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Embarrassment for Christy Clark and the BC Liberal Party

2K views 19 replies 4 participants last post by  Macfury 
#1 ·
Maybe somebody with a better memory than me can recapitulate in this thread the baggage that Christy Clark brings to office. This goes back to the funny business surrounding the sale of BC Rail, and the rest of her time in the Gordon Campbell cabinet before she bailed. (The media are certainly not going to dredge up these past embarrassments.)

I see her current situation as something that should be an embarrassment for the BC Liberals - they have elected talk show host Christy Clark as their leader, and have the gall to put her forward as Premier of the province without her holding a seat in the legislature. (Nor, at this time, having announced a bid to run for a seat.)

Talk about out-sourcing government services, eh.
 
#2 ·
I'm no fan of the BC Libs by any stretch and I think their list of embarrassments is legion, but I think it's too early, since she's just being sworn in today, to pin any on her government.

She may have some several years back when she was in Campbell's cabinet and served as Deputy Premier, and I don't doubt she'll start with a few very soon, but it's a bit early to talk about them today.

Regarding her being Premier despite not having a seat in the Legislature, this does go against tradition, but is not unknown in the Canadian system, both federally and provincially. It is totally legal and allowed, since the leader of the party that holds government is the Prime Minister or Premier.

I think there's some confusion by many with other systems, such as in the US, where they directly vote for their executive leaders. We do not. The only people that cast votes for Harper were in his Calgary riding and the only people who saw Gordon Campbell's name on the ballot were in uber-upper-middle-class to fabulously wealthy Point Grey in Vancouver, hardly a representative sampling of Canadians or British Columbians in either case.
 
#3 ·
...I think there's some confusion by many with other systems, such as in the US....

I am not confused. I have never voted in foreign countries such as you mention.

It certainly is not unknown for someone to come in as party leader or to be appointed to cabinet without holding a seat, or for a party leader who loses their seat to retain party leadership, but in the past, it seems to me that they always announce the riding they intend to run in, generally at a by-election when some other MLA or MP resigns to make way. (Tommy Douglas ran in Saanich & the Islands when he could not win election to Parliament in Sask.)

There are any aspects of our parliamentary system that are undemocratic - such as a first past the post voting system in a multi party context - but there is a custom of new members of cabinet including premier-designate - promptly seeking a seat in the legislature.

Yeah, it's too soon to say what the new Christy Clark govt will look like, but surely we should not forget the baggage she brings (back).
 
#8 ·
In response to MacFury:

Maybe somebody with a better memory than me can recapitulate in this thread the baggage that Christy Clark brings to office. This goes back to the funny business surrounding the sale of BC Rail, and the rest of her time in the Gordon Campbell cabinet before she bailed. (The media are certainly not going to dredge up these past embarrassments.)...h.
The Tyee is a good source for such info, if your memory is as poor as mine. For example:

The Tyee – Clark's Big Problem: Vander Zalm Syndrome
 
#10 ·
Will Christy Clark continue the Gordon Campbell regime's cronyism?

The Tyee – First to Profit from $1 Billion Smart Meter Program: Liberal Insiders

First to Profit from $1 Billion Smart Meter Program: Liberal Insiders

Firm winning $73 million contract is connected to BC Hydro director, has close ties with Libs.

British Columbians frustrated by a looming 50 per cent increase in their monthly power bills probably will feel no happier knowing that BC Hydro intends to spend much of its newfound revenues on a $1 billion Smart Metering Program to monitor every consumed kilowatt.

Well, here's something that will make ratepayers feel even worse.

The very first smart meter contract BC Hydro has awarded -- $73 million to install up to 1.8 million of the new devices -- went to a company with close ties to the BC Liberals. [etc etc etc]
 
#11 ·
CC's cronies

The Tyee – Meet Christy Clark's Hard Right Advisor

Meet Christy Clark's Hard Right Advisor
Basher of enviros and unions, Gwyn Morgan blamed immigrants for crime. What does he like? US health care.
By Bill Tieleman, 8 Mar 2011, TheTyee.ca


"It is my earnest submission that signing the Kyoto Protocol would go down in history as one of the most damaging international agreements ever signed by a Canadian prime minister." -- Gwyn Morgan, Christy Clark transition team advisor

Premier-designate Christy Clark says she is an "outsider" bringing "change" to the BC Liberal Party as its new leader.

And Clark claims the BC Liberal government "has been a leader in climate action" while under her new leadership it will promote "a cleaner environment for everyone."

But watch out if Clark's "change" is strongly influenced by her top transition team advisor Gwyn Morgan!

Because Morgan is a right-wing ideologue who bashes environmentalists, unions, federal Liberals and immigrants in a way that makes outgoing Premier Gordon Campbell seem like a pinko.

Morgan's controversial views even include ripping the Canadian Cancer Society for supporting a ban on carcinogenic insecticides and weed killers, saying the society was supporting "junk science," as were any "scientifically illiterate municipal councilors" who agreed with it.


After all, says Morgan: "The medical evidence is scant."

Why trust the Canadian Cancer Society when we can put our faith in Raid and Roundup? Spray on, Gwyn!

Morgan is also a defender of "Frankenfoods" -- genetically modified (GM) foods that some European countries have banned, despite Morgan saying there are "no credible studies showing negative impacts."
 
#13 ·
Do you have to bow as we do when our premier enters the room? It was a tradition when Joey Smallwood came into office as the first premier of NL when we joined Confederation back in 1949. I made the mistake of not doing it at the airport when I first arrived in St.John's, way back on March 17th, 1977. Luckily, the person meeting me at the airport was able to explain to the then premier, Frank Moores, that I did not know who he was or knew the custom since I had been in NL about 10 minutes. Luckily, Premier Moores was an understanding person, and let me off with just a warning.
 
#17 ·
"DrG, I think bowing is out. She's a woman of the people, a single mum, a hard-working, mortgage-payin', Timmies slurpin' member of the common folk. Premier Christy's preferred method is big hugs for everyone. At least while the camera's red light is on. "

Good to hear, GA. Now, I wish we would take on that same tradition, although we think that shall happen with our new premier, Kathy Dunderdale. As the first woman premier of NL, we think that she shall bring us into the 21st century re respecting the premier. We shall see.
 
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