Let me re-state the above: You are either balanced and steady or you are NDP.
I won't waste your time or my space with my rant about BC's turbulent politics over the past forty years. My awareness of BC politics began with a successful hardware store owner from Kelowna, a certain W. A. C. Bennett, back in the 60's. He was the leader of a party that no longer exists in any viable form, namely, the Social Credit Party.
Today's "small-l" Liberal party in British Columbia is really a reincarnation of anything right of center, from conservative Liberals and liberal Conservatives (please note appropriate use of adjectives), and a smattering of former Socreds (clipped version of the words Social Credit). Alberta had the latter party at its helm for decades, but only earlier in the last century.
When Campbell came to power in his first term, he had inherited a province that had had been bullied for ten years by the New Democratic Party. The NDP, as I have stated before, are great as the opposition, but should never be allowed to run – or is it ruin? - a province.
The province was in shambles in every possible way. One of the most consistent 'have' provinces for decades had plummeted to a 'have-not' status, just barely above Newfoundland. Campbell introduced many draconian measures to restore BC back to its proper place - many that seemed very unreasonable and cruel at the time by conservatives, including your faithful scribe.
Years later, we have come to see that his drastic moves have paid off in a huge way. He has since backed off, toned down, and become more accommodating in his relationship with First Nations, environmentalists, and others who are not normally in concert with the right wing. Every sane-thinking political leader should be monitoring next week's election, and with good reason: Mr. Campbell is doing many things good for his province, things that would benefit each and every province and territory of our great country.
If I had any advice for Mr. Campbell – which I do – and if he would just phone me – which he won't – I would tell him one thing: Place as many mothers in your cabinet as possible. (I may have to shout the rest of the column to those of you that have keeled over at the outrageousness of that statement.)
Well, of course, I am teasing a little bit, but work with me on this one, people. Who would make a better Minister of Health than a mother who has nursed every one of her kids through broken arms, bloody noses, and sleepless nights? Who would make a better Minister of Education than a veteran homeschooling mother who has worked through math she doesn't understand and kids who don't want to learn – all on a budget that is smaller than a monthly food bill?
I could go on, only to add that Mr. Campbell would be wise to install working commoners – farmers, retailers, housewives, truckers, and all – as his cabinet ministers. Many cabinet posts are filled by lawyers; I suggest that the office of the Solicitor General would be good for a lawyer, but that may be it. (For the record, in the waning years of the Socreds, the Minister of Agriculture was – you guessed it – a farmer from Delta, BC. A very common sense move, indeed.)
Methinks one reason that the Bennett-led Socreds were so successful for so long was because Mr. Bennett ran a business long before he entered politics. As a result, he knew how to balance a budget, keep his "customers" happy, market his product, and keep in touch with his people.
So, Mr. Campbell, if you are reading this column, congratulations in advance on your victory next week. And if perchance you are looking for a fresh voice, say, in the ministry of Finance, I have a list of perfect candidates for you. They are called stay-at-home moms, or as I like the term, home managers; they are part of a home where there is a single income. If anyone knows anything of handling money responsibly, they do.
And tell them that the Minister of Wit sent you.
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