When absence of consultation can become a political headache

In the afterglow of his party forming government in 2021 on the strength of a promise to fix health care, Premier Tim Houston and other senior officials set out on a tour across Nova Scotia to hear directly from health-care workers about how to help an ailing system.

Those consultations would lead to a variety of programs and initiatives, based on feedback from people directly involved, that helped the Tories begin to make progress on a file that had become a political headache for previous governments.

In the second term of Houston's Progressive Conservative government, however, people could be forgiven for being skeptical about just how interested the Tories are in consulting with the public, and whether feedback they receive will be reflected in policy and programs.

Houston came off a resounding election win in November only to go into the next session at the legislature with a number of bills that caught most people off guard because none of it was discussed during the election.

That included a bill that would have clipped the powers of the auditor general and privacy commissioner, give the government the power to fire non-union civil servants without cause, and lift bans and moratoriums on uranium exploration and mining and hydraulic fracturing for onshore natural gas.

As the natural resources bill was making its way through the legislature, Houston responded to criticism about a lack of consultation by saying that bans had to be removed before conversations could be had.

But since the Tories passed the bill, Mi'kmaw chiefs and municipal government officials continue to feel left out of any discussions, and Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton announced a call for proposals for uranium exploration before letters could even land in the mailboxes of potentially affected property owners.

Unintended consequences

There was also an absence of conversation on the government's plan to make parking free at health-care sites. Sources say the Tories were warned of potential implications at hospitals in Halifax Regional Municipality, but the government pushed ahead anyway before steps could be taken to lessen impacts on health-care staff.

In the face of major blowback, the government retreated on increased parking fees for health-care workers and is now scrambling to find whatever new spaces it can, including spending $1 million to upgrade land it already owns on South Street near the IWK Health Centre and Victoria General Hospital.

A lack of consultation caused the Tories headaches even on legislation that should have been an easy public relations win.

Houston's bill to help knock down interprovincial trade barriers was lauded by other provinces and premiers who said they would follow his lead.

The problem for the premier was no one bothered to talk to professional regulators before the bill was introduced. They quickly pointed out flaws that, had the government not amended the bill, would have prevented regulators from being able to provide oversight and detect people posing as professionals.

A government's prerogative

Houston and his team will say that change, along with changes to the bill that would have affected the auditor general and privacy commissioner, are signs of a government willing to listen to feedback. But consultation ahead of time would have identified the flaws that created problems for the Tories in the first place.

When it wants to, this government can lead a thorough and thoughtful consultation process. Along with the health tour and other efforts to get feedback from health-care workers, the recent work related to the new student code of conduct was mostly well received. The government is also in the midst of consultation about the potential of changing the rules governing where alcohol can be sold.

But then there is the process used for the Coastal Protection Act, where the government disregarded documented results in favour of a different direction. That's its prerogative, but it can risk creating widespread cynicism.

Much is made of the supermajority Houston won last November, and what it means for his government's ability to advance its agenda. But that supermajority also means that when the government does something that upsets the public, there's an increased chance a PC MLA will be the one fielding angry telephone calls, office visits or emails from constituents.

The next election might be three or four years away, but an accumulated perception that a government won't take the time to ask questions or seek feedback before pushing ahead with plans can be difficult to overcome when voters next turn their minds to casting a ballot.