It is nothing short of outrageous that the British Columbia legislature will not reconvene in Victoria until Oct. 6. One hundred and thirty days of no one in the legislature. Even more astonishing is that this fall sitting follows a 278-day break between the spring sessions, from May 16, 2024 to Feb. 18, 2025.
Then there’s Ottawa. In the past year and a half, the House of Commons has sat for roughly 257 days. That’s 14 days per month. Next, MPs will close shop in late June and not return until mid-September.
Governing a province and country seems to be a part-time gig. But it sure pays well.
While Canadians face a worsening housing crisis, a collapsed health-care system, global instability, and soaring costs of living, our elected officials spend the better part of a year in legislative hibernation. A backbench member of Parliament receives a base salary of $203,100 per year which is roughly three times the average Canadian income. Who else gets to vanish from their jobs for months on end while drawing full salaries in the hundreds of thousands, travel stipends, second houses and platinum benefits?
Canadians deserve a government that works year-round, not one that hides behind recess calendars while Canadians face real problems with no break in sight. Democracy demands more than headlines, travel junkets and ribbon-cuttings.
Maybe we should rent out the legislature and Parliament to wedding and catering events during the time our officials are not there.
