Falling down on the job

A historic event took place in our province this week ... politicians admitted they were wrong. That could be the first time that's happened since Confederation ... at least since the Sprung greenhouse was dismantled and became another embarrassing episode in economic development in this province.

The ruling PCs stood in the House of Assembly this week and said the botched the expropriation of the AbitibiBowater properties in this province when they included properties that will likely require millions of dollars in environmental cleanup.

That aside, at least the Tories, to their credit, were up front about the blunder, and said so straight out without trying to couch it in some political song and dance.

Most of the rest of the week, the opposition has been pounding the government for the foul-up in the legislation that was passed in the house in a few hours ... a classic case of too little too late.

Few would argue that government did the right thing by taking back the water and timber rights from AbitibiBowater, but the result is shameful and the opposition can't shirk their complicity in the matter.

It's time they admitted their shortcomings in the process.

It's the duty of the opposition to challenge the government on legislation it brings before the house, and make sure these kinds of potentially expensive hiccups don't make it into law.

They were asleep at the switch in this matter - there's now way around it.

They dozed in their seats, didn't ask enough questions ... and let the bad legislation become the law of the land.

It should be a lesson for all concerned.

Our system works best when the tough questions are asked ... not when government gets a free pass.