Quote:
Originally Posted by ken0042
Reading the NDP's reasoning makes me shake my head. Their MLAs want to start early because they have to get home to their young families? To me this is yet another example of them putting candidates in place who are not ready to govern. Outside of the MLAs who represent Edmonton ridings, how many can make it home to be with their families?
One of the reason I haven't entered politics is that I know how much of a commitment of your time it takes. If the NDP wasn't ready to do that, maybe they should find another party to govern.
Sounds like there was a schedule originally agreed upon, and now they want to change it after the fact.
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Sorry Ken but I disagree with this. I think this change makes it possible to see family more. Does not guarantee it but makes it possible.
Reasoning: currently the Leg starts sitting at 1:30pm. An MLA is busy the entire morning - going to events, meeting with stakeholders/groups/constituents (yes even all those who represent constituencies outside of edmonton), any media, etc. And that does not even get into any prep work for Legislature, etc.
Legislature meets starting at 1:30 and goes into the evening late. So you miss going to see family (those in Edmonton and close enough surroundings) or you miss at the very least being able to call, video chat, skype, etc with kids/grandkids. Let alone if they come in for a visit.
Switch that so that the Leg sits in the morning. It goes into the afternoon/early evening that's fine. Following that they can go to events, meet with constituents, media, etc. But it gives a few min possioble to perhaps sneak home for a dinner with family if you are there, or to do the phone/video thing. And then back out to work.
And yes, I think a minor - and yes I consider this minor change - to help make politics to make it more accessible to more people makes for a better quality democracy, debate of opinions, etc.
I don't think this relates to any type of "not ready to govern" or "don't know the commitment". They are all super busy - early mornings, late days, working most of weekends, etc. Yup that's the job and the way it is. But I don't see what harm it does to make it possible - doesn't guarantee every day - but the possibility of seeing or at least chatting to family. If you have a lot of computer/paperwork to do, for e.g., why not do it at night when maybe you have the chance to have some family type interaction? I guess I don't get any of the beef surrounding this.