It was extremely disappointing to watch the regional district’s Corporate Services Committee question Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas about federal issues at the April 19 meeting.
One would think that having Mr. Albas join the meeting would provide an ideal opportunity for the committee to express to him some of the issues affecting their constituents at the federal level.
According to the agenda, Mr. Albas was at the meeting to discuss recent changes to Old Age Pension eligiblity requirements. While this topic was discussed, the committee seemed less interested in this and other subjects of concern to the average Canadian than they did in renewing their collective acquaintance with a former colleague (Albas served on the regional district board prior to running for federal office last year).
Social niceties are fine, but they shouldn’t get in the way of the job at hand. Albas, occupying one the highest political positions in the region, made himself available, no doubt with the expectation that he would be fielding some tough questions about his party’s governance and important issues facing the region’s citizens.
It’s too bad the committee didn’t recognize the opportunity at hand. In this case, Albas did his job simply by showing up. It was up to the committee to make him accountable - and in this task, they failed to do so.