A bill much maligned

I wrote about the proposed Regulatory Standards Bill in my February 15 column.

- David Harvey

At the time, I expressed concern about the level of impassioned rhetoric surrounding the bill, hoping for a shift towards more reasoned debate. Regrettably, that shift has not occurred. Much of the current opposition stems from either a misunderstanding - or deliberate misrepresentation - of the bill's purpose.

The bill has sparked a wide-ranging comment. Detractors claim it threatens treaty obligations, entrenches ideological bias, undermines public health and environmental protections and sidesteps democratic norms. These critiques have persisted as the bill progresses through Parliament.

But these claims misconstrue what the bill actually does. It does not set policy or outcomes. Rather, it proposes a principled framework for lawmaking, encouraging clarity, transparency and accountability. It applies equally to all laws. A process that requires ministers to explain their reasoning before legislating is not a danger to democracy – it is a safeguard against obscure and unchecked lawmaking.