THE NDP EXCELLS AT THE ART OF PERSUASION
For the third time this sitting, the New Democratic Party has successfully persuaded members of the Legislative Assembly to unanimously support one of its initiatives.
“On Wednesday afternoon, our motion urging the government to host a major summit in Whitehorse in early 2010 for a focused discussion to examine effective strategies to respond to poverty and the other factors, such as inadequate housing, education and employment, that exclude people from participating in healthy and productive living, was supported by both the Yukon and Liberal parties,” says Todd Hardy, the mover of the motion.
In addition to its latest accomplishment, the NDP has persuaded MLAs to create separate all-party committees to consult with the public and experts on restructuring the legislature and updating the 40-year-old Landlord and Tenant Act.
“During all the years I’ve sat in this legislature, I have never seen the Third Party achieve as much as we have,” Hardy adds. “And in previous sittings of the legislature, our effective lobbying efforts resulted in the Smoke-Free Places Act, the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and government actions to better protect young workers from job-related injuries, fatalities and abuses.”
The NDP believes its role in the legislature should be proactive, instead of reactive. It seeks to find solutions through compromise rather than fan the flames of discord and conflict. It believes working in the public interest is more important than playing partisan political games to get headlines and soundbites.
“I have always taken my job in the legislature very seriously,” Hardy notes. “I constantly look for opportunities to work with the members of the other two parties to develop good government laws, policies and programs. That’s often more challenging, but ultimately more satisfying, than always being negative and critical, and running the risk of not getting anything accomplished.”