Payment wants Answers... Period

Surrey-Cloverdale NDP candidate Deborah Payment has little to no chance of beating Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon on Tuesday. Payment sent an e-mail to Robert Burnaby Tips on April 1 after visiting the legislature. She was not happy with Question Period or the general behaviour of the government while in the chamber. Although it is a bit of a rant, she does touch on the troubles the NDP has had getting a response from the BC Liberal government and on the government's neglect of what is going on in the chamber:

On March 31, I had the privilege of sitting in the gallery of the B.C. legislature during Question Period.
Well, I heard a lot of questions, but no answers. I was astonished to see Wally Oppal repeatedly refuse to answer questions. Having followed recent news coverage, I expected to hear the statement “it is before the courts”. But I didn’t expect that would be used for questions which didn’t appear to be related to the legal case at all.
Then came the submission of a petition that was very important to me, and many other British Columbians. Thousands of working people are asking the government to repeal changes to the WCB laws that have drastically affected benefits and pensions for permanently disabled workers. The Minister responsible, Iain Black, didn’t even listen. He cleaned his desk, used his Blackberry, and left the house before the presentation was completed. That speaks volumes to me.
Those who refuse to talk to, or listen to, the people of this province do not deserve the seats they hold in that honoured hall.
Deborah Payment
Coordinator, Public Compensation Coalition

As the BC Liberals are likely to be returned for a third term next week, this behaviour is likely to continue. The government should pay more attention to their surroundings but little is likely to change until Gordon Campbell retires.