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Economic woes bad news for NDP |
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Written by BRUCE STRACHAN
Citizen columnist
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008 |
Tuesday’s Citizen headline read, “Provincial revenues expected to plunge.”
Bad news? You bet, especially for the provincial NDP.
Conversely, for Gordon Campbell and the Liberals, the world economic meltdown should pave the way for an election win next May.
Curious isn’t it? Campbell has spent the past seven years convincing British Columbians he’s out of touch, but with the economy on the rocks he’s found an opportunity to get back on track.
In the muddled outcomes of political polling, the NDP has moved ahead on the question, who would you vote for in the next election? But Campbell trumps NDP leader Carole James when it comes to the issue of who’s best to manage the economy. On this issue, Campbell has a 41-per-cent approval rating, while James and the NDP come in at 18 per cent.
That’s a large and politically significant difference.
To expand on this, look at Wednesday’s Citizen and the comments of Central 1 Credit Union economist Helmut Pastrick, who says this is the worst B.C. recession he’s seen since 1981-82.
Now rewind to the 1983 provincial election. This was the “restraint” election in answer to the 1981-82 recession.
Socred premier Bill Bennett’s campaign focused on holding the line on government spending.
In opposition to this, New Democrat leader Dave Barrett said, “I would scrap the restraint program because it’s just scare tactics and has no economic foundation.”
In one poorly thought out comment, Barrett cinched the election for Bennett. The Socreds picked up four seats and a healthy 35 to 22 seat majority in the then 57-seat B.C. Legislative Assembly.
Simply put, in 1983, Barrett and the NDP were right out of touch with reality: 20-per-cent interest rates and a provincial economy in desperate straits.
Fast forward to 2008 and it’s dÈj‡ vu all over again.
NDP leader James is promising to spend more than $2.4 billion over the next three years to help British Columbians through the current world economic crisis.
On what, I wonder.
More make-work programs like building fast ferries, or featherbed, high-cost, union-only highway construction projects? Or, is James promising a return to the Pollyanna economics of Dave Barrett, where our current fiscal doldrums are seen as having no serious foundation?
NDP forests critic Bob Simpson has attempted to defuse, and confuse, our economic plight by calling for an independent audit while making reference to Stephen Harper’s GST cuts. I don’t know what parliament Simpson thinks he’s in, but B.C. has quarterly reporting, and an independent auditor general.
In contrast, Gordon Campbell has finally found his political feet. Last month he announced a series of measures to reduce personal and small-business taxes, push provincial productivity and control government spending. These initiatives are designed to benefit income producers.
Campbell also fired a shot across the federal bow by openly criticizing any Ottawa proposal to bail out the Canadian - read Ontario - auto industry.
In an interview with the Globe and Mail editorial board, Campbell said, “This is about three companies in the automobile industry who have made bad business decisions.”
He’s right, and any special assistance to an Ontario-based industry will not sit well with those of us seeing the dramatic downturn in our B.C. resource-based communities.
Clearly, Campbell is gearing up for a tough fight on May 12, 2009, the date of our next election.
In that time, the B.C. economy is not likely to improve.
Indeed, the only light at the end of any tunnel for British Columbia is the promise of strong, tough leadership, leadership that understands there are no free lunches and no tooth-fairy handouts to special-interest groups.
Leadership that has never been at all apparent in the NDP caucus.
* * *
Madam I’m Adam. (Also, the first palindrome.)
In a bizarre twist of writing for political correctness, the Vancouver Sun has reached new and dizzying heights.
Covering the ‘Kick-a-Ginger Day’ story, Sun reporter Catherine Rolfsen referred to School District 57 chair Lyn Hall as "Prince George chairwoman Lyn Hall." Curious, since Hall spent some time on the phone with Rolfsen.
In future, and before the Sun takes on more wishful gender reassignments, it should take a better look at reporter assignment.
Bruce Strachan is a former B.C. cabinet minister and Prince George city councillor. His column appears Thursdays. E-mail:
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 26 November 2008 )
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