December 19, 2001

Writing Off Some MLAs

There's nothing that builds unity in a large caucus like making it clear some seats are dispensable. Deputy Premier Christy Clark responded to the 20 point drop in her government's popularity with words to the effect that they can still take a lot of seats with the current numbers. That may be true, but the drop has just started.

The Ipsos Reid poll was taken December 4-10. Government announced the end to public health insurance coverage for chiropractors, physiotherapists and other services totaling $129.4 million per year on December 6. During the survey period reports had not yet come out on increasing Hydro rates by 30% so that government can grab the $1 billion per year in profits from the dams as part of its investment return. Folks in the Fraser Valley had not yet learned that their aquifers would be rubbing shoulders with natural gas storage. People living in the Gulf Islands and coastal communities had not yet heard that their ferries would no longer be considered part of the highway system. Pink slips had yet to actually be issued, and the thousands of programs that will be lost had yet to be enumerated. Tragedies resulting from cuts to child welfare had not yet been reported. Those and other events flowing from various reviews have yet to fully unfold and affect the polls, but by the time the March numbers are out some of the impact from government actions may be seen.

Polls at the time of the election campaign showed that people wanted a change, and they wanted a moderate, competent government. People now have many reasons to think they were deceived. Explanations about how tricky language was used in the Campbell New Era Document don't encourage acceptance of radical shifts to the political right.

What will Victoria MLAs Jeff Bray and Sheila Orr say to their constituents who are being given new opportunities to become entrepreneurs? What will Murray Coell, Saanich North and the Islands, say to his constituents who may no longer be able to afford to take a ferry? What will John van Dongen and Mike de Jong, Abbotsford MLAs, say to their constituents who thought the Fraser Valley would not become a gas storage reservoir? Is it possible that these are a few of the MLAs who are dispensable?

If cabinet meetings were truly open, rather than staged, the public would have the opportunity to see full and frank discussions between the ministers as they decide who will get thrown out of the lifeboat! Failing that openness, the best people with concerns or grievances can do is to phone their MLA's office and request a face to face meeting. The MLAs deserve the opportunity to look their constituents in the eye and say whether they agree with what is happening.