Gregor Robertson’s praise for Gordon Campbell cited in Liberal platform

There must have been some gnashing of teeth over at NDP headquarters today (April 15) when the B.C. Liberal party released its campaign platform.

On Page 31 of the document is a glowing endorsement of B.C. Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell’s record on the environment, particularly the introduction of the carbon tax.

There wouldn’t be anything galling about that for the NDP had such approval came from a known B.C. Liberal supporter.

But the quote is from Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, a star NDP candidate in the 2005 election.

“As premier, he has shown his leadership on the environment, including overseeing BC becoming the first jurisdiction to introduce a Carbon Tax in North America,” Robertson is quoted as saying, from the April 4 issue of the Vancouver Sun.

As an NDP MLA, Robertson voted against the carbon tax, whose repeal is at the centre of the NDP’s current election platform.

Unlike the B.C. Liberal platform, there are no personal endorsements for NDP leader Carole James in her party’s platform.

Mel Lehan is running as the NDP’s candidate against Campbell in Vancouver-Point Grey.

In a brief phone chat with the Straight today (April 15), Lehan said that he has been getting a lot of support from Robertson’s Vision Vancouver caucus in city council.

Comments

3 Comments

RodSmelser

Apr 15, 2009 at 9:36pm

This isn't the first time Robertson has gone out of his way to embarass Carol James. His decision to run for Mayor, and leave the provincial scene, was one she was privileged to hear on the radio news. Now this little shaft. A pattern?

I think it's pretty clear that Robertson is personally contemptuous of James and it shows. She isn't from Vancouver, doesn't rub shoulders with the city's elite, and didn't go to university. So Robertson regards her as a lightweight.

Rod Smelser

Ronald

Apr 15, 2009 at 10:49pm

Carol James is a lightweight she's the Sara Palin of BC politics. Listen to her she is an intellectual dud even in the BC hinterlands.

Stephen

Apr 16, 2009 at 7:09am

It's sheer snobbery to equate intellectual prowess with the possession of a university degree. By that standard, many outstanding politicians would have to be dismissed as failures. British examples alone include Ernest Bevin (Foreign Minister in Attlee's post-war Labour Gov't) and James Callaghan (Chancellor of the Exchequer under Harold Wilson and later Prime Minister). By the same token some political leaders have proven to be intellectually vacuous, inept at governance, and/or deeply corrupt, despite the benefits of post-secondary education. There is no shortage of examples. Given the destructive, dishonest, and ideologically purblind policies of Gordon Campbell, I have no hesitation in recommending Carole James for Premier.