Hands-off government?

Editorial

As the provincial government was passing its midnight amendments last weekend - ordering teachers to end their job action and fundamentally changing the way health care can be delivered in this province - they were accomplishing two oddly contrary objectives.

The legislation makes it possible for private companies to contract with regional health authorities to provide almost every non-medical service required in hospitals. It also reopened a collective agreement it had with public sector employees and went over the heads of local school boards and the teachers union to impose a lop-sided "agreement" on unionized workers.

A lone Liberal MLA - along with the two New Democrats - opposed as unacceptable the abandonment of the collective bargaining process.

The objective of these legislative changes - like everything else the government is doing - is to reduce expenditures and get Victoria's books back to the black. It is part of a philosophical campaign to reduce the size and power of government, thereby reducing its cost.

The irony of these acts, though, is that, in an effort to reduce government, Gordon Campbell and his government have used, with a remarkably heavy hand, the full force of their power in order to steamroll over collectively bargained agreements, trade unions and even the Liberals' own election promises.

The ideological imperative to reduce the impact of government on the lives of British Columbians is applicable when the government is defending its massive service cuts, but it flies out the window when authoritarian measures are required to ram the legislation through the assembly.

In a far less significant, but equally repressive, incident, the Liberals turned away former NDP minister Moe Sihota when he arrived in his new hat as a journalist to report on the government's public service firings last month. A government with a 77-2 majority, launching into its dramatic flagship initiative, should not be so petty as to micromanage a political has-been from attending their presentation.

The public reaction to this series of actions has been swift and harsh. Trade unions are suggesting an all-out battle with the government. The road ahead looks much like the road this province has been on for decades of conflict between labor, management and government.

As British Columbians quickly take sides in these confrontations, it would be worthwhile to reflect for a moment on the larger picture. Whatever our individual politics, let us remember the Jewish values that guide us, especially in times of strife. In the prayer for our nation, used in the Conservative movement, there is a call for tolerance: "May citizens of all races and creeds forge a common bond in true harmony to banish all hatred and bigotry and to safeguard the ideals and free institutions which are the pride and glory of our country."

The prayer also says: "Teach them insights of Your Torah, that they may administer all affairs of state fairly, that peace and security, happiness and prosperity, justice and freedom may forever abide in our midst."

Amen!

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