This editorial by Craig Westcott originally appeared in The Pearl newspaper and is re-produced here with permission.
Two of the most serious
issues to hit Newfoundland and Labrador in some time occurred over the past two
weeks and on neither one of them was the provincial Liberal Party prepared to
perform its duty. Neither the leader, nor any MHA, was available to give
guidance, offer comment, or suggest any indication of the government-in-waiting’s
thinking.
The first, and more serious
issue, was the tragic shooting of Don Dunphy, who was killed after the
Premier’s Office referred one of his social media comments to Paul Davis’
bodyguard detail for investigation.
The tragedy raises
fundamental questions about public safety, political management of the police
and an individual’s basic freedom to comment on political issues and express
dissent without fear of receiving a visit from the police or being blacklisted
by the government. How the police visit led to Mr. Dunphy’s death is a mystery
that has yet to be explained. That the tweet in question led to a police visit
is disturbing. It contained no threat to the premier or anyone else. On that
basis, the police visit to his home was a contravention of Mr. Dunphy’s human
rights.
The circumstances connected
to the killing of Mr. Dunphy question the integrity of our justice and
political systems and threaten democracy itself. And yet neither Liberal Leader
Dwight Ball nor any of his caucus members have stepped forward to offer their
assessment and recommendations. They have scurried into hiding like bats at the
approach of daylight. Up to the time of this writing, not a peep has escaped
their lips since Mr. Dunphy was shot and killed by the premier’s body guard.
The other issue that has
driven the Liberals into hiding is the so-called House of Assembly ‘reform.’
The commission charged with chopping eight districts and redrawing the electoral
map unveiled its proposed scheme last week.
NDP Leader Earle McCurdy
was out early and often pointing out the flaws in the ‘reform,’ especially when
it comes to gutting representation in rural Newfoundland. The Liberals
supported the PC government in its unexpected, rash and ill-considered proposal
to reduce the legislature.
It was a desperate ploy by
Premier Davis to delay the long overdue provincial election and the Liberals
fell for it.
Perhaps that’s partly why
most of them have lost the use of their voice boxes. The more likely reason,
however, is that the proposed new boundaries sets up the Liberals for some
internal dog fights over district nominations, even between the leader and a
fellow MHA in the newly proposed district of Gros Morne. The only Liberal to
step forward with a genuine comment as of Tuesday was MHA Jim
Bennett.
The Liberals’ poor
performance when it comes to addressing key issues is not new. Their stand on
the multibillion dollar boondoggle that is Muskrat Falls has been vacillating,
confusing and, given their failure to oppose a giveaway of gigantic and historic
proportions, irresponsible.
Similarly, they have failed
to press Davis about his various tricks to delay the election – which according
to the electoral law brought in by Danny Williams, called for the vote to have
been held by this past January, due to the resignation in January 2013 of
Premier Kathy Dunderdale. When Davis told the CBC recently that he was looking
at delaying the election yet again, until after the federal vote on October
19, the Liberals maintained silence.
Their reticence is
inexplicable. Paul Davis’ PCs have shown themselves to be incompetent,
untrustworthy and in disarray. They are unworthy of government.
Surprisingly then for this
late in the game, the question begs to be asked: If Dwight Ball’s Liberals are
incapable or unwilling to do their job as the people’s loyal Opposition, how
can they be trusted to take on government?
Given their timidity, the
Liberals are not so much a government in waiting as they are a party in hiding.
-srbp-