It is rather difficult to swallow the idea that we need another three MLAs to represent us in Saskatchewan when the next election rolls around in four years, just as we find it difficult to accept the supposed need for an additional 30 MPs in the House of Commons.
Representation by population is a good enough model, but it has become obvious that no one in Ottawa or Regina has enough administrative and managerial guts to do the right thing by shuffling the chairs according to population and geographic demands. They would rather add chairs because that would be the more political thing to do.
The fact that this silly addition game will add millions on the expense side ... denying much needed services to hard-pressed taxpayers as a result, appears to be lost on those who are currently working on the representation files.
Saskatchewan needs 61 MLAs about as much as we need additional water in the southeast. With just 1.1 million of us to govern, it seems a bit ridiculous to believe we require one representative for every 20,000 people or so. A good sized city council would be more appropriate.
But without the guts to reset the seats, we'll be expected to pay the shot for three more faces in the legislature, one each for Regina and Saskatoon and one for some yet unknown rural jurisdiction that will be carved out of an already fairly small constituency. No, we are not forgetting the huge northern ridings. They are unique, just as this province is and therefore, will not figure into the new equation.
The two major centres have grown in population and therefore require and demand more attention at the table. Well and good. But no one in the current government ... elected or paid employee, has the guts to make the correct call ... a reduction in rural representation and yikes ... heart be still ... maybe even an overall reduction in the numbers, not an increase.
Dream on. Efficiency is not in their game plan.
They know cushy and they like cushy, so cushy it will remain and they are inviting three more to join the exclusive club, even though we don't really need them.
The current government realizes they gathered their original strength by catering to the rural voters in Saskatchewan and only lately have they penetrated the two major cities to any degree of success, so they would be loathe to reset three or four seats in rural Saskatchewan to provide more adequate representation in Regina and Saskatoon.
There are areas of Saskatchewan where population counts are stagnant, if not in decline, but we're afraid the provincial government will never acknowledge that fact. They like to add, rather than reorganize. It's much easier, and of course they have their federal cousins to point at as examples of feckless decision making when it comes to fair representation by population. They too, would rather add 30 seats and $20 million to the taxpayer bill, rather than deploy management talent mixed with a touch of courage.
It seems in both instances, our senior governments are taking the easy way out and that doesn't surprise us. It disappoints us but doesn't surprise us.
Open your wallets folks, we'll soon have more elected mouths to feed.
And let us not forget those dozens of recently appointed senators. They don't come cheaply either, and they don't even have to gain favour with us, they just need a friendly face in the PM's office.
Ah, the price we pay for democracy.
