Carole James: Gordon Campbell’s resignation doesn’t change B.C. Liberal record
While the timing of Premier Gordon Campbell’s resignation may have caught some observers by surprise, it was inevitable. And it was the right thing to do.
The B.C. Liberals have broken trust with the people they were elected to serve. No issue shows that more clearly than the HST. And while the much-hated tax may have been the final straw for the premier’s leadership, let’s not forget the role all B.C. Liberals have played.
Every single B.C. Liberal MLA perpetuated the HST deception. Every single one of them were active participants in a government that slashed public services and shut people out—an approach that’s culminated in growing social inequality and a more divided society.
Today, British Columbia has the lowest minimum wage, the highest cost of living, and the highest child poverty rate in the country.
No new leader can change those facts. And that person will have to answer some tough questions about the B.C. Liberal record.
Like why the government spent $6 million of taxpayer funds to cover the legal fees of two convicted B.C. Liberal insiders.
Like whether the HST referendum date will be moved up, to end the economic uncertainty for families and businesses alike. And whether the premier’s commitment to a simple majority in that referendum will be honoured.
The public deserves answers. And they deserve a government that’s prepared to focus on their priorities and take action on issues that matter to them.
But I have my doubts as to whether those answers will be forthcoming. As a leadership contest begins and the infighting and internal jockeying begins, British Columbians may be forced to the sidelines—the pressing issues they face once again going unnoticed and unaddressed.
Like how we prepare B.C. for the opportunities of tomorrow’s knowledge economy. How we build a strong, educated workforce to address the skills shortage and meet future labour market demands. How we’re going to sustain strong public services, fight climate change, and support strong, safe, and diverse communities.
Under my leadership, New Democrats are working with people from all walks of life to find solutions to these and other questions about our B.C.’s future. We’re committed to delivering on a vision for British Columbia based on four key priorities.
First, a strong, dynamic economy that supports traditional industries while diversifying our base.
That’s why I am working with small business, entrepreneurs, and industry to help build a prosperous and dynamic economy for every region in our province.
Second, investments in human capital to give British Columbians the opportunities and the skills they need.
That’s why I have been calling for smart investments in early learning, education, and apprenticeships. And why I’ve proposed changes to help make advanced education a reality for everyone with the will to succeed.
Third, a fundamental commitment to sustainability and environmental health, a commitment that must be reflected in our choices and our actions.
That’s why I’ve proposed a comprehensive retrofit program to fight climate change and create green jobs.
And it’s why I have made it clear that economic development cannot be at the expense of environmental protection or without meaningful inclusion of First Nations and communities.
And fourth, a strong, vibrant democracy characterized by open government and fair access to information.
That’s why I tabled a package of far-reaching of democratic reforms that opens up government, tightens up lobbyist registration rules, and fundamentally changes the way we finance political campaigns.
It’s time for a strong, compassionate, and pragmatic government in the province of British Columbia. New Democrats will deliver.
Carole James is the leader of the B.C. New Democratic Party.
Comments
15 Comments
Ray I
Nov 3, 2010 at 4:59pm
And luckily it doesn't change the horrible NDP record either! When YOU stepping down Carol? Huh? Actually you should stay. 3rd defeat is a charm.
John Campbell
Nov 3, 2010 at 6:59pm
It is far beyond time for Carole James to stand down, she is long past due. The NDP will kill this province, do people forget the 1/2 billion dollars blown on the fast ferries? We might well have put the cash in a pile and set fire to it. How soon people forget. Watch business investment dry up in this province and along with it your job. No business = no jobs = no spending = no jobs Business drives this province like it or not. Tax's pay for hospitals, teachers etc. no jobs = no tax's get it?
Stephen Blumstein
Nov 3, 2010 at 7:28pm
When ?
james green
Nov 4, 2010 at 12:46am
It is one thing for the public to complain about Campbell at this time.
A strong and wise leader, like James is not, should have expressed sorrow for the Campbell family and thanked Gordon for his many years of service and shown some dignity. Being gracious in a time when one's rival falls is the sign of a real leader. Now Carole needs to resign and we can start fresh and find some real leaders to lead this province.
James' generalizations as to what she would do are just more of the same.
Her arrogance is a sign of things to come and arrogance is what ruins leaders like Campbell, Robertson in Vancouver and Harper in Ottawa.
Max
Nov 4, 2010 at 6:28am
re: Campbell's resignation does not change BC Liberal Record: Nor James's own record.
Strong New Democrat
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:13am
Just because you repeat the lies about the NDP record doesn't make them true. Funny how you think raising fears based on lies is scarier than the dismantling of this province under the BC Lieberals. Campbell and his Caucus (yes all of them are equally guilty) disregarded legal contracts - against the law, shall we mention Gordo's 48.1% personal pay hike and the 29% for MLA's in '07? while the rest of us lost buying power?, they closed 24 of the provinces 68 Courthouses and closed 85% of the legal aid offices in BC making it even harder to find Justice in this province especially for rural BCers, continueally lied to us i.e. No On-line Gaming No BC Rail Sale, No HST and then whoops! guess what we got as soon as everyone fell for the BC Lieberal lies and the election was over?, they lowered taxes for their rich friends thus making the rest of us middleclass and working por pay for the share of the rich, closed 176 schools showing their complete disregard for the futures of BC children,destroyed Senior Care throughout the province - SHAME!, pulled $16 million in student loans right out from under these young people as they were leaving for university once again trying to finance the shortfalls of this province off of the backs of working families,they have brought cuts to every service &/or program designed to actually help all of us while spending our money to help foriegn and other large corporations share our wealth with their offshore shareholders, perpetrated environmental damage at an alarming rate whether talking about support for polluters, fish farms destroying wild stocks or the giving away of our rivers, shall we talk about the closures of over 50 sawmills in the province because the BC Lieberals decided to remove the links of local lumber to local communities thus destroying small town British Columbia economies right across this province - this killed more small businesses than you can imagine, thousands and thousands of Forestry jobs - gone under this regime and not as a result of the global meltdown, but as a direct result of the BC lieberals efforts to push forward their own agenda, another election promise broken allowing the export of raw logs after promising otherwise!, now we get to pay $6 milliion to cover up the illegal actions taken throughout the BC Railgate Scandal, it is one thing to cover it up through multiple provincial elections but now we have to pay the legal costs of their hacks in order to shut them up, keeping the truth from us taxPAYERS? This is adding insult to injury! Give your heads a shake and embrace a new day of properity, honour and justice by voting Carole James into the Premiers office and letting things settle down to some calm and stability in this province. It is good for business!
David Emerscam
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:25am
Hey hey, ho ho, it's time for ....
(ps - does anyone else find the "verify humanity" test annoying?)
Taxpayers R Us
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:32am
Jesus Christ will someone please shut this woman up?
Time for her to resign too.
Maurice Harting
Nov 4, 2010 at 9:04pm
Carole James is one of those non-creative, non-charismatic but critical leaders that has very few original ideas or realistic solutions to the problems we face in B.C. First of all she is not a good leader for the NDP and secondly, she would be a disaster if she became leader of the Province.
Identifying problems without providing genuine solutions is just being critical and imitating Carole James, so my solutions would be to elect a new Liberal leader of the Province. A person that comes to mind to me would be the current Mayor of Surrey even though she has indicated she is not interested. Let's wait and see ....
Meziadin Zeke
Nov 5, 2010 at 12:22am
BC hasn't had a good government in a very, very long time. But the day that Carol James and her cronies get elected into power will be the same day that I start devesting myself of anything to do with BC, and move my business and interests overseas.