Percy Paris is an African-Nova Scotian MLA here in Nova Scotia. He happens to be the only one in Nova Scotia....not the only MLA....the only African Nova-Scotian one.
He is claiming that he is being treated unfairly because of the colour of his skin in the Legislative Assembly. He also claims that this has been going on since he was first chosen to be an MLA representing Waverley-Fall River.
He says that he loves his job but it is one of the loneliest jobs because he feels so isolated. The people in the lunchroom won't even sit by him and the heckling he gets when he speaks in the house is more intense than for other MLAs.
Are you for real, Percy? I hear about this sort of stuff in junior high but that's to be expected because I'm dealing with young teens who are still in the process of maturing. I suppose the legislature can be much like a junior high in that the maturity level is not that great. We try to teach our children how to debate, hear the other sides, wait your turn to speak and all those other common courtesies we want to see in communication, yet when we look at the Legislative Assembly or the House of Commons we see how people in power debate...and it is not nearly like the vision we try to give our students.
Have you ever seen the action in the HOC or the Legislature? I get so frustrated seeing the behaviours that are demonstrated in these places. Now I understand the ideas, the concepts, and realities that exist in the "boys club" mentality and that doesn't mean it is right. I don't agree with it at all but I also know that people can often get emotionally out of joint very easily and blame others for everything.
Percy Paris, unfortunately, I think you have just painted yourself as different and know the reaction that you get from the Assembly will be based on your allegations. This means that the reaction will likely be hollow and tainted. I wonder if you have taken the effort to sit by someone else in the lunchroom and tried to make friends....I wonder if you always respect the opinions of others in the Assembly without interrupting or heckling. I wonder if you are so clean as to never make comments about other members of the Assembly. I wonder if the issue is really because of race or is it just personality differences, lack of experience, or any possibility from a plethora of reasons. If you are the ideal MLA..then congratulations...i have my doubts though.
Maybe total reform of the Assembly and its process of debate is necessary....maybe people need an assigned seating plan at lunch so that everyone gets to know everyone else. Maybe peer counselling is needed in the Assembly......maybe MLA's need recess time to play on a swingset. Some of these suggestions are legit..and some others I think you can tell are a little sarcastic. These things seem to work well in junior high.
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