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Energy Minister Bill Bennett grumbles about Gordon Campbell's lack of consultation
Energy Minister Bill Bennett would like the premier to seek more input from MLAs before he changes cabinet ministers' responsibilities.
Finally, a B.C. Liberal cabinet minister has told the truth about Premier Gordon Campbell's management style.
In an interview with the Vancouver Sun, Energy Minister Bill Bennett declared that Campbell did not consult key members of the caucus before changing cabinet ministers' responsibilities yesterday.
“It seems to me we ought to be involving every last one of our elected people in major decisions, because you always make smarter decisions when everybody’s involved," Bennett told the Sun.
As the only B.C. Liberal MLA from the Kootenays, Bennett can afford to make these comments because nobody else from the southeastern B.C. region is available to join the cabinet.
His comments echo some of the same criticism that MLA Bob Simpson levelled at NDP Leader Carole James after he was abruptly kicked out of caucus for issuing mild criticism of one of her speeches.
In B.C.'s parliamentary system, a leader with a majority has supreme authority to do almost anything he or she likes, including firing cabinet ministers, rearranging their responsibilities without consultation, and, it appears, throwing MLAs out of caucus without holding a caucus meeting.
Former NDP MLA David Chudnovsky summed up the situation in his final speech to the legislature in 2009.
"They sent us here to govern, and we don't," he said. "Everybody who works here knows that the real governing takes place in the premier's office with a few handpicked friends and advisers. That's not just this government. I'm not talking about just this government."
Chudnovsky added that MLAs in the chamber were part of a "sideshow".
"We're part of the show that results in the choice of the next premier in whose office the small group of advisers will again make the important decisions," he stated.
On October 27, Campbell will give a provincewide television address. He has been a one-man band for much of his nine years in power in Victoria, perhaps most notably during the last election campaign and in the leadup to the Vancouver Olympics.
It appears that this act is not only wearing thin on the public, it's also creating dissension within cabinet.
Recall begins Nov 15th... let's unite and get rid of them all.
These people have direction from other people, even if the other people are not employed by the government. This could be industry, lobby groups etc.
But make no mistake they are being led by others and not for our interests.
End lobbying and end political contributions.
Its tax payer funds that pay the bills and taxpayer funds that pay their wages.
If we in the future DO NOT have to pay taxes on products or income then let the lobby groups and industry tell us what to do. Until then block them from our institutions and our tax dollars.
in the near future the politicians who come out against this and mean it will be the ones who run our government institutions
Is Campbell really trying to look like a consensus builder? He is criticized over a Cabinet shuffle, and if in fact its deeper than this - and forms part of Mr. Bennett's concern over the nature of his appointment - this means that Mr. Bennett is de facto in charge - Gordon Campbell the leader-autocrat is so weak - he won't challenge a minister who applied very strong criticism at a time WHEN the premier ought to have had room to be more unilateral - its his Cabinet afterall - why would he consult with one or two or three ministers - when this is his decision?
This event makes Carole James look STRONG for whipping her dissident.
The BC Liberal Party cannot go on like this -- its gone past sick.
Again unfortunately I don't see the NDP as having a different outlook, just look at what happened to Bob Simpson !
All you're doing is the CYA maneouver. You know, cover your ass! I hear the recall volunteer recruitment is going well in your area.
You can't promise to leave in 6 or 9 months-------how can you speak to the economy with the HST hangover lingering (CanWest Global ads for television address)----and no credibility with the public?
Politics is about tru/st and tru/th - British Columbians don't expect perfection on either of these accounts from politicians - but they expect a reasonable amount -- and the premier has offered none---or close to that --
the public wants him to make his peace and announce his retirement - Campbell should have a good nights rest and let the premiership go - so the province can move on. It doesn't need to be this difficult - just do it.
The BC Liberal spin machine is fully involved here, trying to juxtapose themselves to Carole James appropriate disciplining of Bob (the bully) Simpson.
Having seen her work in the NDP I know that James is no Campbell. She does listen and her style is to reach for consensus. But her job is to make a decision at the end of that and she does.
Cambell leaves out the listening and consensus part. He's an autocrat who could care less what others think. His style is remarkably different from James'.
Anyone who can read knows that Simpson doesn't feel bound by a consensus. And he's demonstrated that over and over. The attack on James was the last in a series that goes back years, as Simpson has said.
The basic difference here is that James has demonstrated that she works hard at building a team. Simpson shares more in common with Campbell. Both are lone wolves who think they know better than anyone else.
On balance of probability it is near impossible for Gordon Campbell to change based on any reasonable criteria that we know of---leaving office it where nearly all of the impetus in the public is going--if he doesn't and real soon the BC Liberals will experience 2001 against them-because that is where the majority of British Columbians are sitting - right now the party is done -- and the party must do something to undo that -- nothing Campbell says or does or promises can change this because the mass of voting public knows him and has finished their decision about him - they don't trust him--and the longer he stays the more firmly embedded the overall distrust of his BC Liberal government.
It is quicksand and 2.5 years from the next election British Columbians as at today have already made their choice---and the party will be wiped out.
The BC Liberal party has to make the change by forcing Campbell out--he doesn't respect or care about the voters - his party must do it - and in so doing - will reflect to the BC public that they as a party want change - and thereafter can discuss what that change is - to see how many British Columbians will move from the anti BC Liberal lily pads they currently occupy - to - I don't want the NDP - but this has to be done by the party PRIOR to other parties like the BC Conservatives or BC First getting any momentum.
Kind of a so long suckers - as soon as Dr. Evil's last edict is underway (and there isn't much you can do about it {see HST}) - then I'm gone.
{Sinister Halloween laughter from premier inserted here}
this guy is a joke, he is also paranoid and I understand he has 24 hour security around him (who really cares about that, we just want him to get the hell out)