KAMLOOPS — Four days a week, the kids in the Legislature kindergarten play a game.
It’s called Question Period — officially known as Oral Questions — in which one side asks the other silly questions and gets sill answers.
There’s nothing much to learn from it, but it does give some clues as to how the two sides are fitting into their new roles.
Occasionally, the Liberals get in some good jabs, such when MLA Jas Johal ranted at Citizens Services Minister Jinny Sims for what he called her “cash-from-convicts” program, and when Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar called Agriculture Minister Lana Popham the “Minister of Intimidation.”
Quite fun. It’s darned awkward at times, though, as the Liberals must often read from prepared scripts, staring down at their desks the whole time they’re talking.
Veteran Cariboo MLA Donna Barnett did just that the other day as she demanded to know when the government would start revealing payments to wildfire contractors.
Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth spoiled it, though, when he told her all outstanding invoices had been paid and the info she was asking for was freely available. Oops.
On the other hand, government ministers aren’t usually that adept, instead relying day after day on such remarks as, “We don’t have to take any lessons from the members on that side of the House,” etc.
And for a party that was highly adept at heckling, the NDP members are constantly rattled as the Liberals turn the tables.
“If you really care about the answer, then pipe down,” an impatient Premier John Horgan said one day.
So, suffice it to say neither side is scoring any points, and there’s a lot more heat than light.
No wonder Speaker Darrel Plecas wondered aloud last week if the sudden departure from the public gallery by a class of school children was due to the quality — or lack of it — of debate on the floor.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
