Gordon Campbell presents a more polished image in this election

    1 of 1 2 of 1

      Anyone who listened  to Premier Gordon Campbell's victory speech can be  forgiven for thinking that British Columbians have reelected a premier devoid of any sort of ideological disposition.

      "I received a call earlier this evening from Ms. James and I want to say that  I appreciated her call," Campbell said in front of B.C. Liberals gathered  at the Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre. "I think it was done in the right spirit. It recognizes there are many problems that we face in this province that frankly transcend political boundaries. They really say to us all: we have to work together to solve the challenges that are in front of us."

      Campbell  added that this should be done with new ideas and with a commitment to "our kids and to our grandkids".

      "And we've got to find ways to work to do the right thing for them, even though sometimes it's very challenging for us," Campbell said. "I want to say thanks to everyone who agrees with that approach."

      Campbell often invokes the importance of acting on behalf of future generations, notwithstanding B.C.'s dreadful child-poverty record. He also likes  presenting himself as nonpolitical--even  when he requires capital projects to be built through public-private partnerships, as if that's not a political decision.

      Tonight in his victory speech, he added a twist by emphasizing the importance of listening to one another and learning from one another. This from a man who has often skipped out of question period in the legislature. Campbell also took time to praise civil servants for not being political. In our premier's world, the good people are apolitical and the bad people are those who practise politics--and in his mind, there's no doubt which side of the fence he stands on.

       "I also want to take a moment to thank all of the exceptional public servants who work on our behalf," Campbell said.  "They work through elections. They are not political. They are thinking, 'What is best for all of us?' They get up every morning and provide us with critical services like health care and education, childcare, child protection, public safety--those people are making a huge commitment to define our public life and we should say thanks to all of them for the great work they do."

      Then he moved on to the environment  by making  an oblique reference to the carbon tax.  Campbell said that British Columbians could be proud because they decided they would take steps that many people said they shouldn't take.

      "They weren't politically easy to take, but they were the right steps to take,"  he said. "The initiatives we've taken to deal constructively and positively with climate change in a way that reinforces our economy and increases jobs and opportunities. They send a message to others who may have been, who may have  looked at this possibility with trepidation, is  this can be done. It should be done. And it must be done for our children and our grandchildren."

      Naturally, there was no mention of a proposed pipeline from the Alberta tar sands to Kitimat, and the likelihood that this will result in the lifting of a moratorium on oil tankers travelling through B.C. inlets.

      From there, he moved to discussing his government's relationship with aboriginal people.  

      "It's a proud night for for British Columbians because they know that B.C. Liberals are committed to shrinking the gaps in health and education and economic opportunities that currently exist between aboriginal and nonaboriginal people," Campbell declared. "We are building a new relationship based on recognition and reconciliation and that is important to the future of every British Columbian."

      Later in the speech, he promised to "build small business", notwithstanding his  government's previous record  of ignoring pleas for help from merchants on Cambie Street who went bankrupt because TransLink lowballed the cost of a rapid-transit project, and then tried to make up for it by ripping up the road with a cut-and-cover tunnel project.  

      "We will build our economy," Campbell promised.  "We will build small business. We will create jobs. We will create opportunities in every region of this province."

      Let's not kid ourselves. This premier is just as political as any other politician. It just wasn't readily apparent from the words he spoke this evening.

      What we saw during this campaign was a new, more polished Gordon Campbell emerge. Let's hope that the media do their  job over the next four years and try a little harder to point out the contradictions between his words and his actions. Because we didn't see a lot of it during the past 28 days.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Great Googlimoog

      May 13, 2009 at 11:41am

      Congratulations! "My enemy's enemy truly is my friend", is what G. Campbell might be saying now. If you count the vote spread, you'll notice that approximately 12 seats were not won by the Liberals, so much as they were lost to the Green Party.
      If those votes had gone to the NDP, which is considerably more "green" than the Liberal Party, the NDP would easily have won. All you 'Greens': "Thanks for splitting the vote - suckers!"

      mooks

      May 13, 2009 at 12:35pm

      Voter turnout was down around 8%. If there was no Green Party, it would have likely been more like 12-14%. Some of you are delusional when you project the entire Green vote going to the NDP. They would have got some, obviously, but a larger portion would have abstained and a small number would have gone to the Liberals.

      Face the facts: The people were never enamored with Carole James and her policy choices. It's time to look inward instead of looking for scapegoats to blame.

      Meatpopsicle

      May 13, 2009 at 3:22pm

      Getting sick of Campbell saying BC-ers have made their choice. Only 49% voter turnout buddy. How does that reflect the needs and wants of BCers at all. I guess you can't bitch if you don't vote eh.