Login / RegisterIs Gordon Campbell's job in danger?
When Premier Gordon Campbell stood up in the legislature on May 26 to answer a question about the harmonized sales tax, nobody expected him to offer his resignation. Earlier in the day, after a housing announcement in Vancouver, he defended the controversial levy, which combines the five-percent GST with the seven-percent provincial sales tax, and extends it over many new services.
At that time, Campbell acknowledged that the public is deeply unhappy with how the HST came about—with a sudden announcement 10 weeks after an election campaign in which the B.C. Liberals never talked about a $1.9-billion tax shift from business to individuals. At the housing announcement and in the legislature, he repeated a mantra that the public is getting used to hearing.
“This side of the house understands that when you have an improvement in a tax regime that would create $11.5 billion of additional investments, thousands and thousands of additional jobs”¦.I think it’s important for us to take action on behalf of every British Columbian in every region of this province to strengthen our economy,” Campbell said, according to Hansard.
NDP leader Carole James then asked whether the premier would call a referendum or bring in legislation if an anti-HST initiative succeeds and he is “too stubborn to stop the HST” before it takes effect on July 1. Campbell didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said that the B.C. Liberals were “very clear a year ago” that they would do everything they could to make the economy stronger. He also claimed that “literally dozens and dozens of organizations” have called for the harmonized sales tax.
“My question to the Leader of the Opposition: when is the Leader of the Opposition going to go to that forest worker and say: ”˜I don’t care about your job’?” Campbell taunted James. “When is the Leader of the Opposition going to go to the miner and say: ”˜I don’t care about your job’? When is the Leader of the Opposition going to go to the small business person and say: ”˜I don’t care about your job’?”
But some on the anti-HST side wonder whether the premier will be unemployed as a result of massive public opposition to harmonization. Chris Delaney, the lead organizer of the campaign Fight HST, told the Georgia Straight by phone that he thinks Campbell is “finished politically as a result of the HST”.
“I think he may have been contemplating retiring anyway,” Delaney, a former B.C. Conservative candidate, added. “Instead of sort of going out in a blaze of glory with the Olympics, he’s going to go up in flames as a result of the HST. I don’t know if the resignation—when it does come—if it will be the way he wanted it to be.”
Gabriel Yiu, the former NDP candidate in Vancouver-Fraserview, echoed Delaney’s prediction. When the Straight asked Yiu how long Campbell might remain as premier, he replied with a laugh: “Maybe summer.”
However, a UVic academic who specializes in electoral reform isn’t quite as convinced that the HST will be the premier’s waterloo. In a phone interview with the Straight, Dennis Pilon described Campbell as a “wily operator” who won’t face an election for years. Pilon isn’t counting him out.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve heard that people are mad as hell and they want to get rid of the Liberals,” he said. “But when it gets to election time, somehow our media forget all that stuff, and so does the public.”
Pilon characterized B.C.’s recall-and-initiative process as one of the most “draconian” he has ever seen, because it’s so difficult for citizens to succeed under the current rules. Winning a referendum requires the approval of 50 percent of all registered voters. He pointed out that turnout for a stand-alone referendum is generally far lower than for a general election, making it practically impossible to achieve the 50-percent threshold.
Moreover, even if a referendum passes, the government doesn’t have to do anything. “It’s just one big joke,” Pilon said, “except it won’t be a joke if this becomes a political albatross for the Liberals.”
How should Premier Gordon Campbell respond to the success of the anti–HST initiative? |
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“It’s time for the premier to repeal the HST. The numbers are overwhelming, and they’re across the province. We’ve now reached our 10-percent threshold in Point Grey and Quilchena, so every major riding has succeeded. There’s really nothing more for him to do but cancel it. He knows how the whole province feels about it.” |
“This is a provincial issue, but as a premier, he should listen to his people. I know everywhere I go in Kingsway, my voters tell me that they have concerns over this issue. The reason why he should be listening to people in B.C. is because they actually voted him to be the premier.”¦He should consult with them, at least like [what happened in] Ontario. We didn’t even have a consultation process.” |
“They know that if they don’t back down this time, then there will be recall campaigns. And it’s very likely that some of their MLAs won’t be able to stay long. I will think it’s tough for him to actually survive the HST initiative as well as the B.C. Rail trial.”¦ What would be a good time for him to carry both burdens away from the political arena?” |
“The B.C. Green party had proposed that the HST would be 10 percent. And then it would be voted on in the legislature, so at least there [would] be some discussion by our representatives. So Gordon Campbell perhaps should offer that. There should have been far more input from the public—and explanation as well—because there wasn’t enough discussion to inform people about it.” |
“The premier should simply go back to Hansard and read his own speeches and statements when he was in the Opposition. I’m quite sure that will convince him to hold a referendum.”¦[But] he’ll probably go with putting some sort of bill before the legislature, and probably let it die.” |
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Chris Delaney
Wendy Yuan
Gabriel Yiu
Jodie Emery
Shinder Purewal
"Premier Bennett will NEVER retire. He'll either get kicked out or he'll get carried out!"
Rod Smelser
Agree = Yes
Disagree = No
Agree = Yes
Disagree = No
Need some grist for this particular mill. GC has blustered before about investments and job creation, But of course, it all depends on just what he means by "job".
Furthermore, he asks Carole James: "...when is the Leader of the Opposition going to go to that forest worker and say: ”˜I don’t care about your job’?”
One might ask GC the very same question when, at the height of the "Golden Decade" BC was hemorrhaging forest-related jobs, as mill after mill was bought out and closed down -- while record shipments of raw logs were being sent across the line to Washinton State. GC didn't much care then, yet he expects us to believe that he cares now?
And how about the fiasco called the BC Rail Sale/Giveaway? GC ran a profitable business into the ground, so the people of BC would have the "privilege" of paying CN to take it off our hands.
RickW
I don't believe in violence or killing -- however -- politics is a serious business which impacts on millions of lives -- flat out defrauding the voters (particularly your own) to win an election comes (in my opinion) as close to the line as you can get with your life -- //alot of folks gave up theirs to get us here -- I'm not apologizing for anything I say about Campbell -- here or anywhere else -- because it's the truth - it's how it is--it is fair comment.
In your scenario, you make the assumption that GC is running the show - that he is the pivot point. But is he? Or is he just the willing public face of something far more sinister than simple huckerism - and therefore replaceable.
RickW
People of all ages come up to sign and ask if they can sign more than once.
A good majority of the people that sign and want to talk, tell me that they voted for the liberals in the last election, not knowing that they were voting for a dictator.
We are over double the amount of signatures in my riding, so you can see the frustration that we have with a government that will not listen to it's people.
This says it all. Campbell answers to business and not the people.
The failure of our corporate-democracy to not serve the citizens is so clearly made by Campbell, even a young student can get a full grasp of the situation.
No policy could destroy our forestry industry faster than banning raw log exports. Our mills are closing because they can't compete, can't sell their products. What the hell do you want to do about that, legislate them to stay in business??? Bail them out with taxpayer money? Get real.
The raw log export ban is the epitome of NDP economics, and a perfect example of how we have no sensible political choices left in this province.
As long as Campbell buys time to evade the vacuum -- others who want to replace him can buy time. For instance, Dianne Watts, Crispy Clark -- Carole Tailor -- easy choices to use for leadership alternatives -- would not want to come out now-- the media doesnt' want to come out now--business in support wants to buy time -- to get past the important dates-- ie HST comes into implementation -- next month? -- Petition is assessed by Elections BC (win/lose) August -- and the province heads toward quasi anarchy -- Labour Day (mark that on your calendar.
The rules as I see as self-appointed referee -- is that the longer Campbell remains on --PARTICULARLY each day after the Fight HST Petition is successful -- opens the political door for voters/consumers to essentially do as they please -- including acts of civil disobedience (not violence) but protest/taking sick days etc. etc -- as a charge on Campbell/BC Liberals account. The pressure has to be so insurmountable -- that the people win--Campbell quits -- thereafter we target the businesses/organizations that support Campbell/BC Liberals through donations -- etc.
The ultimate arbiter would be realized in the hypothetical situation I have advanced -- Campbell's sudden demise. Then we would know -- is Campbell alone for his own selfish - sociopathic needs running this thing-- or are there a string of lemmings to fill the void.
With Campbell deceased Rick -- I would bet that the HST would be off the table pretty quickly. What is the mid and long term benefit to the province to being hamstrung with no confidence in government from a never ending debate about a tax that a super majority do not want -- whether iit is good for the economy or not-especially when so many British Columbians see fit to avoid paying the taxes -- and money going into the underground.
Even if Campbell rides it out for his friends and associates -- the damage done to consumer confidence generally and a degenerate political system will cost us far more than any amount we might owe Ottawa -- who we can leverage politically because Harper cannot afford to be weak in BC--his political life depends on it.
If businesses don't like what the people say -- they can take a hike --we can't let these (oft) subsidized tyrants leverage our province any more -- they can be replaced. The people MUST win this -- and win with brutal tactics if necessary -- but British Columbians must beat Campbell -- fast -- its in the best interests of you and me (maybe not all the special interests with their hand in the cookie jar) --
"is Gordon Campbell just the willing public face of something far more sinister than simple huckerism - and therefore replaceable."
Exactly. I'm afraid some British Columbians will simply vote for another neocon puppet hoping that somehow this time around it will be different..
If mills in this province can't compete, then leave the trees standing until they can. As it stands at the moment, just who is benefiting from the wholesale export of raw logs? It sure isn't the province, as the only real value of cutting trees comes from the value-added industries the timber generates - except of course for the (foreign-owned) logging companies.
As for blaming the NDP for the ills of the province, you are either a liberal shill, or you haven't been paying attention to the attrition brought on by GC & Co.
RickW
"Gordo knows his political career is BC is done but he is bound and determined to cram this tax down our throats."
With a nice little directorship lined up - to supplement his retirement no doubt.
RickW
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