What the heck is going on in the Alberta Legislature? Like many other in the province, I was completely taken aback when Danielle Smith and eight other Wildrose MLA's defected and joined the Conservative Party last week. Now while many out there are sorting through the rubble trying to figure out why it happened and what the repercussions will be, I find myself asking a different question: How could they do this?
What the heck is going on in the Alberta Legislature?
Like many other in the province, I was completely taken aback when Danielle Smith and eight other Wildrose MLA's defected and joined the Conservative Party last week.
Now while many out there are sorting through the rubble trying to figure out why it happened and what the repercussions will be, I find myself asking a different question: How could they do this?
The nine Wildrose MLA's, who made up the majority of the Official Opposition, just got up and became members of another party. How is this allowed?
Now I don't know too much about politics, its an area I am still trying to fully grasp, but this move comes across as completely wrong to me. It should not have been possible.
These are nine elected officials who were put in charge by those in their constituency, to do right for the region they represent. By joining another party, Smith and her eight followers, have betrayed every single one other those constituents who voted them to power.
In my opinion they have basically ruined the election process.
When voting in an election, you really don't have much of a chance to fully get to know the person who wants to represent you, so you look into their Party, and see what they represent and what they believe. For me, the ideals and beliefs of a political party weight more on my choice than the actual person that has decided to represent that party.
The ability for an MLA to change parties basically discredits every single vote in that riding. The fact that something so heinous is allowed to take place is ridiculous and could create future problems.
If I wanted to run as a local MLA, I would consider the history of the place I'm running in. If I was living in a predominately Wildrose region of the province, I could potentially run under the Wildrose Party, and then the moment I get elected just cross the floor and represent another party.
Okay, I know this sounds ridiculous, but there isn't much difference from doing it right after being elected and waiting a few years like Smith and the other MLA's did.
In my opinion, if you are an MLA and you feel you can no longer represent the Party you chose to seek election under you should resign and let someone else take the reign. At least this way, the people of the riding would get a by-election to decide who and what party takes that seat.
The more and more I look into what has happened in the provincial legislature the more baffled I get.
If something like this can go down, our government is more flawed than I originally thought.
