Vancouver–Point Grey voters should never forget how Christy Clark mistreated the Rio Theatre

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      The B.C. Liberal government is spending large amounts of your money on advertisements claiming that it has a jobs plan for B.C.

      But here in Vancouver, Premier Christy Clark is prepared to sacrifice 30 jobs at the Rio Theatre because of the province's archaic liquor regulations.

      The owner of the Rio, Corinne Lea, has been told that because she has a liquor licence, she is not permitted to screen films at the cinema—even if Lea agrees to ban liquor sales when movies are shown.

      Today, NDP MLA Jenny Kwan said at a news conference that this could easily be fixed if the cabinet would pass an order-in-council to allow the Rio to serve alcohol for events, and not allow booze sales when movies are being shown.

      So why doesn't Clark—the queen of jobs—want to do this?

      I would suggest it's because her own high-paying job is far more important to her than those of the cinema's employees.

      B.C. Liberal trollers will no doubt fill the comment section below with denials after reading what's about to come. The reality is that Clark's B.C. Liberal party has to win a by-election in the middle of the province's Bible Belt in July.

      If her cronies lose in Chilliwack-Hope, it could put Clark's political career in the Dumpster. And she might not be welcomed back as a highly paid talk-show host after flopping as premier.

      So what does Chilliwack-Hope have to do with a movie theatre in East Vancouver?

      The problem for Clark is that if she loosens the liquor rules at East Broadway and Commercial Drive, the holy rollers in the Fraser Valley will seize on this as evidence that the premier is another one of those godless secular humanists. And they'll be more likely to back the Conservative candidate, criminology professor John Martin, in Chilliwack-Hope.

      Clark can't allow that to happen because it would lead to the death of the B.C. Liberals. So she is prepared to let an East Vancouver small business fry to keep her premiership on the front burner.

      It's the same reason the B.C. Liberal government fought a futile court battle to retain ridiculously repressive new drinking-and-driving regulations, which turned police into the investigator, judge, and jury of the roadways. Bible thumpers in the Fraser Valley hate the demon rum—and B.C. Liberals are in no mood to piss them off.

      The Georgia Straight has many readers who live in Vancouver–Point Grey, which is represented by Clark in the B.C. legislature. If most of these readers get out and vote against her in the May 2013 provincial election, they can end her career no matter what happens in Chilliwack-Hope.

      It's the least Georgia Straight readers can do for an East Vancouver entrepreneur who is trying to bring more jobs and some cultural enjoyment to our community. Corinne Lea is not getting much help from the premier. Perhaps if Clark realizes there's a political price to be paid in her constituency, she might wise up and fix this situation, as Kwan has suggested.

      Comments

      45 Comments

      Tom Dehlan

      Feb 6, 2012 at 7:38pm

      They also should also remember those 700 jobs the BC Liberals cut at BC Hydro. That's 700 more families devastated by Christy Clark. Jobs Plan? Eliminate Jobs Plan is more like it.

      Nico747

      Feb 6, 2012 at 7:54pm

      I'm a self-described centrist and can't help but feel that CC lies somewhere near the political spectrum as me. That being said, premier snooki is an embarrassment to our province. I am deeply ashamed for voting for these LIARS and won't be making that same mistake.

      Yes.

      Feb 6, 2012 at 8:00pm

      Holy.

      loblaw

      Feb 6, 2012 at 8:23pm

      Wow Charlie this very partisan. I guess no Jobs Plan adverts for the Straight.

      canadianveggie

      Feb 6, 2012 at 8:56pm

      Amen to that.

      Mark Fornataro

      Feb 6, 2012 at 9:02pm

      If the Bible-Belters in Chilliwack-Hope are impressed by the Liberals position on the Rio visa-a-vis alcohol regulations perhaps they need be reminded of Premier Clark's former boss. Gord. Campbell and his drunk driving conviction or the case of Liberal MLA Jane Thornwaite
      http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/BC-Politics/2010/02/23/DrunkDrive/.
      Then there's the issue of being able to have a beer at a sporting event.This treatment of the Rio seems very petty and hypocritical; perhaps the Rio workers should picket Clark's constituency office and/or the leg. at the most opportune time if necessary.

      Gentleman Jack

      Feb 6, 2012 at 9:26pm

      Now this is some top-quality journalism.

      Rachel Fox

      Feb 6, 2012 at 9:45pm

      Boom. Nicely done.

      Dude

      Feb 6, 2012 at 9:50pm

      Loblaw, this is in the "Commentary" section
      That means Charlie is free to express his opinions on an issue. It's not a hard news story.

      The Dude Abides, Charlie

      You

      Feb 6, 2012 at 10:15pm

      "The owner of the Rio, Corinne Lea, has been told that because she has a liquor licence, she is not permitted to screen films at the cinema—even if Lea agrees to ban liquor sales when movies are shown."

      This aspect of the law is total bullshit, and that's all it comes down to.