An exercise in closed government

Can anyone figure out why the report of the provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission is treated, even if only for a little while, like some secret of state? At the federal level, the reports of each of the ten provincial Electoral Boundaries Commissions may be made public on up to ten different days, but neither MPs, let alone the government, are given advance copies.

The provincial E.B.C. submitted its report to the provincial Minister of Justice on November 30th. What sound policy purpose is served by keeping it away from the prying eyes of MHAs until January 19th, and longer still from the eyes of the public?

For that matter, why does the provincial Electoral Boundaries Commission even report to government anyway, instead of to the Chief Electoral Officer and the Speaker, as is the case federally?

(Yeah, yeah, "We are going to stand on our own and (inaudible)." We all get it, Danny. Canada sucks, P.W.G., rah rah rah, blah blah blah.)

Still, this rule long pre-dates Danny Williams. Why isn't the Electoral Boundaries Commission held, by statute, at a longer arms' length from the government of the day?