Striking a Balance Bill 29? Logic tells us otherwise!

Over the past week we have heard Government MHA's suggest that "frivolous and vexatious" requests are part of the reason they have to change access to information laws.

It is commonly agreed that more information will be kept secret and some information harder to get because of the amendments to the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (Bill29).

Ministers stood on their feet and dragged out samples of such requests - and while this is not the norm - they pointed out they were compelled to stop such wastage of taxpayer money.

Here's the other side of the balance: Newfoundland and Labrador has suffered many more fraudulent and bad resource deals than it has suffered "vexatious and frivolous" information requests - and the cost to the taxpayer has been far more severe from the bad and/or fraudulent and/or corrupt deals.

The billions of dollars essentially robbed from our people - be it fish, energy, minerals, forests, or cash far outweighs the few thousand dollars suffered from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.

So what does the government do? Well they tighten information to protect business. Yes that says it all about fairness and balance.

We as a people should conclude that there is something to hide - as not to do so would be illogical and open us up to another 50 years of bad resource deals.

I have a request of our media - please research and present all the losses we have suffered from bad and/or corrupt business deals and compare that dollar value to the amount lost from "frivolous and vexatious" access to information requests.

While we are at it - which caused more harm to the tenuous trust we have in government; the few "frivolous and vexatious" requests presented or the marching of 4 former MHA's to jail?

Yes we should strike a balance regarding access to information - but Bill 29 is not that balance. It is a lopsided - one way - ticket to hiding information. What has been the result of that approach in our past?

Bill 29 - Review by Chief Justice Green?

So the PC MHA's are going to shut down debate on Bill 29 - An Act to Amend the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

First of all it's cowardly and very undemocratic. It demonstrates weakness and a complete disrespect for the people of the province.

The above is not exaggerated - it is appropriate considering the law we wish to change.

When such actions are taken by sitting government MHA's one can reasonably conclude that transparency is not atop their agenda and secondly that they are willing to risk a repeat of the criminal fiasco we had the last time a blockage of information occurred.

The history is too recent and the wound is too fresh - the parade of MHA's trotting off to jail.

It appears that Dunderdale and caucus are of the belief - that regardless of the position they take on any subject - they are above debate, above critique, above scrutiny, and essentially above the law.

I say this because the PC's in the House of Assembly will use the legislature to change any law they wish to accommodate their own protection. Further - they are willing to invoke closure when they are ready to silence the opposition members. All MHA's were elected and this is the people's House - not Jerome Kennedy's or Kevin O'Brien's or Tom Marshall's.

The Dunderdale Regime appears certain that if a democracy elects a dictatorship - tough! You elected us to do what we wish when we wish.

You see a mature democracy and intelligent and competent elected Members do not need to ram something down our throats or change the law to hide information on the decision making process. Mature politicians are able to promote their policies and ideas to the people without hiding information they used to make a decision.

You cannot claim democracy - when you only practice it 12 hours every 4 years (election).

Why not advise the multinational companies, multi-millionaires, and the stock market that if you wish to make a fortune on our resources - deals will be subject to public scrutiny. Corporations do not vote - they are not the electorate. We - the people - own the resources  and we deserve as all shareholders do - complete disclosure.

By the way - where is Danny on Bill 29? He will yammer on about the virtues of Muskrat and the "need" for power here and there - yet the purported superhero of accountability and transparency has not commented on this?

How about we let Chief Justice Green review the proposed amendments and publicly report on his findings. He is a man above reproach and somebody that Jerome Kennedy, Tom Marshall, and Felix Collins can trust.

The media, citizens, national and provincial bodies have trouble with Bill 29 - and once again the critique is coming from across the political spectrum.

What is happening in our House of Assembly now is very significant and very scary. What next? It appears that Kent - while sitting as Chair - is intolerant of the opposition and Kennedy is intolerant of the Chair. It appears the current Dunderdale posse is frustrated with the whole idea of the House of Assembly. First she did not really want to open it - and second - only did so it appears to achieve a budget and shut down information.

What other Bills are in our future? A change to funding for the Opposition? A change to Question Period rules? A change to our system? Sure why not - Dunderdale seems prepared to rule by decree and the men and women around her have decided they serve her and not the people.

This Bill should not see the light of day - let alone become law.

Considering the checkered past of MHA behavior and longstanding record of bad deals, corruption, and fleeing business gurus to Panama - please ask that Chief Justice Green officially review Bill 29 and report his findings and recommendations in full to the people.