The news service on the government website provides an interesting research tool. It is possible to review government news releases for any specified period; not that the news releases are accurate, but they help to refresh memories on what the Campbell government was doing at any particular time. For example, you can look at the range of topics covered by news releases in the first eight days of December 2004 and compare it to the same period for 2001, 2002, and 2003. Guess what you find? In previous years their unpopular announcements were being made, but in 2004 the upcoming election seems to have eliminated anything that might suggest controversy. If Gordon Campbell wins a second term in May's election, don't be surprised to see an abrupt shift and a return to controversial announcements.

In the first eight days of December 2001, the Campbell government announced changes to MSP and Pharmacare, including the elimination of coverage for "supplementary benefits". The changes shifted $129.4 million per year in health costs onto people who needed care from a chiropractor, physiotherapist, podiatrist, naturopath, or massage therapist.

In the first eight days of December 2002, the Campbell government was reacting to the near extinction of the pink salmon run in the Broughton Archipelago while doing everything it could to further expand open net fish farming. Also that week, at a staged cabinet meeting, government released a report on reference based pricing which found that despite the government's desire to help the pharmaceutical industry by eliminating the program, it was saving too much money and would remain. One of the New Era promises was to hold monthly staged cabinet meetings. As of December 8, 2004, the last such meeting was held on September 29th. Missing October and November should count as two broken promises.

In the first eight days of December 2003, a delegation of Cariboo mayors met with the government to beg that Barkerville be saved after government cut $350,000 from its operating subsidy, that threatened the existence of the popular tourist destination. On July 1, 2004, the government bought some time for Barkerville by providing $2 million over three years to a community board that will take responsibility for the heritage site. Without that grant it was estimated that the reduced operating subsidy of $750,000 would have left any operator with an annual deficit of $250,000. That week the government also announced the closure of Four Corners Community Savings which served clients other financial institutions refused. There was no last minute salvation for Four Corners.

In the first eight days of December 2004, there were 26 government news releases dealing with grants and economic speculation but nothing of an administrative or policy nature that could spark controversy. That won't happen until after Election Day, May 17, 2005.