Integrity BC Offers New Year’s Resolutions for Politicians
by Dermod Travis
It’s that time of year when B.C. politicians should start thinking about some New Year’s resolutions for a bit of political self-improvement. So, in the spirit of giving, here are five ideas for politicians to consider as they set their resolutions for 2015.
1. Do the shuffle
In keeping with the season’s “out with the old, in with the new” theme, a cabinet shuffle is overdue. But a real one, trading deck chairs between Andrew Wilkinson and Amrik Virk a week before Christmas doesn’t count.
And what was Premier Christy Clark thinking when she put Virk in charge of Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services as a political demotion, when technology clearly wasn’t his strong suit at Kwantlen University? Virk needs some shifts in the minors, not a far seat at the cabinet table.
Todd Stone would likely appreciate a new portfolio after the S.S. Minnow – err, MV Nimpkish – affair. Bet Mary Polak might prefer a change too. And talking about trading deck chairs, how about Andrew Wilkinson for Justice and Suzanne Anton for Advanced Education?
2. Remember: the secret to survivin’ is knowin’ what to throw away and knowin’ what to keep
Back in 2011, the B.C. government predicted that the first liquified natural gas plant would be operational by 2015. Doesn’t look promising.
Despite cutting its proposed income tax on the LNG industry in half and inking agreements with China to facilitate the use of foreign workers in B.C. to help build the facilities – that is if they’re built here at all and not just floated in – it’s doubtful anyone from government will be cutting the ribbon at an LNG plant any time soon.
However, there’s one take away lesson from this: if you’re going to play cards with the high rollers, it doesn’t hurt to know the rules.
So a little advice from Kenny Rogers: “You’ve got to know when to hold ’em. Know when to fold ’em. Know when to walk away. And know when to run. You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table. There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealin’s done.”
3. Stop counting your chickens before they’re hatched
A quick review of Petronas headlines sums this one up well: ‘Petronas LNG pullout threat just a negotiating tactic: Premier’ (September 25), ‘Petronas warns of possible delay of $11-billion B.C. LNG project’ (October 6), ‘B.C. in ‘good shape’ to close $10-billion LNG deal: Premier’ (December 2), ‘Petronas defers decision on $36 billion BC LNG project’ (December 3), and ‘Christy Clark says Petronas LNG project is a ‘done deal’ despite delay’ (December 8).
Yes, folk do want to know what’s going on, but not if it makes them dizzy.
4. Stop stating the obvious
Back in August, Energy and Mines minister Bill Bennett had this to say about the tailings pond breach at Mt. Polley Mine: “This is a serious incident that should not have happened.” Very true that.
In November, Health minister Terry Lake called the decision of the B.C. Cancer Foundation (a registered charity) to top up the salary of the former head of the B.C. Cancer Agency (a government body): “questionable.” At the very least.
And here’s what B.C. Lottery Corporation chairman Bud Smith said reacting to a government audit of the BCLC that found a move to cut staffing costs ended up costing $25 million instead: “The execution wasn’t good.” You don’t say.
Stating the obvious can leave you open to ridicule, unless it’s accompanied with a sincere mea culpa and a genuine promise for improvement.
5. Cancel “That ’90s Show”
“I’ll meet your fast ferries and raise you one B.C. Place Stadium roof.”
In a few days, it’ll be 2015. Can anyone think of a better time for the B.C. Liberal party and the NDP to finally put the 1990s behind them?
A little something for supporters of the B.C. Liberal party to consider as well: lobbing those fast ferries at the NDP may be the equivalent of a political grenade backfiring.
It doesn’t speak well of the government’s acumen, if supporters have to call up the fast ferries’ debacle to counter criticism. Think of it as the theory of political equivalence.
And Happy New Year.
Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC. www.integritybc.ca
Comments
VIRK should be fired and thrown out of cabinet. Temporary Foreign Workers are not required until all avenues of training and hiring Canadian workers are exhausted. Christy Clark has no business inking temporary foreign worker deals with any Asian or other foreign nation until Canadian citizen’s are trained and properly employed. The whole temporary foreign worker gambit brought in by Harper’s Conservatives was successful corporate lobbying to lower Canadian worker salaries.
Another article from the left wing ‘think tank’.
At least they now how to ‘think’. Can’t say that for the right.
Dermond did you make a prediction adout LNG back in 2011? Hindsite is 20/20.
The added cost for that little hole in the stadium roof was insane.
seamut: “Dermond did you make a prediction adout LNG back in 2011? ”
Of course not. But along with all the leftie critics, he is gleeful that LNG is struggling. Between the foot dragging, excessive bureaucracy, the media, FN, and professional eco-potesters, it is no wonder.
+Remember the bucks they gave out for children during the teachers strike? Well now they are clawing back child support. Go figure.
Cheers
HEY JB always blaming the NDP lefties when in reality your retarded liberals are the ones to blame for this mess we are in today.QUIT passing the buck and face the facts it was your great leader the barfly who pulled out her crystal ball and declared prosperity LNG WAS A SURE THING REMEMBER, NO PLAN B OR C TO FALL BACK ON. JUST PLAIN STUPID COMES TO MIND
Nothing is a sure thing, matty. Except death and taxes. You should know that by now.
It was you who was predicting a sure thing NDP victory last election wasn’t it?
We shouldnt be too negative about BC. There is a lot of things still in the works to come. Christy still rules.
“I’ll meet your fast ferries and raise you one B.C. Place Stadium roof.”
Well, as far as free speech goes how can it be wrong to bring up the Fast Ferries and the Stadium roof? At least the roof is doing its job for the stadium, but what are the Fast Ferries doing lately?
“what are the Fast Ferries doing lately?”
Pretty much the same thing as the Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered bus fleet they bought for the Olympics. All 20 have been moth balled ever since the event. They only cost 3X as much as a regular bus, but who’s counting?
Posted on Monday, December 29, 2014 @ 4:38 PM by Pylot Project
“what are the Fast Ferries doing lately?”
Pretty much the same thing as the Hydrogen Fuel Cell powered bus fleet they bought for the Olympics. All 20 have been moth balled ever since the event. They only cost 3X as much as a regular bus, but who’s counting?
———–
That’s not true. Each bus has about 200,000 kms on them (hardly the result of mothballing) and they cost $1.35 per km versus $0.65 for diesel.
Let’s not forget too, that the feds paid for half the cost of the buses.
Personally, I think it’s a bad idea to get rid of them considering the damage that fossil fuels are doing to the planet.
Certainly the millions upon millions of dollars the people of British Columbia have given the Ballard Fuel Cell co should be considered a bust. I think the hydrogen fuel cell was invented in the 1800’s.
Actually I was wrong one point. The buses didn’t cost 3X as much as a diesel bus, they cost 4X. $2.1 million each to be exact.
Where does the fuel for the buses come from? Quebec. A shipment is required every 10 days. Not exactly green.
They bought these things without a local fuel provider in place. They “hoped” for one in North Van. The average cost of hydrogen cell fuel is $2.28/km, which is roughly 3X more expensive than the diesel units. This makes their annual operating costs $2.5 million more expensive than the diesels. Not very well planned.
On the usage, you are correct Axman. The original article I read has since been updated with the words from “not used” to “not used since March 2014”. They’ve been shelved since then.
“It doesn’t speak well of the government’s acumen, if supporters have to call up the fast ferries’ debacle to counter criticism.”
And it does not speak well of the opposition’s acumen, if supporters have to call up the cost and the questionable design of the stadium roof to counter criticism.
You see, it works both ways and the beauty of it all is that it constantly reminds Joe/Jane Citizen that politicians of all stripes bravely embark on expensive and often foolish escapades just because they can, as they are not spending their own money but OUR money and that of future generations.
Bringing it up does serve a useful purpose: Voters beware!
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