Ten Questions for Campbell

With the B.C. Liberals’ platform out and only two weeks remaining until voting day, B.C. voters can be forgiven if they don’t yet have a grasp of just what the next four years would look like under a re-elected Gordon Campbell government. Campbell is enthusiastic about promising the province’s residents a “golden decade,” and on insisting that a re-elected Liberal government is the only way to ensure continued economic growth and job creation. He has tried to leave the impression that now the tough times of “getting our financial house in order” have passed, the next four years might continue like the past few months in which money has been rolling off the back of the Liberal truck.

But Campbell’s own budget documents have made it clear that that is not necessarily true, and the party’s campaign platform does not answer many of those questions. Although in some areas, the platform is remarkably detailed (education, both K-12 and post-secondary is one), in others it consists of vague generalities that would give any re-elected government a great deal of wriggle room. And on some of the key (and most controversial issues) that are likely to face the province during the next four years, both the premier and his party’s campaign platform have been remarkably silent.

Campbell’s opponents have made much of the Liberals’ broken election promises over the past four years – the privatization of B.C. Rail, the failure to deliver the promised new long-term care beds for health care, etc. But if one looks back at the Liberals’ term in office, much of the greatest consternation has come, not from promises broken, but from Liberal actions that were never mentioned during their 2001 campaign. That included such agenda items as the closures of courthouses and health care facilities, the 23-page review of all persons receiving disability benefits, and the substantial rollbacks in employment standards legislation. That should be enough to get voters wondering just what else Campbell might have up his sleeve along with the promises and policies offered in the campaign document and in his speeches around the province.

The ten top questions Campbell should still be asked might include, in no particular order:

1. Gaming: Full speed ahead?

The policy document is completely silent on the future of gaming in B.C. Would a re-elected Campbell government allow further expansion of gaming in the province? How much? Would it allow new casinos to be built, or would it continue its policy of allowing expansion only in existing ones? Would B.C. Lotteries be allowed or encouraged to establish more Internet gaming sites?

2. Fish Farming: How much, how safe?

Fish farming has been highly contentious during the past four years. How much further expansion would a re-elected Liberal government allow? What safeguards would be in place to maintain the health and safety of the wild salmon population?

3. Labour relations: New strike rules?

The Liberal platform says it would oppose attempts by the NDP to change the balance in labour relations to make it more friendly to unions. But it gives no indication what steps a re-elected Liberal government might take in this area. For instance, would the Liberals change labour legislation to allow the use of replacement workers during strikes and lockouts?

4. Public service: More layoffs, privatization?

In 2001, Campbell gave few hints of the massive downsizing he was planning for B.C.’s public service: about 11,000 jobs gone. Does he think he’s now got the size of the public service about right? Or is he planning more massive jobs cuts and transfers to the private sector if he gets re-elected?

5. ICBC: Shut it down?

The private insurance industry has made no secret of the fact that it has been upset the Liberals didn’t go further in privatizing ICBC. What would the Liberals do if they got re-elected? Would they look at dismantling the public auto insurance company altogether?

6. Emergency wards: Any fix?

The Liberal party platform talks about the new dollars to be put into health care – into such areas as reducing waiting lists, buying new capital equipment, and even mental health (all areas where it’s sorely needed). But one area that’s never mentioned at all is the many hopelessly overcrowded emergency wards in B.C. hospitals. People’s health and lives can be put at risk if emergency ward care isn’t there when they need it. What plan do the Liberals have to ease the pressures there?

7. Child protection: Further cuts?

The Liberals are promising to provide more money for day care (in conjunction with the new federal plan) and to provide some health services for young children. But the only mention in the platform of child protection is a promise to have yet another try at implementing the regionalization of child protection services (a plan which has been constantly delayed for the past four years). Would a Campbell government make further cuts to child protection programs and programs for youth at risk? Those involved in the field on Vancouver Island have already been warned that further cuts are coming, at least in their region.

8. Independent officers of Legislature: Muzzle watchdogs?

Those government “watchdogs” who are paid through the legislature allegedly independent of party affiliation have seen their budgets cut by one-quarter and more over the past four years. Will the Liberals commit to maintaining officers like the Ombudsman, the Police Complaints Commissioner and the Auditor General at their current levels, or will they be cut even further, making it even more difficult to obtain an independent look at government performance?

9. Welfare: Back to ‘workfare’?

The Liberal party platform waxes enthusiastic about the improvements being made to services provided for the disabled. It is totally silent on what other changes might be made in welfare policies. The idea of moving to a more comprehensive “workfare” system and allowing few, other than the disabled, to stay on welfare for more than two years out of five were abandoned by the Liberals in the wake of strong public protests. Would a re-elected Liberal government consider trying to implement those policies, or similar changes, again?

10. ‘The most business-friendly jurisdiction’: Impact on nature, workers?

The Liberal platform promises changes to make B.C. the most business-friendly jurisdiction in Canada. It doesn’t, however, say just how that will be accomplished. Will Premier Campbell promise that it won’t be by further weakening environmental legislation or workers’ rights – moves that are often applauded by the business community?

Barbara McLintock, based in Victoria, is a contributing editor to The Tyee, and was Legislative bureau chief for The Province newspaper.