A ‘what if’ reflection on the provincial election
On Thursday, June 29, I went to the B.C. legislature to watch the historic NDPGreen vote of non-confidence in the B.C. Liberal throne speech. Was it for the history, morbid fascination, or hope against hope, some last-minute stay of execution?
On the way in, I bumped into Global TV’s legislative reporter, Keith Baldrey, a former colleague from my days in the press gallery. He quickly jabbed: “If you had done your job and won Cowichan Valley, this vote wouldn’t be happening.”
Yes, thanks, Keith. That never entered my mind. Sure. Only about a thousand times. Just one seat to be a hero and save the day for the Liberals. It could have been any one of the defeated Liberals: Suzanne Anton, Jim Benninger, Stephen Roberts, Housser, etc. But we all came up short.
In my case, and I am sure in varying degrees for the others, that’s the source of a depressing blue funk, disappointment and endless “if only.”
The blow is softened by the realization it wasn’t so much a personal failing. Save for Michelle Stilwell, Vancouver Island Liberals did not fare well across the board. The B.C. Liberals’ Island platform never caught fire. A flop might be too strong. We’ll just say it fizzled — more a slogan than an actual platform.
But my biggest “if only” is if only the Environment Ministry had not committed the monumentally stupid and offensive blunder of permitting a contaminatedwaste dump in the Shaw ni gan Lake watershed. This was a perfect platform handed on a platter to Green candidate Sonia Furstenau.
She exploited it shrewdly, relentlessly and, thankfully for Shawnigan’s drinking water, successfully. Perhaps with her new influence as an MLA, Furstenau can discover if the permit was the result of ministerial incompetence or bureaucratic bungling.
Another “if only” is if only the B.C. Liberals’ last minute Hail Mary wads of cash for various social programs had been unleashed before the noose was tightening around the Liberal leader’s neck. Some commitment sooner to spending on social programs might have lessened the stinginess that undercut the “strong economy” messaging.
All the if only and what ifs don’t change a thing. It could have been different, but isn’t, so onward, upward — on to the next chapter. Best of luck to the NDP-Green alliance.
The one thing I hope you will appreciate and respect is that the B.C. Liberals have left you with the best finances possible — a huge surplus. Spend wisely and well.