The Written Word : Cabinet Shuffle

By Rafe Mair

I’m glad Gordon Hogg is back in Cabinet. He ran up on his own sword for the Doug Walls scandal in the Children’s and Family Ministry that 100% belonged to the Premier.

He’s a good man and though his portfolio is no hell but he is a voice in need in Cabinet.

Putting Stan Hagen in Tourism is a stroke of genius. He has all the tools – an empty cranium and a hyperactive tongue. He is perfectly matched to the "hail fellow well met" job he has. Campbell has placed him where it’s impossible to go wrong though the late Pat Jordan gave it a hell of a try when there was a strong suggestion that she was doing a bit of smuggling on the side.

The best Tourism Minister of recent memory, by far, was Grace McCarthy who held that post in the first Bill Bennett Cabinet.

It was she who coined the “Supernatural British Columbia” statement. What is amazing is that during this period she was also Provincial Secretary (since abolished but then a senior portfolio) Recreation and Conservation (now in the Minister of Environment) and was Deputy Premier. On top of that, she tried to run everyone else’s too. Not for nothing was she known as "Amazing Grace."

Bill Barlee was a decent Minister for the NDP and Claude Richmond, in his time, did it well for the same reasons Stan Hagen will do it well, plus he plays a mean trumpet.

British Columbia actually needs a Tourism Minister and a good one because there’s so much competition. The one piece of advice I’d give Mr. Hagen is to pour a bit more money into the World Travel Market that occurs every November in London. This is a huge affair and is attended by every imaginable jurisdiction that seeks visitors. Even small island nations put on great shows with their native songs and food. It’s where the world’s travel agents look over the markets. In the past, we’ve shared a booth with Alberta, upstairs at the back next to the Men’s loo! 

I wish Mr. Hagen well. With fears of terrorism and ever rising oil prices, everywhere is now a tough sell. I think the Premier has finally found the right person for this job.

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