As long as his input is excluded from government decisions, Clarence Pettersen should offer no promises to support the NDP agenda.
That only makes sense. With the Flin Flon MLA barred from NDP caucus meetings, his best remaining tool to shape government policy is his inalienable right to vote “no” on government motions.
Would that intensify an already awkward relationship between Pettersen and Premier Greg Selinger? Possibly.
But as Flin Flon’s voice in the legislature, Pettersen – and every one of his constituents – should be open to the adage of tough times calling for tough measures.
Selinger, once hailed as a different kind of politician, has shown he can be as petty and cunning as a Chrétien or a Harper.
After Pettersen and five NDP cabinet ministers beseeched Selinger to resign last month, the premier locked them out of caucus meetings and plugged his ears to their opinions.
No choice?
You could argue that Selinger had no choice. Had he not cracked down on the dissidents, he risked losing control of his caucus and feeding into the party-damaging narrative that the government is out of control.
I prefer the argument that Selinger is the leader of a team whose members represent a multitude of different opinions, regions and ambitions.
While it must be uncomfortable for a premier to face open calls for his exit, Selinger has shut out not only Pettersen, but also the 14,000-plus residents of the Flin Flon constituency – a constituency that has voted NDP for almost five decades.
Selinger, for reasons of wounded pride, is essentially saying to Flin Flon, “I don’t care what you think.”
Pettersen’s approach going forward should be simple. If a government plan will benefit Flin Flon (think new roads or more trades training), he should be supportive.
But if a plan will hurt Flin Flon families (think soaring hydro bills or ridiculous mandates for municipalities), our MLA should not hesitate to go against the grain of a government that has all but ejected him and rejected us.
