The Back Bench Blues

Conservative David Wilks MP for Kootenay-Columbia was meeting with his constituents to discuss the CPC budget. He went there to answer questions and talk to voters. This is one of the things he said.

"At the end of the day, in my opinion, they’ve made up their mind and this is how we’re going to vote. One person is not going to make a difference, one MP is not going to make a difference.” 

I was never under the impression that the back bench was a seething pool of dissent, waiting like a coiled spring to strike out against Prime Ministerial over reach. In Canada the back bench is where you sit while waiting to cast a vote for government bills. You cheer what ever the government says boo the opposition. You occupy the background looking interested,in case the camera pans your way, your role is to provide a solid wall of support for your government.

The back bench is necessary as it provides vote support for government bills. But it lacks any effective power. The caucus does not chose the party leader, as a result the Prime Minister has no need to play to his caucus. The size of parliament in the United Kingdom allows the government greater leeway in dealing with dissident MPs. There the government can afford a few independent minded people without fear of losing close votes. In Canada the small size of parliament calls for greater conformity. Even at the committee stage their work is to see bills on their way, not to advise or amend the legislation.

So it is easy to see how an MP can get down in the mouth. What bothers me is the resignation he showed. He has in effect given up trying. I don't know why he got into politics. I don't know what fired him up enough to put his name in to the hat. But it seems like that fire is gone out of him. Mr. Wilks is  just a seat warmer and that is sad. Sad for him and sad for us. We need dedicated men and women in parliament. People willing to sit when they need to but also willing to rise up and be heard when it gets to hard to hold their tongues.

There will be fallout from this. Mr. Wilkes has already had a statement issued regarding his support for the budget. You can find it at the bottom of the article referenced by this piece.