ditorial .

The Callbeck Betrayal The Death-knell of accountability

By Sean McQuaid Editor’s Note: The following is a revised version of a commentary I first produced for another publication this past summer. Sadly, its content remains all-too topical.

I remember when this province had two political parties-- three if you count the NDP (and Lord knows most folks still don’t). We had Liberals and Conservatives, and in my naive younger days I saw little difference between them or need for either of them. Same suits, different colour schemes. Elections, like turning seasons, were inevitable but of seemingly little significance, since the politicians all did more or less the same thing and sooner or later the runners-up would get their turn at bat and a chance to prove their predecessors wrong. It was a typical imperfect democracy, and like many folks I took it for granted.

Then, one day, the Conservatives disap- peared. That in itself doesn’t bother me that much, but their departure meant the provincial opposition disappeared with them. Therein lay a spooky truth. We had a government that could now feel secure in governing with impunity. The Ghiz Liberal government enjoyed a long and succesful mandate, and when Ghiz resigned, his replacement (Catherine Callbeck) rode his gov- ernment’s popular momentum to an even more overwhelming victory in the last election. Since then, P.E.I. has had an opposition of one (PC leader Pat Mella), despite the Conservatives’ winning a sizeable portion of the popular vote. The Liberals won by varying margins in every other riding, and it is here that our problems begin.

Even prior to the last election, the Liber- als had become quite comfortable. They had little serious competition, a strong mandate to govern, and years of popular success under their belts. When the beloved Ghiz left, the Liberals ho- hummed and agreed upon a successor with ap- propriate experience and profile-- Catherine Callbeck-- and’ more ‘or less proclaimed her leader in a ‘campaign’ that featured little fuss, muss, or fanfare. Even Callbeck, typically, seemed unexcited. Still, not long afterward, Callbeck led her re-tread Liberal government to an incredible victory that has left them virtually unchallenged in their authority. Chalk it up to provincial apathy or fear of change or long- established Liberal popularity-- whatever the

reason, they are firmly entrenched as the only political power in the province, and with their federal counterparts now ruling the country there seems even less chance of the Liberal dynasty toppling.

Whether or not you support the Liber- als or their record, it is undeniable that P.E.I. isa less democratic place than it once was. An effective, significant opposition is the key to an effective democracy so that the govern- ment, for good or ill, will be monitored and questioned regarding its activities, with an understand- ing that they can be op- posed and eventually re- placed if they have acted wrongly or contrary to the will ofthe peo- ple. With vir- tually no op- position left Ont), P-E.1., though, the Liberals are showingan in- creasingly cal- lous compla- cency. The province is theirs to do with as they will, or so they seem to believe.

This smugness is nowhere more ap- parent or appalling than in the government’s 7.5% ‘solution’ (has the same comfortingly euphemistic ring as Hitler’s ‘‘Final Solu- tion,’’ doesn’t it?), an attempt at deficit re- duction by slashing public servants’ salaries (in violation of signed collective bargaining agreements) to the tune of 7.5%. While genocide and cost-cutting are far from com- parable in and of themselves, Callbeck’s ap- proach resembles Hitler’s insofar as they both legislated into effect an otherwise illegal ac- tion that discriminated against a select seg- ment of the population during tough eco- nomic times. The difference, though thank- fully major, is only in degree. Like Nazi

Germany’s Jews, P.E.I.’s public servants are being made to shoulder the blame-- and the burden-- for the entire electorate’s ills.

The government remains blissfully oblivious to the insanity of this initiative, but itis indeed irrational. If P.E.I.’sand Canada’s economies are to ever fully recover, the key is in good jobs, the sustainable economic well- being of the general populace. Cutting the wages of a huge sector of the workforce takes money from consumers that would otherwise have fuelled the economy through purchas-

ing. Worse yet, cutting financ- ing to the pub- lic sectorand its employees hurts all citi- zens by inevi- tably eroding the services we rely on. Health careand educa- tion, for in- - Stance, are not expendable “*Juxuries’’-- they are indis- pensable ele- ments of our so- ciety. As these go, sO go our standard of liv- ing and the well-being and employability of our potential workforce.

Despite this, the Liberals' 7.5% ‘‘solu- ~

tion’’ showsa reckless disregard for the public service. Local health professionals, long tempted to greener pastures, have been given still more incentive to leave by a government policy that essentially devalues them. Our equally indispensable public school teachers have fared even worse. Prior to this they were already among the lowest-paid educators in the country, with the lowest education fund- ing in the nation. The 7.5% salary slash, combined with education cutbacks, promises toseteducation onP.E.I. back by years. Teach- ers, for their part, are mad as hell at finding themselves more grossly undervalued (and

underpaid) than ever. They voted in favour of striking if need be, and joined other public servants in some of the largest and most bitter anti-government demonstrations in P.E.I. his. tory. Speaking briefly before hundreds of angry protestors, Callbeck only went so far as to magnanimously recognize their right to protest while assuring them that the 7.5% solution was their only choice and the govern- ment was sticking with it. End of story. Ours is a government so smugly self- assured that they brush aside public outrage without fear of consequences, to say nothing of considering the possibility of error in their reasoning. Ifthe government has decided they can no longer afford the services of the public sector, which is in effect what they are saying through these cuts, one option suggested by some public servants would be to cut days from their work year rather than instigate a danger- ous trend of devalued work and bargaining betrayal via salary cuts. Better still, it would be refreshingly courageous on the government’s part if they were to attempt a solution to our society’s economy which involved society asa whole and did not isolate specific groups as scapegoats. Minor tax increases across the board would be politically unpopular, but they'd be a heck of a lot more effective and fair than this craven 7.5% nonsense. Moreover, eco- nomics and fair play aside, the 7.5% ‘‘solu- tion’’ isjustplain wrong. Itsetsashameful and ominous precedent for a government to break signed legal agreements with the labour force. Were anyone but the government to do this, it would be illegal. Regardless, it is a crime. The 7.5%. ‘‘solution’’ is a destructive initiative which will ultimately benefit no one, and thesooner the government owns upto that, the better it will be for all of us. Regardless, il seems absolute power has corrupted the Liber- als absolutely, and we can only hope responsi- ble political forces-- whichcan only come from a responsible electorate-- will arise to oppos¢ or replace them. As voters, remember the Liberals’ record and make them answer for it in the ballot box in the years to come. Thereit lies the only hope for accountable government left to our province. Sean McQuaid Editor

CRUISE JOBS

Students Needed! Earn up to $2,000+ per month working for Cruise Ships or Land-Tour Companies. World Travel (Hawaii, Mexico, the Caribbean, etc.). Seasonal and Full-Time employment available. No experience necessary. For

more information call: eg (206) 634-0468 Sei ext.C40621

ctober 18, 1994