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In case the NDP needs reminding, this is a democracy and the opposition is a key player in that process.

That’s why Wildrose House leader Nathan Cooper made an excellent and disturbing point when he compared the current NDP government to the Progressive Conservative governments of old.

“It’s troubling because the process of democracy is critically important,” said Cooper. “This government is doing the exact same things that the previous government did in the dying days of their tenure.”

Indeed, while in opposition, the NDP would criticize the PCs for trampling on the democratic process by prejudging the outcome of debates and votes in the legislature.

And here we have an NDP government doing the same thing. It’s not the first time, either.

A year ago, the Speaker ruled against the government after the finance ministry sent out a budget news release before the provincial budget had been delivered.

“I would caution the government not to prejudge the actions of this assembly or its committees into the future,” said Wanner in November of 2015.

Well, here we are in the “future” and the NDP is guilty once again.

You could argue the NDP was still learning the ropes a year ago. But not any more.

This is a government that promised to be more open, more democratic and more accountable than the PCs.

On Tuesday, government minister Deron Bilous apologized, saying the government would “never, under any circumstances, want to offend or obstruct the dignity of the house.”

Let’s hope this is the last time we get a creeping feeling of déjà vu about a government offending a basic tenet of democracy.

Local editorials are the consensus opinion of the Journal’s editorial board, comprising Mark Iype, Dave Breakenridge, Sarah O’Donnell and David Evans.