December 15, 2005

2005 in Review

Authors of year-end political reviews have learned to be cautious since some of the most dramatic stories in BC politics have broken over the Christmas season: in 2003 the Maui incident with the Premier, in 2004 the raid on the legislature (yet to go to trial) and in 2004 the sudden resignation of Finance Minister Gary Collins. Only Santa knows what surprises will be tucked into the stockings that hang on the fireplace for the 2005 season; perhaps the blunt admission of the government's failure by Solicitor General John Les will be typical of the seasonal surprises.

The fixed election date meant that BC had the longest provincial election campaign in its history. While the vote didn't occur until May 17, a massive government advertising campaign was underway at this time last year, which just happened to match the message and appearance of the BC Liberal Party ads that began when the government ads stopped. The cost of the government ads and the fact that the advertising budget was overspent by 50% wasn't disclosed until the election was safely over.

Just as fixed election dates were new to the BC political scene, so were legislative calendars: however, that didn't stop the government from adjourning the legislature on March 12th, 68 days before voting day, without debating the budget estimates. Government MLAs appeared to rely on the public not knowing or caring how the legislature works when they responded to criticism by referring to the debate on the budget speech as if it was anything like the detailed debates on the budget for each ministry. The untimely end of the spring legislative session made it necessary to introduce a budget update in the fall and to go through the entire estimates debate.

A referendum on changing how BC elects members of the legislative assembly was also took place in May and almost succeeded in passing a strict double majority requirement. The system dubbed BC-STV, modeled after how the Irish vote, was revived in September's Throne Speech and subsequently with legislation that promises to put the question before voters again in November 2008, with implementation for the May 12, 2009 general election should it pass. BC's Chief Electoral Officer has referred to the Throne Speech promise as elegant but expensive since the time for implementing the outcome of the 2008 referendum is so short that his office will have to spend many millions preparing for both types of voting systems.

Unlike Gordon Campbell's first victory when he rushed a 90 day agenda through a summer session of the legislature, the second term government took until September to call the legislature and get down to work; however, like his first term, which was marked by large corporate tax cuts, his second term started with a further $143 million per year in corporate tax cuts. There was not one word about those corporate tax cuts said throughout the election campaign; they came as a surprise to both voters and many in the business community.

The fall session of the legislature was marked by a return to the customary balance between the parties, with a 33 member NDP opposition that quickly demonstrated its ability to hold the government to account. Even Premier Campbell, in a year end interview published in the December 9th Victoria Times Colonist, acknowledged the effectiveness of the NDP when he said: "I think that the issues they raised with regard to children and families were issues that deserved to be raised, should have been raised. And they did a good job of highlighting them." Campbell went on to say that the problems can now be fixed but to date the government's reaction has focused on changing its communications rather than changing its practices. The NDP's Adrian Dix emerged as one of the strongest talents on the Opposition benches.

There can be no doubt that the teachers taught Campbell a lesson with their October strike. The Campbell government had succeeded in the past with contract-breaking legislation. They were adamant that the teachers would have to accept the government's zero-zero mandate; they appeared to assume that after the Labour Relations Board ruled on the legality of job action following back to work legislation, either job action would end after a one day protest or public reaction would turn against the teachers. They were wrong on both counts. The issues of class size and composition resonated with the public and resulted in strong support for the teachers, ultimately forcing the Campbell government to blink and turn to Vince Ready to do what legislation couldn't accomplish.

What was otherwise a good legislative session was spoiled when both sides colluded to give MLAs a minimum 15% pay raise and a gold-plated pension. Thanks to Carole James the government agreed to repeal the ill conceived plan, but unlike James, Campbell wouldn't admit that he made a mistake; he simply said that the scheme could not proceed without the support of James. Many would wish that she had that much power over the rest of the legislative agenda.

BC's legislature will next sit on Valentine's Day for the reading of another Speech from the Throne followed by Carole Taylor's first full budget, scheduled to be tabled in the legislature on February 21st. Between the federal election on January 23 and the custom of holiday surprises in the world of politics, it is not likely to be dull while we wait for the spring legislative sitting.