September 19, 2002

Government Fumbles and Bumbles
through Phony Cabinet Meeting

The best assessment on yet another phony cabinet meeting was provided by Solicitor General Rick Coleman. As Education Minister Christy Clark pontificated on changes to graduation requirements, Coleman played for an hour with his pen by balancing it on the end of his finger in the lower right corner of the camera shot.

Clark appeared to be losing her balance as she fumbled through questions from her colleagues. At one point the Premier asked her to drop the jargon and say in plain language what the requirements would be for grade 12 physical education. She wasn't able to give an answer.

Clark will now consult with the public on changes to graduation requirements. The changes she wants to make could be substantial - revisions to provincial exams, locally developed curriculum, less guidance and more physical fitness (pdf). Unfortunately, she couldn't explain how any of the changes would work. When asked to explain how small schools could offer three different types of math courses for the same grade she resorted to saying that maybe online learning could do the trick. Former school trustee, Advanced Education Minister Shirley Bond, and former school teacher, junior Minister Katherine Whittred, both pointed to the need for considerable consultation on Clark's ill conceived trial balloon.

Ted Nebbeling, Minister Responsible for the Community Charter, announced that yet another postponement is necessary for the often discussed and never clearly defined "Community Charter". With rhetoric about listening to the people, Nebbeling announced that the consultation will be extended and legislation will be introduced in the spring of 2003. The original campaign promise was to introduce a Community Charter within the first 90 days of a Campbell government.

Welfare Minister Murray Coell presented the phony cabinet session with his spin on why the number of people on assistance is down. Pointing to the Labour Force Survey numbers on increased employment, Coell claimed that the caseload was down because people are finding work. Even when questioned by some colleagues, he dismissed the possibility that people are simply finding it harder to get assistance. People have always left welfare because they find jobs. What is new is that they find it very difficult to get help when they need it. Coell proved that his statements were merely spin when he claimed that 88,000 "full time equivalent" jobs have been created in BC. The fact is that payroll employment in BC has increased by less 6,000 from January to June. The employment growth measured by the Labour Force Survey (incorrectly referenced by Coell) is primarily self employment and it counts part time the same as full time.

Health Services Minister Collin Hansen showed concern over inequities in the Pharmacare program as a way of reinforcing last year's announcement that effective January 1, 2003, Pharmacare will be cut by $90 million as income tests are introduced. Relative to the normal double digit increase that will be a real cut of over $160 million. It appears that Hansen will bring about "fairness" by removing benefits from anyone getting more than the minimum. The government that has rejected taxing based on the ability to pay will now make sick people pay substantially more. Hansen provided no new information on what income levels they are considering or how his changes will work. It is a strange tax system that makes sick people pay more for their drugs rather than simply having all people pay more tax based on their ability to pay.

The phony cabinet meeting ended with Health Planning Minister Sindi Hawkins announcing yet another legislative retreat. It appears that the doctors have the most power in BC. Consultation has been underway since 1994 in order to make changes to the Health Professions Act. With draft legislation made available this summer, Hawkins demonstrated that the government could do something about the failure of self regulating health professions, including their failure to police their members during wild cat strikes. The doctors objected so Hawkins concluded the phony meeting by announcing that since the doctors have not had enough time for consultation legislation will be postponed.

The government that once boasted of a bold 90 day agenda is now bumbling and fumbling as it retreats under pressure from its friends. Friends of education and Pharmacare could only hope to have such influence.