Grow up and get to work

In every workplace there are standards of behaviour. It seems as though some of our provincial politicians have forgotten that or choose to ignore it; somewhat like elementary school children on the playground when the teacher isn't looking.

One of the newest MHAs to take a seat in the House of Assembly was asked to leave it last week for using 'unparliamentary language.'

Straits-White Bay North MHA Marshall Dean called Health Minister Jerome Kennedy "vindictive and deceitful" after the government announced it would move the air ambulance from St. Anthony to Labrador. When Marshall wouldn't take back the comments, the Speaker asked him to leave the house.

He's not the first politician to get fired up and say less-than-complimentary things about the people sitting opposite. Many of his provincial counterparts are guilty of the same, or worse, not to mention some of the childishness that goes on in Ottawa some days.

But that doesn't make it right.

Some might argue that the back-and-forth, the insults and heckling are just part of the political game.

Then again, who said the business of running a province should be treated like a game?

Politicians aren't expected to agree on the issues, but they should be expected to disagree with well thought out, logical arguments that have the potential to sway their opponents across the room, and voters in general.

MHAs are elected to go to St. John's and represent the views of the people in their district. That's a lot harder to do once you've been kicked out of the house. Marshall may have gotten some media coverage, but could not ask more questions or raise other points in the debate.

The people of Marshall's district deserve better, just like all residents of the province.

We send children to school to learn, not to bully each other on the playground. We send MHAs to St. John's to work on the issues, not to call each other names.

Grow up and get to work; there's much to be done.

Fewer playground antics just might leave more time for serious debate and discussion about important issues. It might even polish up a little of the tarnish on the political profession.

Provincial politicians should aspire to higher standards - the people they represent deserve it. And like the teacher on the playground, we're watching.