His Final Visit As BC Premier

Thursday, February 03, 2011 06:20 PM

BC Premier Gordon Campbell talks with media at the Civic Centre this afternoon

Prince George, B.C.- Prior to this evening's gala send-off at the Civic Centre, Gordon Campbell sat down for what will most likely be his last interview with local media as premier of the province...

Campbell says he's often asked to reflect on what he feels best about during his tenure as premier, and Prince George is one of his answers. "I love what's happened in Prince George in the last 10-years, I like the vision that people have had."

He says in his early discussions with people from the area, he was told, "If you would just let us do what we want to do."

"Prince George, I think, got tired of being told that you can't do those things here," says Campbell. "They knew they could and they've been able to - so they have not just a cancer centre, they're not just becoming a crossroads for the movement of goods and services, they're a university centre, they're a medical centre, they're a sporting centre, they really are, I think, reaching new levels and their potential is nothing but great, so I've always loved coming to Prince George."

He says a very telling time for him was an economic summit in the city in 2009. "It was a very difficult time and mines were starting to close and the energy business was, you know, sort of uncertain, the forest industry was uncertain," says the Premier. "And I came here and it really was a great vignette about what is great about British Columbia -- there were really no complaints, there was 'how do we get through this, let's roll up our sleeves and get on with it, there's lots we can do, there's lots of opportunities ahead of us' and there was real energy, I thought, real dynamism right here in this convention centre that came out of that."

When asked what his greatest accomplishment in the north has been, the Premier says he feels that's something for others to decide, but he likes what he's seeing -- the region has realized its value and is creating its own future. (click icon at right for video clip)

While the outgoing Premier has refused to endorse any one of the six candidates vying for his job, the only name he mentioned during today's interview was Kevin Falcon and Falcon's involvement in the health care rally that sparked the northern medical school.

As for regrets, he says, of course he has them, but he didn't go into specifics...saying, instead, that while being premier isn't a laugh-a-minute job, it is a very rewarding one.

Gordon Campbell is keeping mum about his plans for the future, but says spending more time with his family is at the top of his list. He says he had an epiphany this weekend when one of his sons phoned to ask if he could babysit his grandson -- he said yes, something he's never been able to do before.

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Posted on Thursday, February 03, 2011 06:20 PM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: missing Poppa on February 3 2011 7:31 PM

Big Woo!

that explains the bad air I smelled earlier in the week.

Posted by: RUEZ on February 3 2011 7:43 PM

Don't go away mad, just go away.

Posted by: opinionated on February 3 2011 7:53 PM

I think it is sad. One cannot deny that this man did some good work. We all make mistakes and Gordon Campbell is human too. The rudeness that some are displaying just shows a total ignorance.

If by chance Gordon Campbell reads this...I thank you for all that you have done. I wish you the best of luck.

Posted by: mwk on February 3 2011 8:02 PM

I think he did a pretty decent job. Sure it's not perfect, but look back at previous provincial governments. They all had their problems/scandals.

I for one remember the 1990's when this town didn't seem to have much on the go. Now we are seeing construction projects, airport expansions, new mines oil & gas spinoff etc.

Another thing I remember about the 1990's. The NDP wouldn't leave the lower mainland. Did they know there was anything beyond Hope? I think this Premier made it is mandate to visit all parts of the Province and try and get the whole Province doing things. That's the big thing I noticed.

I hope that the next generation of Liberal leaders will follow that same line of thinking and remember that there are good things to develop in the Interior, Okanagan, Peace River, and North Coast regions. Not just Vancouver.

Posted by: Palopu on February 3 2011 8:31 PM

Prince George has always been a cross roads for the movement of goods. There was much more business moving through Prince George in the seventies and eighties than there ever was when the Liberals were in Power.

People forget about the huge coal mines in Tumbler Ridge, Bullmoose, and Quintette,. The mills produced millions of tons of coal that was transported to Pr Rupert and exported to China and Japan. In addition we had two huge copper mines at Topley BC.
**Granisle Copper** and **Bell Copper**

All the mills in this area, including Netherlands Overseas Mill, and Northwoods Mill in Upper Fraser were operating. All the Pulp Mills were operating, including the paper mill at MacKenzie. We now have less pulp and paper mills and less lumber mills. Does Campbell take any credit for that???

Insofar as sports go. Prince George has alway been somewhat of a sports centre, and the addition of the Cougers really didnt make a big difference over the long haul. The Cancer Clinic is a needed addition to the Chemotherapy Centre that has been operating in Prince George for many years. The Prince George Regional Hospital has always been a mainstay for the Central Interior Changing its name to the University Hospital of the North, doesnt mean diddly squat. The University is a big benefit to Prince George and area, and hopefully it will continue to be a success.

Campbell is a great one for talking for an hour without saying anything. I suspect that if the truth were known, he probably doesnt like Prince George or its people at all. He normally doesnt stay overnight. I wonder if he will stay to-night, or if he is long gone by sun-up.

Posted by: lonesome sparrow on February 3 2011 8:32 PM

I agree with- opinionated. Thanks Gordon for leaving the province in better condition than when you took office and for also planting the seeds for continued growth. Public service can at times be a thankless task, you stuck to your guns through thick and thin- good on ya.

All the best in the future.

Posted by: supertech on February 3 2011 8:50 PM

Good riddance!

Posted by: supertech on February 3 2011 8:51 PM

He's been no more than a liar in my opinion.

Posted by: lonesome sparrow on February 3 2011 8:56 PM

Palopu

The decision to close NOM and Upper Fraser was a financial decision, Isle Pierre and Prince George Sawmills got major up grades and the other two were shut down.

The Mackenzie mills shut down because Pope & Talbot and Abitibi went belly up. Since then the old Pope mill and the Abitibi sawmills have restarted. The Abitibi Papermill produces newsprint and was faced with a shrinking market across North America although the new owners might start the steam plant and power generation facility.

From what I understand the coal mining industry is in the best position it has been for many years. Further expansion might be constrained by the limitations of the Ridley Island export terminal.

Add to this the Mount Milligan mine, Galore Creek Gold, hundreds of millions for the Fraser Lake moly mine expansion, I think things look pretty good

Posted by: lonesome sparrow on February 3 2011 9:31 PM

.....145 million capex for Canfor, 230 million capex for West Fraser some crazy amount for Kitimat aluminum mill. The TKO mine in Williams Lake still has a chance to fly. Those are just off the top of my head- I think whoever takes Gordon's place has some big shoes to fill.

Posted by: NoSeverance on February 3 2011 9:33 PM

Upper Fraser was the last big severance payout, 15 days per year of service, that Canfor will ever payout. Ironically the Non Union Mill Clear Lake gets shutdown and they get severance too!
Good old Rustad's employee's get nothing for severance but a promise that maybe one day in the future it might start back up maybe... as Canfor is set to spend 140 million on upgrades to the mills that are still running.

We quickly forget the legacy's the NDP left us back when Finning and many other companies head offices left B.C. because of the government.

You can thank the NDP for Fast Ferries, Bingo Gate and the Pine Beetle empidemic. If the NDP forest minister at the time of the outbreak would of allowed logging in Tweedsmier Park the spread of the Pine beetle could of been slowed down if not stopped. Who's office got raided by the RCMP? Ahmen!

Posted by: Vulgar Sage on February 3 2011 9:57 PM

What the heck,is this guy a Klingon..a will not??? A hanging chad???I thought he already went away...why wont he just go away???

Posted by: metalman on February 3 2011 10:11 PM

"I think it is sad. One cannot deny that this man did some good work. We all make mistakes and Gordon Campbell is human too"

"I think he did a pretty decent job. Sure it's not perfect, but look back at previous provincial governments. They all had their problems/scandals"

We all make mistakes, all governments do a poor job of almost anything they do, in my opinion, not just the BC Liberals.

A couple of facts are quite difficult to ignore here though, he lied to his electorate on big issues, on more than one occasion, and that is unforgiveable, in my opinion.
I don't care that politicians have lied before, that does not make Gordon Campbell's lies any less a wrong.
The BC Liberals said they would not sell off BC Rail, but they did. They said that they would not sell off BC Hydro, but the wheels are in motion, it may happen yet.
The BC NDP are not fit to carry the BC Liberals lies in a pail, they are not our ticket to governmental salvation, and the Green Party does not have any depth either.
I can only hope that the re-elected BC Liberals have a leader who, as Premier, will uphold their promises, and demonstrate a high level of integrity.
metalman.

Posted by: bozo the clown on February 3 2011 10:26 PM

none are honest, none really have your interest before theirs,so hate the party .same old song,the next will blame them and so on and on and....

Posted by: doneright on February 3 2011 10:50 PM

We also had a BCR rail line when he took power.
Where is it now.

Posted by: jakeadoo on February 3 2011 10:54 PM

I am very happy Gordon Campbell is going and it can't be soon enough for me.Sure a lot of gullible people in BC,which will result in the HST staying in place after September,and why the liberals will win the election if called earlier than expected or the one in 2013.

Posted by: sun storm on February 3 2011 10:57 PM

The man is a liar as far as I am concerned!

Posted by: socredible on February 3 2011 11:01 PM

Metalman:- "I can only hope that the re-elected BC Liberals have a leader who, as Premier, will uphold their promises, and demonstrate a high level of integrity."
-------------------------------------------
You'll still be hoping that when the NEXT BC Liberal Premier is replaced.

Posted by: socredible on February 3 2011 11:14 PM

The test of success for any Premier and government should be whether our STANDARD of living has increased faster than our COST of living. If it hasn't ~ and I strongly suspect that for most of us it hasn't ~ then what have they really accomplished? You can't separate the "Province" from the "People" ~ ALL of us as the INDIVIDUALS who make it up. And while, for many of us, our standard of living has indeed increased, our cost of living has increased far faster. Who, amongst all those savoring the top job, whatever their Party, is going to do anything about THAT? None of them, so far, from what I've seen.

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on February 4 2011 9:14 AM

Palopu:"We now have less pulp and paper mills and less lumber mills. Does Campbell take any credit for that???"

He does not take credit for that but intelligent people would not ask him to take any blame for it either, in my opinion!

Looks like the usual *dump on anything and everything day* for the well-known naysayers and pessimists!

Posted by: jakeadoo on February 4 2011 11:50 AM

You have a warped sense of judgement Prince George.People,especially those anything like Gordon Campbell,only take credit for the good things they do,anyone with half a brain knows he wouldn't take any credit for anything that was under investigation or closed down.

Posted by: PrinceGeorge on February 4 2011 12:22 PM

You did not read my comment which simply quotes a question posted by someone else, namely :"We now have less pulp and paper mills and less lumber mills. Does Campbell take any credit for that???"

It was a sarcastic comment because why would or should ANYBODY take CREDIT for a negative something that one had Zero control over???

Perhaps you think that one should but you would protest loudly if you were forced to do it!

If you think that I have a warped sense of judgement so be it! It does not matter.

Posted by: Palopu on February 4 2011 9:26 PM

The money for the Capital Expenditures for Canfor and West Fraser came from the Federal Government. The money for the new smelter at Alcan Kitimat will come from its owner Rio Tinto. Once this new smelter is built they will require 400 less employees.

That sort of takes the wind out of Lonsomes sails. These projects had nothing to do with the BC Liberals.

Prince George. Any fool with half a brain and a blow hole could give money to do road projects, or build a new cancer clinic. Seems like you forget that the people of Prince George had to raise holy hell before the Liberals did anything in this area.

Unless you know something that I dont, the Expansion of the Airport Runway is a total bust.

Have a nice day.

Posted by: socredible on February 4 2011 11:18 PM

lonesomesparrow:- "I think whoever takes Gordon's place has some big shoes to fill."
------------------------------------------
And it's already running down their legs into them.

Posted by: jakeadoo on February 5 2011 12:33 AM

My point Prince George everytime something good happened whether it was the Port Mann upgrade,PG Cancer Clinic,Simon Fraser Bridge upgrade,etc,etc.,Campbell was almost always their to take credit.Even when Brent Marshall gave money to help upgrade something in pediatrics,when it was time to celebrate the opening,he sends his top gun health minister,Kevin Falcon to help share in the limelight.The only time he admitted to doing anything wrong,was his impaired charge and his mishandling of the HST.I'm pretty sure he screwed up with the child poverty situation,and a few other things during his ten year reign,but in The Citizen on Friday when asked if he had any unfinished business in northern BC he said,"he has no regrets".Hell,in a ten year period I know I screw up and leave things unfinished and can admit to it.This man's ego will not allow him to do this,unless pushed to the very extreme edge of losing power.He is going,going,gone and hopefully things will be better with a new leader.