If we held a provincial election today, there's no doubt Gordon Campbell and the Liberals would be voted off the island, en masse.
A recent Angus Reid poll has the Liberals in the tank with an approval rating of 29 per cent. Meanwhile, over on the left wing and sitting comfortably in the catbird seat, Carole James and the New Democrats are enjoying the soaring support of 49 per cent of Angus Reid's respondents.
Without question, Campbell's handling and introduction of the HST is responsible for the Liberal's trailing position. Premier Campbell was seen by 72 per cent of respondents as arrogant, 56 per cent saw him as secretive, 55 per cent think he is dishonest and 51 per cent believe he is uncaring.
The Angus Reid respondents were not that unkind to NDP leader Carole James, but she was seen by 38 per cent as weak and 35 per as inefficient. The provincial NDP in general was seen by 40 per cent as inefficient and weak by 37 per cent.
More telling, 49 per cent of British Columbians saw the need for a new political party. In other words, we're either fed up with or unimpressed with what we have now.
With that evidence, - and accepting Angus Reid as presenting a pretty good snapshot of the provincial mood - where do our provincial parties and party supporters go from here?
First, the NDP is winning by default. And although it's not too likely Gordon Campbell will recover from the HST issue, or the generally held feeling of his less-than-charming personality, the NDP still has to coalesce and put an election plank in place if the party is to manage a majority win in 2013.
Characterizing the NDP and leader Carole James as weak and inefficient was to be expected. History shows previous NDP governments were not effective when it came to leadership. NDP premier Dave Barrett was all over the block when it came to policy. Minerals were to be left in the ground. Highways budgets reduced, budgets and debt management ignored, while big labour called the shots.
The 1991 to 2001 NDP was equally inept. Premier Mike Harcourt - Mr. Congeniality - couldn't manage Bingogate, environmental issues, and a declining economy with any sort of aplomb. He was forced out of office by big labour and the Glen Clark, Moe Sihota, Dan Miller cabal. Harcourt dithered and perished.
This led to the whimsical years of Glen Clark. A whimsical Forest Practises Act, a whimsical belief in untested aluminum fast ferries. And a whimsical belief that no one would notice marginal income tax rates of over 50 per cent, or the investment-killing corporation capital tax.
A smart NDP going to the polls in 2013 must present a solid corporation-friendly economic policy. Plus, the party must take a new leader to that race. Carole James is nice, but nice leaders finish second.
On the Liberal side, 2013 will be more difficult. Gordon Campbell will be gone, but so will a number of experienced cabinet ministers. Locally, I doubt if Pat Bell or Shirley Bond will run again. Whoever inherits the Liberal party must show leadership along with an, "I'm not Gordon Campbell," image.
With our next election just three short years away, watch for the leadership power scramble to begin. According to Angus Reid, British Columbians are grumpy; getting the electorate onside for both the Liberals and the NDP will be a monumental task.
The accidental tourist.
During the last 10 days of April, I was hospitalized with a really nasty bout of pneumonia. Three days in, the fear of an even nastier complication called for a transfer to Kelowna General. Having had the opportunity to look at B.C. healthcare from an expanded perspective, let me offer a few observations.
First, healthcare and patient management in B.C. is first class. The transfer was seamless, everything clicked, and there's no question we have a truly comprehensive provincial system.
Second, we have an exceptional nursing component in our hospitals. The vast majority of nurses I saw in both hospitals were young - probably graduated within the last 10 years - they were well trained, communicative and caring. Our current nursing cohort is the result of exceptional teaching facilities, skilled recruiting and a strong government commitment to addressing a previous shortage.
Finally, and on a lighter note - pun intended - hospital meals in both facilities were consistently mediocre. It's OK; I needed to lose some weight anyway.
However, I did come away with a whole new meaning of the term - food to die for.
