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New Brunswickers expect a certain amount of volatility in the provincial Legislature. But when MLAs can't even agree on how long they should be sitting, or what they're in the Legislature to accomplish, the chance of achieving good governance seems mighty slim.

The drawn-out bickering that frequently reduces New Brunswick's Legislature to a caricature of democracy is most pronounced in the spring session. This year, the Graham government is proposing a novel alternative: by extending debate into the evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 to 10 p.m., government members hope to cut down the length and acrimony of the legislative session.

It's a pretty simple proposition: sit longer, shorten the term and save taxpayers some money. The opposition is crying foul, saying the Liberals are only trying to reduce the number of Question Periods they have to face. This is a legitimate concern; but so is ensuring that the Legislature functions efficiently.

Veteran Conservative MLAs understand as well as anyone how badly spring sessions can bog down. In 2006, the Conservative government of Bernard Lord came close to not being able to pay for public services because debate on budget estimates was filibustered. The Liberals faced a similar situation last year; and this year, Conservative MLA Trevor holder has already vowed, "We'll see you on August 15."

If both parties engaged in a top-flight battle of wits and ideas, the kind that challenges politicians to deliver their best and ultimately produces better legislation, these lengthy spring sessions might be worth something. Generally, though, what visitors to the Legislature witness is little more than name-calling, blustering, and obstruction.

There's a big difference between debating political policy and just arguing. Excessively partisan battling in the house undermines democracy, by reducing the Legislature to an exchange of contemptuous words and gestures. Such behaviour costs MLAs respect, and when people lose respect for their legislators, they begin to lose faith in the power of the political process to bring about meaningful change.

At different times, both parties have proposed major changes to how the Legislature functions in an effort to make debate flow more smoothly; but these measures would also have reduced the time spent considering budget estimates and legislation - the equivalent of swatting a gnat with a sledgehammer. Extending the hours of the Legislature two nights a week is a more responsible alternative. It wouldn't reduce the time available for debate, just intensify the political work week, creating a greater margin of safety for the people of New Brunswick, who depend on the government's budget estimates passing by a certain date.

At the end of the legislative day, that's who MLAs are there to serve. We hope members of both parties will agree to work longer hours for a shorter legislative session - and bring their best ideas and arguments to the debate.