can be called.

Instead, we rely on unwritten rules that haven’t been called upon in more than a half-century.

“We have a situation now that could be quite unfair to the opposition party leaders, the legislature and voters as well,” says Conacher, adding other countries faced similar situations.

“Legislatures in England, Australia and New Zealand were all heading into minority government at various times over the last 20 years and the parties there realized ‘wait a second, we don’t have any clear rules on what happens in a minority government situation.’ Or even a slim majority.” All made changes.

“Now the public knows, media knows, everyone knows what the rules are,” says Conacher.

Making things clear would prevent an abuse of power he says.

“BC parties should look at that as a warning. Things can be very unfair and undemocratic for two of the three parties in the legislature if the rules are not written down and made clear,” says Conacher.

The fact the province is now facing a minority government for the first time in so long makes now the perfect opportunity to make concrete changes.