Fixed elections law written in sandstone - it's crumbling

It is beginning to look like the Fixed Elections Law in Prince Edward Island may have been written on the Island's famous sandstone. It appears to be crumbling with rumours abounding that Premier Wade McLaughlin is ready to call an early summer election as soon as the legislature session ends.

Speculation of an early election has increased as the numbers of government good news announcements have increased. A budget, soon to be tabled, would be an important giveaway if it's full of spending and void of tax increases. 

One can't blame the premier for considering going while the going is good.  But that defeats the whole purpose of the legislation in the first place. Fixed date elections were set to level the playing field for all parties, and take the decision out of the premier's hands. Deviations from the fixed date were only supposed to happen if a government lost the confidence of the legislature on a monetary bill.

Fixed date elections are good for democracy and the legislation should be honoured. The same should apply for other 'binding' legislation affection such areas as constituency boundaries, MLA remuneration, and Judicial salaries.

Independent commissions have been set up in many provinces to address these areas to take them out of the hands of the politicians and to allow for an impartial determination of what is appropriate. Any recommendations made by these commissions should be mandatory. The legislatures should be required to pass them with no exceptions or amendments.

I understand it makes good political optics if a government refuses to implement an increase in stipend for MLAs when recommended to do so by the commission. But, again, that defeats the purpose of having the commission in the first place.

These valuable pieces of legislation should be written in stone, and not the crumbly sandstone of Anne's Island.

Frank Likely is a retired Anglican minister and past president of the Springhill and Area Chamber of Commerce.