Opinion

The Quotable Gordon Campbell Quiz of 2009

When he said it, what did he mean?

By Bill Tieleman, 5 Jan 2010, TheTyee.ca

CampbellPaddles

What did the premier try to pull?

Text size:

Rate this:

Login/Register

Related

It is better to be quotable than to be honest. -- Tom Stoppard, playwright

In 2009, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell was very, very quotable.

But was he honest? You be the judge with our Campbell's quotes quiz of 2009.

"This is the single biggest thing we can do to improve B.C.'s economy." -- Premier Gordon Campbell, July 23, 2009

Was Campbell talking about his plans to:

A) Resign immediately as premier;

B) finally increase Canada's lowest minimum wage;

C) end the province's status as having the worst child poverty rate in the country for six straight years; or

D) introduce a new Harmonized Sales Tax that will add a seven per cent tax onto many goods and services not previously taxed?

The unfortunate and unpopular answer is D, bring in an HST on July 1, 2010.

"We may not have quite as much contingency but, I can tell you this: the deficit for 2009/10 will be $495 million." -- Premier Gordon Campbell, April 23, 2009

The actual deficit, revealed after the May election, was $2.8 billion.

The reason Campbell claims he didn't know there was a big problem before the election was because:

A) He was "consumed" with plans to help fight the H1N1 outbreak;

B) "Our staff had said to me that this is manageable," referring to rapidly dropping revenue;

C) his staff didn't tell him everything: "There is very restrictive interaction between the senior public service and anybody that's running for office." or

D) all of the above?

The contradictory answer is D. Campbell, under questioning in the Legislature by New Democrat leader Carole James, added that he was never worried anyway because under his leadership in the past B.C. had always "performed beyond expectations." Whew – we can all breathe easier now!

"To try and clarify this matter, this was an answer that was provided by our party during the election. It did reflect the position of the government at the time." -- Premier Gordon Campbell, November 25, 2009

Was the answer Campbell referring to:

A) B.C. Liberal Party plans to call for a full public inquiry into the B.C. Legislature Raid case if the trial fails to take place;

B) Party opposition to the rising cost of the 2010 Olympics;

C) the B.C. Liberals' intention to declare Campbell "Premier For Life"; or

D) a pledge to the Canadian Restaurant and Food Services Association that B.C. Liberals would not introduce a Harmonized Sales Tax if re-elected.

The answer, of course, is D. The CRFA estimates that the HST scheduled to start July 1 could cost its members $750 million in losses -- $50,000 per restaurant -- causing staff layoffs and closures.

"British Columbia has an important role to play in Copenhagen, both in supporting development of a global plan and in sharing our climate action measures with other governments." -- Premier Gordon Campbell, December 7, 2009

Was Campbell referring to B.C.:

A) Being the only province Statistics Canada says has increasing greenhouse-gas emissions from industrial polluters, especially the oil and gas industry;

B) His continuing plans to push for offshore oil and gas exploration;

C) his opposition to a natural gas flaring tax or

D) none of the above.

The answer is D -- but that didn't stop some environmental groups from giving Campbell a "climate action leadership" award for his carbon tax on gas and fuel!

And so ends our quiz. If you gave Campbell a bunch of Ds, you've got him all figured out. [Tyee]

Bill Tieleman is a regular Tyee contributor. E-mail him at weststar@telus.net or visit his blog.

26 Comments:

Login or register to post comments

  • Bob Watts

    2 years ago

    Carbon Reduction

    Here is an idea I've had for awhile about saving Billions of Barrels of oil per year.

    Bring back home postal delivery.
    I live in a small town like millions of Canadians, we have one Post Office, with hundreds of post boxes.

    There are about 3,000 people here or about 500 houses and appartments.

    Every day hundreds of cars and trucks are driven to our Post Office from up to 25kms away.

    Many leave their motors running, we love to talk and some motors are left running for 15 mins, it's far worse in the winter months.

    We could save how many tonnes of carbon by having two postal workers driving small electric Vans and doing home delivery of mail!

    This idea is just too simple, it would cost one government company extra (Canada Post).

    To me we should run contests, to solve problems in BC.

    How about a rail bridge to Vancouver Island that would carry cars and trucks on electric rail cars. It would be power by Electrical Wind Generators attached to the full length of the bridge. The extra power generated would cover the cost of the bridge. ZERO CARBON USED.....Or we could have a new half a Billion Dollar roof on BC Place EH!

  • Frank

    2 years ago

    Bob Watts

    The problem is postal workers are unionized and the governments would rather set their own houses on fire than hire more unionized workers.

    Contracting out delivery at $6 an hour to someone that steals your mail only 20% of the time of course would be fine.

  • freebear

    2 years ago

    "What did the premier try to pull"?

    The wool over british columbians eyes!

    A fast one on the electorate!

    His pud!

  • salty dog

    2 years ago

    Gordon Cambell is a PROVEN LIAR and PROVEN LAWBREAKER

    Goodstuff Bill T.......But you missed more of Gordon Campbell`s deliberate lies(quotes)....

    Perhaps you forgot about this one .....

    On October 23/2008....Remember Gordon(Big mouth Liar)Campbell when he had his televised 10 point economic plan, the 6:00pm prime time speech carried by all the BC news channels....

    Gordon Liar Campbell said that night..

    " I think the bottom line is we want to make sure we put more money into the economy" And the liar Gordon Campbell went on to say.....

    "We`ve watched as our province has gone through difficult times before and when you put more money in people`s pockets, I think that actually stabilizes the economy, and helps people make choices for themselves" Campbell(the Liar) said.

    Everytime Gordon Campbell opens his mouth he lies his face off....Your going down Campbell,and your whole party is going down with you,you lying bastard!

    Here is the link to Campbell`s 10 point economic speech last fall, and those quotes are in the story so I don`t expect any Tyee moderation!...

    http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=c31f5515-1bf6-4aa9-8f45-3bb7f1c59eda

    Cheers

  • Skywalker

    2 years ago

    Way to go Gordon.

    Campbell sitting in a boat which is high and dry pretending he is moving it forward. It is symbolic. All his actions introduced with so much fanfare and expectation and none of it works. Like the HST and the carbon tax money grab pretending you are going somewhere but in actual fact standing still. As phoney as the stuff that looks like water

  • Luke

    2 years ago

    Gordo, Gordo, Gordo time to

    Gordo, Gordo, Gordo time to pack it in. No doubt about it. Carole James is almost looking better.

    Hell, one former New Democrat constituency president for Nelson-Creston is suggesting that Carole James resign for a new leader in a sort of "Green Acres" "slapstick and shtick in Hooterville" kinda way:

    Quote:
    And I think that's the same thing that's happening with Carole," she said. "People are nice. And if they don't agree with her, they're just quietly disengaging. They're not speaking up."

    Quote:
    "People don't want to be unkind to her," Ms. Page continued, noting Ms. James is widely seen as a nice person. And I think that's valuable.

    http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/004607.html#more

    I agree that she's nicer than Gordo. But Carole "take me to your leader" James doesn't cut it either.

    And one can also probably conclude that Carole is also the "Slowest Gun In the West."

    18 days after the guvmint issues a news release on its response to a coroner's inquest, Carole instructs the NDP to put out a news release in response.

    http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/004612.html#more

    Gawd BC politics is forever entertaining. :D

  • salty dog

    2 years ago

    Gordon Cambell is a lying bastard!

    EDITED FOR LEGAL CONCERNS Campbell goes on TV and tells the province the best way to stimulate the economy is to put money in people`s pockets, lower ferry fares, freeze assesments.....

    Then Comes the Great election fraud of 2009(BC provincial election) EDITED
    And he has two choices,resign or be recalled....I would prefer to drag Campbell out of office kicking and screaming all the way.

    Hey Luke...Stop trying to change the subject...

    The story isn`t about how useless Carole James is....The story is about Gordon Campbell EDITED

  • Cynic

    2 years ago

    salty, please stop beating

    salty, please stop beating around the bush and tell us how you really feel.

  • Moonbug

    2 years ago

    luke and public eye are wrong anyway

    I didn't look back further but there is this release that was sent out last week:

    http://www.bcndpcaucus.ca/en/new_democrats_call_on_b_c_liberals_to_make_new_year_s_resolutions_to_stop_violence_against_women

    “We are calling on the government to make a New Year’s resolution to take action on these recommendations – especially the coroner’s call to establish regional and provincial domestic violence response units. Fully funding dedicated domestic violence courts would also go a long way to protecting women and children from family violence,” said Karagianis, MLA for Esquimalt-Royal Roads.

    Anything to make the story about the NDP's failings though right?

    Nevermind that the government has a staff of 200+ to get the word out- it is all the NDP's fault that what?

    See if they had pounced on the story right away everyone would be saying how wrong it was for them to politicize it and not even give the government a chance to respond to the recommendations.

    Last I checked it was the government that was sitting on their hands while women and children die horrible and preventable deaths. They are the ones with the power to do something.

    But somehow we can blame it on Carole. The only thing interesting about B.C. politics is how intellectually dishonest the right is and how mean and sniping the left is.

    Carole is a great leader. What she needs is for the people of this province to stop snivelling and get behind her instead of using her back for knife throwing practise.

  • crankypants

    2 years ago

    Observation

    Ever since the day the media arrived at Glen Clark's house before the police, the MSM has done everything possible to denigrate anything attached to the NDP and champion everything put forth by the BC Liberal Party.

    Since the last election, some of the MSM have begrudgingly started to question the integrity brought forth by Gordo and his gang, especially with respect to the pre-election budget which was pure fantasy. Even this has been pretty tame and one can only assume that big business has circled the wagons and put the financial squeeze on Canwest-Global and the other news outlets.

    What I would really like to know is why the provincial government needs a squad of approximately 200 taxpayer funded employees in the Public Affairs Bureau when the MSM has been doing the same job for free?

  • Wilfride Laurier

    2 years ago

    Well Done, Bill

    Well done Bill, you have written yet another concise, unbiased and accurate piece regarding the Premier. I am assured that your efforts will lead to an NDP government ASAP and that this effort will be just as successful as your Axe The Tax campaign and your present anti-HST Facebook drive.

    Keep up the good work! I am sure there is no self interest on your part, either, only the strong desire for the greater good of all British Columbians.

  • salty dog

    2 years ago

    Hey moderators

    Nothing I said needed to by "edited out"....What part about Gordon Campbell being a lying bastard and law breaker is untrue(none)

    Where are your balls Tyee? or should I say the :tame one: ....You are turning into PAP Tyee....Right Monte Paulson? or should I say..Monte(Bill Good`s little friend)Paulson.

    Nothing more interesting on monday morning than listening to the right-wing Bill Good and right-wing Norman Specter and the right-wing Monte Paulson.

    Your not deserving of any awards for 2009...Gag Me

  • Frank

    2 years ago

    salty

    "Nothing more interesting on monday morning than listening to the right-wing Bill Good and right-wing Norman Specter and the right-wing Monte Paulson."

    Which is why I don't listen to it. Methinks three right-wingers spending every Monday trashing the NDP and praising the Great Gord would be a little hard to listen to. That's why God created music.

  • Skywalker

    2 years ago

    Interesting reading the progression of posts

    On any given article that attacks Gordon Campbell or the liberals, even on that does nothing more than compare what he said to what he actually did, you get a string of posts confirming the opinion expresses. Many posts later it is like the word got out to the Public Affairs Bureau of the Premiers office to go out and do battle and Wilfred and Luke and R/man come out and make some flippant comment attacking the writer. I'm starting to wonder if they really are different people.

    Bill's piece is really the kind of accountability reporting that the MSM should be doing but they are too busy giving us daily doses of some insignificant aspect of the Oympics. The significant details are avoided and it is up to quite ordinary folks to do the MSM job.

    What a politician said and then what he/she did a few months later strikes at the heart of integrity. One example of how far people will twist the truth is to listen to a Harper spokesperson justify proroguing the House. They just ooze dishonesty.

    So all you PAB flunkies do your thing. Your day will come.

  • zalm

    2 years ago

    A little Nicht-musik?

    "Which is why I don't listen to it. Methinks three right-wingers spending every Monday trashing the NDP and praising the Great Gord would be a little hard to listen to. That's why God created music."

    Oh? The Three Tremors, warbling Che Gelida Manina (That Icy Small Hand) perhaps? Though I admit I'm surprised to hear Monte included in the mix. I'd call him Corus's token leftie, no matter how far right you think he might be. If you're after a Trojan horse, look at Michael Smythe whenever he hosts shows - unprepared, uncomplicated, unreal. He's a 'straw man' of the sort that Canvas Goebbels only wishes it had.

  • zalm

    2 years ago

    Salty dog

    A little too much 'silly god' in the last thought. Down boy. Gordon Campbell is a liar. 'Nuff said.

  • salty dog

    2 years ago

    Zalm......

    I have to disagree with you Zalm.....Even today Glen Clark is villified in the media, but with all of Gordon Campbell`s "lies and crimes" he is refered to as.....

    Premier...Honourable...esteemed...He should be refered to as the "compulsive liar who runs BC"

    How many times has his government been in court,or still in court, perhaps you have forgotten about the HEU case that went to the supreme court of Canada.

    Compulsive liar Gordon Campbell is given respect in the media he doesn`t deserve...Even on the cknw show :Monday morning quarterback: when Bill Teileman was still on the show...

    Norman specter said of Glen Clark..."Glen Clark left the premiership of BC tarnished and soiled"

    Bill T stood up for Clark....Specter couldn`t back up his claim....When I emailed Specter to give him hell...Specter emailed my back..and said...

    "Glen Clark was guilty, read the Hughes report"

    At what point Zalm do we drop the word "honourable" when refering to Campbell or any BC Liberal?

    I think the time was after the mugg shots from Hawaii......

    Meanwhile, I will refer to Gordon Campbell as the "Lying Bastard"

    Cheers

  • Don McBain

    2 years ago

    Wonderful quizz

    I got all the right (correct) answers, not hard if you are left of center in BC politics

  • Don McBain

    2 years ago

    Wonderful quizz

    I got all the right (correct) answers, not hard if you are left of center in BC politics

  • Frank

    2 years ago

    zalm

    "Oh? The Three Tremors, warbling Che Gelida Manina (That Icy Small Hand) perhaps?"

    Did the Clash cover that?

    "Though I admit I'm surprised to hear Monte included in the mix. I'd call him Corus's token leftie, no matter how far right you think he might be."

    Or perhaps he may be more like Good and Spector's version of Alan Colmes?

  • Skywalker

    2 years ago

    "Glen Clark was guilty, read the Hughes report"

    Boy Spector is really grasping at straws. The Hughes report compared to a court case with cross examination of witnesses and the lot. Yes Norman you really are grasping at straws.

  • Skywalker

    2 years ago

    "Glen Clark was guilty, read the Hughes report"

    Boy Spector is really grasping at straws. The Hughes report compared to a court case with cross examination of witnesses and the lot. Yes Norman you really are grasping at straws.

  • Skywalker

    2 years ago

    Don McBain

    It was a no brainer for lefties or righties.

  • North of Hope

    2 years ago

    Gordo's most notable quote

    Here is Gordo's most notable quote. it is in response to Carole James' question during the farce called the debate when she asked if he would do anything different about the sail about BC Rail.

    He responded, " ."

  • zalm

    2 years ago

    Salty Dawg

    I'm not disagreeing with you about Gordo - it's about whoever else you get your saliva all over when you've got a good rant going. Like Paulsen and Tyee.

  • zalm

    2 years ago

    Frank

    Alan Colmes? I had to look that one up. Y'all could be right - I don't listen to Bill Good except for rare times when I'm into something mindless outside and need a distraction that CBC Two can't provide.

    • The discussion for this story is closed. No more comments can be added.