Communist party: B.C. Liberal caucus should follow Premier Gordon Campbell out the door

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      The Communist Party of British Columbia issued the following statement today (November 5) on the resignation of Gordon Campbell:

      The three terms of the Campbell Liberals have been characterized by implementing the lowest taxes for the wealthy and corporations in North America at the expense of the standard of living, wages, and social programs of B.C. residents. His forced resignation is a compliment to a tenacious and awakened electorate who has had enough.

      In his devotion to corporate welfare, Gordon Campbell kept the minimum wage at the lowest level in Canada while presiding over an economy where the top ten CEOs collectively in 2009 earned $70 million. Upon the imbalanced scales of extreme wealth and extreme poverty, Gordon Campbell's weight was always on the side of extreme wealth.

      For seven years, British Columbia has had the worst child poverty in Canada. After nine years of tuition fee increases, B.C. takes in more from tuition fees than it does from corporate taxation. The massive privatization of health-care services, with parallel cutbacks in quality and accessibility, has channeled hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars into corporate bank accounts, while rolling back health-care wages 15 percent and then freezing them at that level.

      The Campbell Liberals repeatedly broke election promises that had value to the public, and steadfastly adhered to every policy that gave away public resources to private business. They have brought almost every school board in B.C. into a funding crisis that has put nearly 200 schools on the closure list so far. They broke their promise not to privatize B.C. Rail, and in the corrupted bidding process, implicated cabinet ministers in a scandal currently hidden behind two scapegoats and a plea bargain that hides the extent and involvement of elected officials in betrayal and corruption.

      The Campbell Liberals have gutted the Environmental Assessment Act and created cabinet powers that overrule municipal bylaws and autonomy to the point that municipalities can only govern if they don't interfere with corporate interests. They cut the transfer of gambling profits to charities and the arts from 33 percent to 10 percent. They made massive funding cuts to women's shelters, closed down homeless hostels, and cut and slashed their way through almost every social or special-needs program in the province.

      For Gordon Campbell to whine about a vindictive public and the strain on his family after ruining so many lives is typical of the arrogance and contempt he and his government have exercised. The NDP MLAs and party leader who stroke him on his way out with platitudes about "years of public service" should tell the truth and expose the years of "corporate service" if they don't want to appear as members of the same club.

      Gordon Campbell was not brought down by the parliamentary opposition; he was not brought down by a caucus revolt. He was brought down by massive public rejection of the Liberal government's record of lies, broken promises, and deceit that made it impossible for him to continue. The HST debacle and the transfer of $1.6 billion from the public to the private purse has become the catalyst, the glue of all the diverse forces screaming betrayal.

      The historic pending referendum is evidence of the public rage. Gordon Campbell is going, he should be gone, and his entire caucus that supported him doggedly should leave with him.

      Comments

      27 Comments

      convert?

      Nov 5, 2010 at 1:57pm

      Wow, nicely written summation. Maybe I should become a Communist!

      dhcongrave

      Nov 5, 2010 at 2:56pm

      I'll go along with the other reader. It was an excellent summation. Too bad the other parties that have commented haven't been so clear. Maybe the Greens could hire you.
      Dave

      Shepsil

      Nov 5, 2010 at 3:59pm

      Although, we all know that Gordon Campbell is done like dinner. With that silly smile that says, "Fooled you again, didn't I?" When in reality, he is jumping from one failed attempt to another to again try and pull the wool over our eyes.

      2 weeks ago it was the 15% tax break (which actually cost us all $250,000) , the cabinet shuffle, the super ministry and everyone's favourite, the resignation with a hint of tears!

      Then, yesterday he announces that he won't really be resigning right away, which of course figures. I mean, why would a control freak 'give it up'? The cowards who are his partners in crime, the rest of BC Liberal Caucus, they are not challenging him on any of this. Folks, the BC Premier is still in full control of his sinking BC Liberal ship and only one former BC Liberal has had the guts to stand alone (Blair Lekstrom).

      This morning we heard former BC Deputy Minister and policy maker, Bob Plecas, say how inappropriate it is for GC to stay on despite his resignation. Bob also feels it shows the rest of the BC Liberal MLA's as weak kneed and unable to stand up to the Premier. Further, that this false resignation allows Mr. Campbell to direct the leadership process from a very effective position. Just as Putin in Russia did a few years ago, by stepping sideways into another position, while appointing Medyedev into a puppet leadership position.

      This whole BC Liberal Gov't is rotten to the core!

      glen p robbins

      Nov 5, 2010 at 4:47pm

      Odd, if that letter had been written by any other group (than Communists), I would have applauded it. Perhaps I should reflect upon my own political values and seriously consider the Commies.

      It's better than what we have.

      Bruno15

      Nov 5, 2010 at 4:57pm

      Facts: The high personal income tax rate in BC is 43.7%. This rate is effective for all taxable income over $127,021. This rate is the median rate in Canada (out of the 10 provinces and three territories) and is almost 4% higher than our immediate neighbor, Alberta.

      Considering

      Nov 5, 2010 at 5:57pm

      It is possible to make ones point by simply stating ones preference rather than a balanced account. You have achieved this in your article. Ignore facts that may make others wonder and simply write in such a way as to try to sway others to ignore reality. You should get an award for this.

      Argulion

      Nov 5, 2010 at 6:58pm

      This article is a good negative record of Gordon Campbell's reign. It could easily have a few more items added to it. And, I do agree that the whole caucus should go as they quietly let it all happen. But, I also see this article as just more political spin doctoring - another political party trying to garner favour by citing the 'follies' of another.

      In the long run, will the Communist Party be any different? What would you do to solve or prevent stuff from happening? I would like to see solutions presented and not just a continual barrage of back biting alone.

      edforde

      Nov 5, 2010 at 8:57pm

      One big thing that was not mentioned in this article is all the benefits handed to the non tax paying natives of BC; (huge timber rights-large tracts of land-plus lots of other benifits) but to do this the Gordon Campbell liberals took from the tax paying natives of BC. This goes against the rights of all BC people. Anyone doing anything on BC land should be paying equal taxes--this would put a lot more money into BC.

      ds

      Nov 5, 2010 at 10:18pm

      liked the content and facts, maybe we, the people should rip up G.D. pension fund and cut it back 15% and freeze it. I mean if it's okay for the
      goverment to do it, why not the people who pay their wages.

      Taxpayers r Us

      Nov 6, 2010 at 2:26am

      You gotta be fucking kidding me. A communist bitching about about anything is laughable.

      Try living in a communist country and see how open and accountable the government is.

      I'm no fan of the Liberals, but you want centrally controlled hell? Move to China lol