Do you feel the thunder, kids?

BAAAH-BOOM! — Liberal MLA Greg Kyllo searched diligently to find the appropriate metaphor to describe how difficult it is to explain businessy stuff to the NDP government. He finally settled on a gem.

“When it comes to understanding competitiveness and making B.C. businesses actually successful and having the opportunity to compete in international markets … trying to explain that to the members opposite is like trying to explain thunder to goats.” HOT TUB TIME — Another Liberal MLA tried out a different metaphor, with mixed results. Mike Bernier said the NDP government has over-promised in a way reminiscent of previous NDP governments.

“Actually, it reminds me of that movie Hot Tub Time Machine, a flashback to the ’90s.”

NDP MLAs were still laughing at the line days later. But in point of fact, the hot tub time machine sent people back to 1986, not the 1990s. Under Bernier’s premise, that would mean B.C. is flashing back to the start of the Bill Vander Zalm government, not the NDP’s. Also, the movie has a happy ending, unlike the Vander Zalm government. FOND FAREWELLS — The B.C. legislature spent some time reminiscing about the late former premier Dave Barrett this past week, with stories that further cement his legendary career.

Interspersed with serious tributes were some lighter memories. Premier John Horgan noted that the sergeant-at-arms staff should be thankful they weren’t on the job back in the 1980s, when Barrett got so worked up he had to be physically carried out of the chamber.

Horgan also thanked Barrett for outlawing the strap in schools. “I had a tempestuous time as a high school student, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Dave Barrett for abolishing corporal punishment.”

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson remembered the creation of question period, which was formalized in legislative proceedings during the Barrett government.

“What would we do in this room that would interest, entertain, stimulate and advance the cause of democracy without question period?” he asked.

“Each morning, I rise, go for my run, stop and look into the sunrise and think: ‘Thank you, Dave Barrett, for question period.’ ”