September 9, 2001

All's Not Happy in Liberal Land

As reported in the print edition of the Vancouver Sun (Sept 8), Rookie MLA Jeff Bray had the audacity to speak out in support of owners of leaky condos. Three term, and still back bench, MLA Dan Jarvis who chairs the caucus committee on leaky condos promptly and publicly chastised Bray.

Bray's public whipping follows fellow rookie MLA Val Roddick being fired as chair of the Core Services Review. Meanwhile, CKNW has reported that two term Kamloops MLA Kevin Krueger is publicly calling for the Minister of Labour to revisit the Premier's commitment to increase the minimum wage for all workers by 40 cents effective November 1st.

These little squabbles are the tip of the ice berg. Let's see whose side the 77 Liberals are on when Pharmacare is slashed, substantial user fees are put on eyeglass exams, the Premier makes his real plans for private clinics clear and a host of other changes they hid during the campaign start flowing from the various reviews.

As they start to feel pressure from supporters, how much humiliation will the back bench take from the handful who really run the show.