April 8, 2005

Oppal as Liability

Wally Oppal has quickly moved from potential star candidate to loose cannon. His apparent campaigning from the bench during his courtship by Gordon Campbell is unseemly behaviour for a sitting judge. His "jokes" that were, according to Province columnist Michael Smyth, sprinkled with profanity at a charity fundraiser, that looked more like a political rally, are inappropriate for either a judge or an attorney general. Should Oppal remain on the bench, his conduct during weeks of foreplay will call into question his ability to sit on some cases. Should he run as a candidate, his behaviour while still a judge, and his bad judgment when it comes to humour, will tarnish his image. Backbenchers are stepped over so that Oppal can advance his career will legitimately be angry that someone who is rapidly turning into a liability is shown preferential treatment.

Lurking in the Oppal story is whatever Ken Johnston may eventually tell. Elected as Liberal MLA for Vancouver-Fraserview in 2001, Johnston was nominated to run again in 2005. Since then speculation has grown that he will have second thoughts so Oppal might be parachuted to run in his seat. Johnston spoke in the legislature during both throne and budget speech debates; he sounded like a candidate who was preparing for the election. It is hard to believe that a nominated candidate with the certainty of fixed election dates would suddenly reconsider. If Johnston reveals embarrassing details regarding interference from the Premier's office with his candidacy, it might help the good voters in Vancouver-Fraserview decide that the NDP's Ravinder Gill is their best choice.

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April 4 , 2005

Oppal as Politician

Politics is a tough business. One minute you are a respected member of society, the next you are a worthless incompetent bottom feeder who is incapable of solving any problem and responsible for most evils. The Honourable Mr. Justice Wally Oppal needs to understand that politicians are punching bags that are only called "honourable" within the rarified confines of the legislative precincts.

On Saturday, April 2nd, the Toronto Globe and Mail kicked off a couple of extra pages devoted to coverage of British Columbia with a headline about The Honourable Mr. Justice Wally Oppal running as a candidate for the Campbell Liberals in Vancouver-Fraserview. For weeks it has been rumoured that Oppal was being courted by Campbell, but many thought that Oppal would be reluctant to give up the high pay, power and prestige that goes with being a judge on the BC Court of Appeal. At the same time, Oppal made himself available for numerous media interviews and live appearances, and he allowed his name to be part of an advertisement for the Campbell "roast", a fundraising event for literacy that just happens to coincide with the election campaign.

The Campbell Liberal incumbent in Vancouver-Fraserview is Ken Johnston. A CGA who worked in transportation and served three terms on city council, Johnston was first elected in 2001 and was re-nominated to run in 2005. Just as other Campbell recruits have had the inconvenience of nomination fights swept out of the way, Oppal is expected to be virtually appointed the candidate in Vancouver-Fraserview when Johnston conveniently decides that, despite standing for the nomination, he has had second thoughts about a second term.

Whoever the Campbell candidate is in Vancouver-Fraserview, Johnston or Oppal, he will be running against the NDP's Ravinder Gill. The Indo-Canadian vote is a key factor in the riding but that is not likely the reason why Campbell recruited Oppal, or the reason that the remaining lawyers in Campbell's caucus are judged too incompetent to be made Attorney General in the wake of Jeff Plant's resignation. Campbell's bagging of Oppal is probably expected to reap rewards throughout the Indo-Canadian community, especially in three or four key ridings in Surrey where the Liberals lost the by-election to the NDP's Jagrup Braar. As a candidate, Oppal will have the responsibility to fill the shoes vacated by David Basi as Indo-Canadian organizer, and Campbell will look to him to deliver the Indo-Canadian vote. That kind of brokerage politics may backfire, and it will certainly be the first patina in the tarnish that converts a respected judge into just another despised politician.