Editor, The News:
Re: Dalton recall ‘frivolous’ (Letters, March 16).
The cornerstone of our democratic system is the concept that the elected MLA will go to Victoria to represent the views of the constituency.
Unfortunately due to party politics, few do so, in any party, deciding instead to represent the wishes of the party and its leader.
The recall campaign is not about whether or not MLA Marc Dalton likes the HST, or even the fact that he is a Liberal. It is about the fact that he refuses to represent the known wishes of his constituents, especially on the issue of the HST.
One reason why so few people vote today is because it doesn’t matter who is elected, the views of constituents seem like the least important thing on the minds of an MLA.
For the first time in history, voters can show their total disgust for the way politicians refuse to represent us, how they have make a mockery of our representative democracy.
People should seriously consider voting in favor of the recall of Mr. Dalton for another reason: we now have a new premier who does not yet have a seat in the Legislature. In her role as a radio show host, Christy Clark often stated the need for a different way of doing things in B.C. What an exciting by-election it would be if Premier Clark had the courage to run in Maple Ridge-Mission riding, explaining her ideas of change.
Perhaps if we had a premier as an MLA, the important issues of Maple Ridge and Mission would get some attention in Victoria.
Graham Mowatt
Maple Ridge
Peter Principle
Editor, The News:
Re: A good man (Letters, March 16).
After reading the letter from Gail Payeur it occurs to me that if it is a true representation of one of the faces of Marc Dalton, then he is a sad victim of the Peter Principle, that he left the job he was apparently made for – caring and comforting the homeless and needy as a minister – and promoted to the point of his incompetence an MLA.
The part that I find most puzzling, especially if Ms. Payeur is right, is that when he attained the enviable position of being literally able to change peoples lives for the better as a politician, with the power to lift, for example, 121,000 children out of grinding poverty, or helping the working poor at least earn at or above the poverty level, or get people off the streets into a more productive life, what did he choose to do instead? Align himself totally with Gordon Campbell and his corporate masters, who one could easily say have brought upon B.C. the lowest wages, highest child poverty rates, highest working poverty rates in Canada, coupled with the highest cost of living in Canada, making B.C. one of the poorest performing provinces in Canada.
We have a rapidly expanding gape between the rich and poor, a tax that overnight impoverishes tens of thousands of middle class, seniors and working poor in this province. A lethal mix no matter how you paint it. This does not make any sense to me, mind you when you mix religion and politics what you get almost never does make sense.
It’s time to get back to the profession that you were obviously made for Mr. Dalton.
Wayne Clark
Maple Ridge