ADAM OLSEN: Sometimes I wonder whose side the people are on? Who determines if we are on the right or wrong side of history?
There are sides in the BC Legislature. This side and that side. Our side and
their side. The left side and the right side. Apparently, two sides. Like
binary code, either a 1, or a 0.
I've heard it even when Members introduce visitors to the House they say
something like, "on behalf of the Members on this side of the House I
welcome so-and-so to the Legislature." Not on behalf of the Members on the
other side of the House?
Apparently, the sides are really important. The good side and the bad
side. Or maybe the good side and the evil side.
Sometimes I wonder whose side the people are on? Who determines if we
are on the right or wrong side of history?
Set in tradition
Our democracy is fuelled by confrontation.
Our desks are neatly
organized into two sides, facing each other and "spaced two sword
lengths apart. Historically, this was to ensure that no harm could be inflicted
upon a member during a heated debate in the House. In modern times, weapons are
no longer permitted in the House, but the two-sword-length spacing tradition
continues."
You can learn more about your British Columbia Legislative
precinct here.
But it is not just in British Columbia, the Canadian, British and New
Zealand Parliaments all have Members facing off against each other.
The tradition of this seating arrangement comes from "the Chapel
of St. Stephen’s at Westminster, where members sat on the chapel benches facing
each other. As parliament and parties evolved, members with shared views took
to sitting together and across from their opponents. St. Stephen’s was the home
of the British House of Commons until it burned down in 1834 and was replaced
by the present Palace of Westminster."
How and where we sit has an impact on the quality of the debate. In the
nearly 24 months I have been an MLA (Member) in the legislature, we have not stopped
to question it. We just continue with the status quo like every Parliament
before us.
Are there better configurations? I am under no illusions that re-configuring the rock pile on Belleville is no easy task. But that does not
mean we should not challenge it, question it, see if we can get better
outcomes.
Verbal sword fights
British Columbia is a democracy after all. It evolved from a decision
hundreds of years ago to wrestle power away from a monarch and put it in the
hands of the people. To a great extent, that exercise was successful. And our
tradition has changed: Members no longer bring their weapons to the
Legislature.
So why does the tradition that keeps two sides separate need to persist?
There’s no need and yet is does persist, because people think it is just too
difficult or too much work change it
We don't bother and we accept the result: debates are confused with
arguments most closely resembling a sword fight. Our failure to change also re-consolidates in political parties the power once wrestled from the hands of
the Monarch.
I think we should set up our democratic institution differently.
Proportional representation is a good idea but it is just one way for our
democracy to evolve.
There are other ways that might work that wouldn't require a referendum.
For example, we could get rid of the desks. No more hiding, or desk pounding.
Or, we could arrange Members alphabetically instead of by Party and in
hierarchical ranks. We could get rid of frontbenchers and back-benchers. We
could be arranged in a circle or semi-circle with no sides at all.
The point is; we design our outcomes. We should be encouraged to reflect
on the kind of outcomes we want our democracy to produce and then explore how
we can design our space to achieve it.
In the end, democracy is not about the politicians. It's about the
public we are elected to serve. How can we do that better? Would you volunteer
to participate in a citizens' assembly to discuss this?
Adam Olsen ... is a Green Party Member of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
for Saanich North and the Islands.
Born in
Victoria, BC in 1976, Adam has lived, worked and played his entire life on the
Saanich Peninsula.
He is a
member of Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), where he and his wife, Emily,
are raising their two children, Silas and Ella.
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