The three party leaders were probed by reporters about perceived attacks made during the leaders' debate and some of their key platform policies that were featured in the one-hour television broadcast.
B.C. NDP Leader Carole James was asked about a comment directed to her by B.C. Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell, who said the role of premier is a big job and hard to get a handle on.
“I think it was a shot but as I said I’m used to shots, I’ve known Gordon Campbell, I’ve worked with him now for five years -- I’m used to those kinds of shots,” she said.
Reporters asked Campbell in his scrum if he thought the comment may have come off as sounding patronizing or belittling, especially to women viewers.
“I can’t tell how it sounded,” Campbell replied. “It is a big job and I can tell you I’ve had the opportunity to be in the job. I think that it is an enormous job that requires all of us to try to come to grips with an awful lot of information and I heard some misinformation there,” he said.
Green Party of B.C. Leader Jane Sterk responded to a question about James’s comment near the end of the debate when she said there were only two choices in the election.
“I think it’s the myth that they’re trying to perpetuate that the Green Party doesn’t matter,” Sterk replied.
“If the Green Party wasn’t in this election there would be no discussion of policy. It would all be about the leadership qualities of the leader of the NDP and the leader of the Liberal Party,” she said.
When James was later asked about her comment about two choices, she said that she was referring to the choice of which party could realistically form government.
“I’m really glad that [Ms.Sterk] was able to take part in the debate. I think she brought forth some very important issues but it’s very clear that in this election there are two parties that are running for government,” she said.
The party leaders were also probed on some of their more controversial policies that they brought up during the debate.
Sterk fielded a number of questions about her proposal to end the prohibition of drugs, including what kinds of substances her plan would encompass.
She would start by decriminalizing cannabis, she said, and then move on other substances as well.
“I believe that everything should be controlled in terms of both its production and distribution,” she said.
A reporter asked James about her environment platform and why she voted against cap-and-trade legislation in the legislature when it was such a big part of her climate change policy.
James said there were not enough details in the legislation and that the process was to be too secretive.
“We wanted to see a full open process that everyone gets an opportunity to engage in,” she said.
She was also asked how soon into a government mandate, her proposals for a cap-and-trade system could move forward.
“We’ve put it in as year three because we do believe it will take some time. It’s going to take some time to have discussions with the Western Climate Initiative and with business as well,” she said.
In Campbell’s scrum, he was asked what he would say to B.C. residents living in poverty about what he has done for them while in government.
“When we’re looking at people in poverty what we’re trying to deal with is a whole series of things. We’ve reduced their costs for pharmacare, we’ve reduced their costs for medical services treatment, we’ve actually provided for rental assistance program,” he said.
“All of those things are beneficial and as you have a strong economy that’s actually what you can use to build I think the quality of life for every British Columbian.”
Garrett Zehr reports for The Tyee.
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Wilfred Laurier
3 years ago
Choices?
"there were only two choices in the election."
I take it those choices are NDP and NDP?
ROBBINS Sce Research
3 years ago
Carole James crushes Campbell in TV debate
BC New Democrat leader Carole James ‘crushes’ BC Liberal leader Gordon Campbell in 2009 television debate. (12 Undecided’s)
http://www.robbinssceresearch.com/polls/poll_588.html
japander
3 years ago
Substance?
It's too bad the public doesn't get to see a more detailed exchange than the boilerplates that were thrown out tonight. Wouldn't it be great if Sterk could have expanded on her end prohibition line of reasoning? How about both Campbell and James exchanging more detail on "first they supported it and then they voted against it" (on a couple of issues I don't immediately recall)? I'd like to know more about why the Lib Carbon tax is right/wrong yet the "debate" shed no light on it.
I suppose I could go to each party's website and get spin or, at least I could find some analysis on this site. But how many voters will do this? It simply is not a mystery as to why 40% (to use Sterk's number) don't show up to vote. Hallmark greeting cards have more detail. Sheeeesh!
Gary
3 years ago
Debate
Not having the benefit of TV and living in fencepost BC I had to listen to the debate on the net. CBC Radio one. About the time that Ms James was nailing the premier on the BC Rail Giveaway the feed started breaking up. But a few minutes later Campbell was confronted by James again. His response was to try and spin the question by saying "I think the question should be..."
Can anyone tell me if ANY reporters confronted Campbell on this matter.
seth
3 years ago
Sterk did a terrible job at
Sterk did a terrible job at what she was really there for - to siphon away enough fringe NDP votes to reelect Campbell. I note she pooh poohed the NDP's 10 bucks a hour in favor of her guaranteed annual income (estimated at $16 hr). That sure gave lie to her claim that she equally siphons LIberal votes. What BC Liberal supporter would vote for that as well as her legalizing Crack policy.
Note that James let Campbell get away with mentioning his environmental sellouts Da Gucci Suzuki and Weaver, without whacking him and Sterk with Alexandra's Morton's definitive quote
"I personally don't think the salmon are going to survive another Liberal term"
Lost a great opportunity there.
Finally not a word on BCHydro's 30 billion dollars in IPP
losses buying power it can't use and must sell for an 85% loss on the spot market. And the Campbell promises to double that. This gives Campbell the record for worst economic decision ever made by a Canadian politician and shows the BC Liberals couldn't manage a lemonade stand. Its a conspiracy damn it.
midnightsimon
3 years ago
What a depressing campaign
It seems like this election has been all about mud slinging. More press time has been devoted to 'outing' skeletons in candidates' closets than any real policy issues. A real race to the bottom.
It almost makes me want to stay home from the polls.
Almost.
The only thing motivating me to cast my vote this year is the chance to say YES to BC-STV.
Real choice. It'd be nice.
dorothy
3 years ago
Where and when
Will voters have the opportunity to cross-examine our prospective Premiers on stuff like:
"it is an enormous job that requires all of us to try to come to grips with an awful lot of information and I heard some misinformation there,” he said."
I would dearly love a specific and detailed accounting for what that misinformation was. In the hit-and-run political blabbing style and the equally loose-ends-flapping news reporting of the day, it is all too easy for politicans to fling out guff like this and never have to answer the second line of questioning on it.
No, I would never consider not voting - in both of the places where I have the chance: In the polling booth, and in where I hand over my consumer dollar. But the available information sometimes sucks, both in quatity and in quality.
Thanks, Tyee, for always doing your best.
Van Isle
3 years ago
To be perfectly honest, I
To be perfectly honest, I completly forgot about the debate but I had no real intention of watching it anyway. It doesn't really matter cuz after the debate the press is only concered about is "Who won?"
MAC
3 years ago
True Colours
We watched the debate and must say that we were embarrassed at Gordon Campbell's behaviour.
The photo shown on the online version of today's Times Colonist looks like Gordon Campbell is congratulating Jane Sterk. In reality, he was pushing or moving her aside for a better photo opportunity. Ms. Sterk was too naive to even notice.
During the debate, Mr. Campbell had a real opportunity to address some of the issues in a professional manner, instead he choose to be extremely disrespectful to NDP Leader Carole James which showed his true colours toward woman in general.
We are embarrassed to call Gordon Campbell the Premier of British Columbia.
G West
3 years ago
Terrible format
Who came up with such a lame format - what was it supposed to be, the politican version of 'speed dating'?
cghzd
3 years ago
Campbell and BC Rail
Why didn't you ask him about is lies and the subsequent corruption and criminal charges regarding BC Rail????
gamedev
3 years ago
Far too short
I agree with others that this debate was far too short. There was also no attempt by the moderator to move Campbell back to the questions. He was allowed to just ramble on with rediculous assertions like the pine beetle are the NDP's fault.
Still, the debate did allow Gordon Campbell to really show his stuff. He managed to clearly communicate the following points...
1. He thinks women should be treated as inferior, second class entities in politics.
2. He is not afraid to make himself look like an arrogant, disrespectful, little man.
3. His mannerisms and vocal interactions with the moderator cleared showed that he expected to be treated in a preferencial way.
4. He does not feel he owes the taxpayers of BC any answers about major issues. The people are there to be siphoned for money and be danced around a ballroom once every four years (count your fingers after you have shaken hands with this guy).
So, umm, good job Gordo!
ladze
3 years ago
The only thing I want May 12 is STV
This article did little to inspire my confidence in the supposed two choices.
NRF
3 years ago
Half truths = Lies
Speaking about residents living in poverty, Campbell says, "We’ve reduced their costs for medical services treatment."
Unless of course, the residents pay MSP premiums or need eye exams, vision correction, dentistry, prescriptions, physiotherapy, chiropractic, podiatry, lab services and a few other things.
North of Hope
3 years ago
format problems
Many of the problems mentioned could be blamed on the format of the debate. The leaders had very little time to explore and probe the other leaders lines of thought. Nor did they have time to develop their ideas of the issues. 1 or 2 minutes is not enough time to explain your ideas on the environment, health, education, BC Rail or the economy.
I think the big question we need an answer to is who demanded the format of the debate? Was it a politician? If so then what is that politician afraid of, why does this person not wish to explore the issues? Or was it the media? Why was is on Sunday at 5 PM, perhaps the worst time on TV ? If the TV stations said this is where it should be broadcast, then they should be boycotted. If it was a politician, they should be "boycotted."
politico
3 years ago
Dope on the ropes
Anyone who thought Carole did not have the leadership skills required to win a public debate with long-time seasoned professionals was knocked out cold by Carole's solid performance.
Carole took the high road and left the low brow stuff to the Premier while out greening the Green leader in the environmental debate. Anyone hoping this debate would launch the green party into the legislature will have to vote for STV and wait for next time.
However, as has often been proven, winning the leaders debate does not necessarily translate in to winning the war. Campbell's team has been busy downplaying their leader's poor performance.
They are still repeating the myth that his leadership is the only alternative in these troubled times and that the stability he apparently offers is the prescription required to keep BC strong.
For Carole to win she must begin by taking down the green screen provided by 'professional' environmentalists. The pivot point of this election is the Liberal strategy to avoid their environmental track record while stepping up their environmentally destructive agenda by cloaking it with the green screen provided by the celebrity environmentalists.
This has been brilliantly executed and undertaken by some of the best mind benders in the business.
The environmental community is dominated by issue-based, ego-driven self-appointed leaders and Campbell knows that anyone organizing to push back on his strategy will be so busy shoveling frogs in to a wheel barrow that he can drive his agenda down BC's throat virtually unhindered.
So far this insidious, hypocritical deception has been a great success as Campbell clings to the mantel of "North America's Leader" on climate change regardless of the fact that this position is a mile wide and an inch deep.
Public opinion is not on his side, the majority of the environmental community is not on his side and the handful of power brokers who are on his side are not interested in "saving the planet." The only green these players are truly interested in is how much green can be made by portraying their leader as greener than greens.
This is a government without a vision for the future, one that is completely preoccupied with its own survival. You can count on Liberals continuing to sew doubt in the minds of BC voters about Carole's competence and leadership capacity in these troubling economic times. She cannot let them off the hook in this respect and must point out the obvious fact that we are in a terrible economic turmoil BECAUSE of Campbell's policies not despite them and more of the same is only going to ensure the globalist's agenda of draining the public purse and running off with what is left of our commonwealth.
This debate has proven Campbell is on the ropes. However it is up to Carole to ensure he stays down for the full 10 days after delivering last nights knock out punch or she will be forever known as the best Premier BC never had.