Pace of Change

May 1, 2002

Dramatic Change or Open and Honest Dialogue?

"We've been entrusted with an unprecedented opportunity to affect dramatic change. That opportunity carries with it an obligation to ensure that our government carries out this trust in a way that is always responsible to the people we serve."
Premier Gordon Campbell, Swearing-In Ceremony, June 5, 2001

We should have known when Premier Campbell spoke of an "opportunity to affect dramatic change" that there would be trouble ahead. Perhaps we were lulled by the Premier's recognition to carry out that trust in a way that is always responsible to the people. He went on in that June 5th speech to say "Truly responsible government invites public participation and open and honest dialogue." Now it looks like that concept of accountability means the people are to be kept in the dark and wait until May 17, 2005, for their one day of accountability. That is not the way it is supposed to work and the words of the Premier acknowledged that when he concluded his speech saying:

"In the next four years, our government will reach out as never before to ensure that all citizens can help shape that future and share its benefits, to revitalize our democracy and rekindle our spirit. We have big issues to tackle that must be resolved with fairness, cooperation, and determination. Throughout the last weeks I have asked British Columbians to join us as we strive to create a new era of hope and prosperity."

It is not too late for Premier Campbell to return to his election promises and to his June 5th commitment that "government will reach out as never before" to involve citizens. Rather than calling every critic a special interest whether they are Anglican Bishops or labour representatives, the Premier has an opportunity to go back to the participatory style he originally promised. No one wants three years of confrontation and conflict. The last election is over. One quarter of the Campbell government's term is over. It really is time to work together to build BC's future but that takes a government that truly believes in involving its citizens in the process of change.

The only time the New Era Document mentioned "dramatic", it referred to tax cuts and claimed they would pay for themselves. It referred to the need for more nurses, more doctors and more hospital beds, but it did not say anything about sudden radical non-consultative restructuring. In fact, it spoke about consulting with people so as to develop ten year plans.

The fundamental conflict within the Campbell government was indicated on June 5th with the contradictory concepts of "affecting dramatic change" and inviting "public participation and open and honest dialogue". Instead of pigheadedly insisting on arbitrary deadlines, it is time to drop "dramatic change" and try for constructive change based on "public participation and open and honest dialogue."