In 2006, David Emerson was re-elected as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Vancouver Kingsway. The former Canfor CEO first won the riding in 2004 and was promptly named industry minister by Prime Minister Paul Martin.
The problem with 2006 was that Stephen Harper and his Conservatives won a minority government and Emerson was set to move to the opposition benches.
Except he didn't.
Seeing that the Conservatives didn't win a single seat in Vancouver except for James Moore in Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam, Emerson pondered how he could best serve his riding and Vancouver in general.
His answer stunned the Liberals and the people of his riding when he showed up at the swearing-in of Harper's cabinet to announce he was crossing the House of Commons floor to become a Conservative. He was named minister of international trade and minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver Olympics.
Emerson made an immediate impact. Less than three months later, Canada had a new softwood lumber deal with the United States.
Eleven years later and Prince George and the Central Interior finds itself with no representation in the provincial legislature, much like Vancouver after the 2006 federal election.
Area B.C. Liberal supporters have been quick to point out that incoming NDP premier John Horgan has no MLAs in this region, somehow suggesting that he's unqualified to make decisions on behalf of area residents.
There is a solution to their concerns.
Prince George and the surrounding area were spoiled in Christy Clark's cabinet, with Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond, Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris, Cariboo North MLA Coralee Oakes and Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad all in cabinet.
One of them - for the good of the region and for the good of the province - should cross the floor and join Horgan's cabinet.
It won't happen, of course.
All four of these MLAs handily won their ridings with a majority of the votes. The sense of betrayal by area voters would be significant and loud, as Emerson experienced in Vancouver Kingsway. It's no coincidence he didn't run for re-election as a Conservative candidate.
Yet right-of-centre voters across B.C. were thrilled that Emerson crossed the floor federally in 2006, arguing that Emerson's professional experience and academic pedigree (he has a Ph.D. in economics) were needed for the good of the country and shouldn't languish in opposition.
If that was true then, isn't it also true now?
For the good of the Prince George region, shouldn't one of the Liberal MLAs volunteer to sit in Horgan's cabinet?
If they agreed with the contents of the recent throne speech, which borrowed extensively from the NDP platform, what would be so hard about switching parties now?
And haven't area voters been constantly clamoring for representatives that put their interests ahead of that of the political party? Isn't now one of those times to do that?
Both Morris and Bond would be a good fit for such a bold move but Bond would be best. Her personal integrity is unquestionable, meaning only a fool would question her sincerity when she said she was doing it for the good of Prince George and area residents, not for her own personal gain. She's a strong Liberal but she's never been rabidly partisan (at least publicly) against the NDP or Horgan. She would not have to face voters in the next election if she chose not to.
Meanwhile, the benefits are significant. Her 16 years of MLA experience in government, nearly all of it at the cabinet table, would be invaluable to Horgan and his team of rookies. In exchange, Horgan would allow Bond to keep Prince George's interests front and centre in his government, which could be critical with another softwood lumber agreement to be worked out. Bond could offer assurances to industry leaders that their concerns are still being heard.
Provincially, Bond would be doing both parties, as well as all voters, a huge favour. Horgan's NDP government would be more stable, the B.C. Liberals would have time to hold a leadership convention, to either renew Clark's mandate or put in someone new and voters would be spared the possibility and uncertainty of an abrupt election later this year or early next.
The downside? Hurt feelings by local partisan B.C. Liberals and rabid anti-NDP voters and some strained relationships. Nothing that can't be overcome and certainly nothing that overrides the pluses.
If people are serious about local representation under an NDP government, sacrifices will have to be made for that to happen.
Bond has never shied away from the tough jobs in her political life. She shouldn't start now.
-- Editor-in-chief Neil Godbout
