I often chuckle to myself these days when I read, listen, or hear public comments by our MLA Peter Milobar. Peter and I worked together for almost a decade on Kamloops Council.

One of his greatest attributes when he was Mayor was that, even when he didn’t agree with your position, he would always offer the opportunity for a one and one conversation. This was awesome. In my experience, he always listened thoughtfully and gave good advice.

Peter rarely was extreme in his language, appointed a diverse range of community members to committees and working groups, and almost always booked a meeting with any group or citizen the first time they asked. I’d venture to say that serving on city council made him a pretty positive, collaborative guy.

Why I chuckle a bit today is that Peter’s public comments these days are probably 9 to 1, negative to positive. (My chuckle is tinged with some sadness.)

I understand that opposition MLAs’ roles are to be critical. Often enough, however, the criticisms are just cheap shots in a flimsy disguise.

But, deeper than that, life as a provincial elected official is set up to be almost completely (and often I would argue, mindlessly) adversarial. At least, that is what MLAs want the public to see.  A big goal is to find a “gotcha moment” that will make another party look bad.

This issue is not just with opposition parties. This is also a problem with governing parties.

 And here is where there are strong similarities between Peter Milobar and Ravi Kahlon, B.C.’s Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. I like Minister Kahlon and have had the chance to spend time with him a few times over the years.

I am sure he would agree with MLA Milobar’s approach as an opposition member. He would do the same if he were in opposition. And one of his important tasks, as key leader in the governing party, is to not give more power, responsibility, or respect to opposition MLAs than absolutely necessary. (It’s no wonder that opposition MLAs feel the need to make cheap shots)

 I’m equally confident MLA Milobar would agree, perhaps a little perversely, that limiting opposition parties’ power as much as possible is one of Minister Kahlon’s most important tasks.

It is striking to hear that Minister Kahlon may try to mandate, in some fashion, better conduct on local councils and regional boards in BC. I would suggest a look internally at improving conduct in the Provincial legislature first and learning from local government leaders on how to collaborate most effectively.

Give authority to these local leaders to recommend any related legislation and practices  for local, regional, and provincial governments and implement the recommendations without substantive changes.

I’ve had the  fortunate opportunity to learn from local governments across this amazing province.  I know the collaborative approach is alive and well in so many BC city halls and regional district offices.

Except, as I discussed last month, not Kamloops. Mayor Hamer-Jackson continues to bring an obviously adversarial approach to council.

In June, related to a motion he brought forward to council proposing a forensic audit, the Mayor basically launched mini-inquisitions towards individual council members. It seemed to me he was not interested in getting new practices and policies approved but instead wanted to provoke a provincial style gotcha moment.  MLAs and Ministers would recognize this approach well.

As a former city councillor, I found it shocking.