On May 18th, with just three days left before the legislature adjourned until October, the budget for the Office of the Premier was finally called for debate. This year's debate on the Premier's budget could be the last that Campbell participates in as Premier; that reality was reinforced by the latest Ipsos-Reid poll. Although next year's sitting of the legislature starts on February 8, if debate on the Premier's budget is postponed as long as it was this year, the legislature will adjourn before Campbell has to go through another legislative accountability session.

Estimates debate is an opportunity to question the Premier on everything he does. He may evade the question but unlike question period where a minister frequently answers in place of the Premier, in estimates debate the Premier is on the hot spot. In the opening hours of debate MacPhail and Kwan peppered Campbell with questions on security arrangements, staffing changes, advertising expenditures and the Doug Walls scandal. Throughout the debate government members, including Christy Clark and Geoff Plant, aggressively heckled MacPhail and Kwan. On Thursday, May 20th, the third day that a couple of hours was allocated to debate on the Premier's budget, Geoff Plant was so offensive with his heckling that the Speaker had to name him to be quiet. That behaviour stands in sharp contrast to former sessions when debate on the Premier's budget was treated as something that deserved formality and respect.

The exchange on advertising illustrates evasive answers. MacPhail asked for an explanation of how the effectiveness of government advertising campaigns is evaluated. Campbell said $11.9 million is spent on government advertising, but he couldn't say what value is received for that expenditure. As happened frequently during debate on his budget, he then lapsed into partisan rhetoric attacking the former government. That probably foreshadows the kind of election campaign British Columbians will see as the Campbell government attempts to avoid accountability for its record. There is already an attack website promoted by young BC Liberals from the University of Victoria. Why didn't the government take the high road and criticize the site?

In the closing minutes of debate on Thursday, May 20th, Kwan focused on expected cost overruns for the 2010 Olympics. Arrogant to the end, Campbell refused to admit that problems exist. An open and transparent government would aggressively support the recommendation from BC's Auditor General that he be appointed auditor for the games. Campbell denied responsibility and said BC's auditor could audit the provincial contribution. He forgot to discuss the blank cheque that BC signed to pick up all cost overruns; the amount of those overruns may never be known. As long as the early warnings are shrouded in secrecy, financial problems will be hidden from the public.