17 Jun Chuck v. Jamie — a contrary view

Rob Smith, son of former premier G.I. Smith, and as loyal a Tory as you’ll find in Nova Scotia, takes exception to my assessment of the rupture in the Tory caucus.

There  is a lot more to being an MLA  than attending meetings, many of which are a total waste of time, as are many current legislative goings on–they were great for the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, but the 21st century–not so much.

In both by professional and political work in recent years, I had a great deal to do with Chuck Porter, found him to be the ablest constituency MLA to deal with in many, many years. An all around first rater.

I do not understand why my  leader, Mr. Baillie, is attempting to throw Chuck Porter, Harper style, under the bus.

The divide here reflects two classic approaches to political life. Porter, a paramedic and former Windsor town councillor, sees the MLA’s central role as tending to constituents—filling potholes, honouring birthdays and funerals, and helping folks back home with government forms. Baillie wants his caucus to act like a government-in-waiting, poised for the moment when voters get sick of the Liberals.

There are always MLAs of both styles in any legislature, and there is generally always room for both. But whether there is room for an MLA who misses five committee hearings and 12 caucus meetings in seven months, when his constituency is an hour’s drive from the capitol, is another question.