Recent polling shows growing support for the provincial NDP as a government-in-waiting. Accordingly, it's time to take a closer look at the party, its policies and leader Adrian Dix. It's easy to be in opposition and arm-chair quarterback every issue, but far more difficult when elected to office. With the NDP seemingly on the road to a majority, British Columbians have to get serious and ask how the socialist brain trust would deal with the vexing issues of today.
We'll begin with the Enbridge pipeline project, a Northern B.C. issue that's caught the attention of the country. The B.C. NDP has taken a strong stance in opposition to Enbridge. In spite of the ongoing hearings, which have yet to approve the pipeline proposal and will not conclude until next year, the NDP is against it.
Obviously due process isn't a New Democrat thing. The more serious problem with this my-mind's-made-up-don't-confuse-me-with-the-facts attitude is the message it sends to investors. Simply put, it says an NDP government would determine without consultation that B.C. is closed for business. It also explains why unemployment soared the last time the New Democrats were in office.
The other festering issue is the B.C. Teachers Federation dispute. The NDP has criticized Bill 22, the legislation sending teachers back to work and imposing a mediator. That's fair comment for a pro-labour party. But, with the sticking point in this impasse being a net-zero cost to the B.C. taxpayer, the NDP has been curiously non-committal on how it would resolve that question. If elected, would the NDP roll over and give the teachers a wage and benefit increase? If so, how would the party address the demands of other public-sector workers who are willing to accept the net-zero edict as long as it applies to all on the taxpayer-funded payroll? Would the NDP cave in to the teachers and in turn cause an avalanche of public-sector wage demands? Who knows? Although loudly vocal on every other hot-button issue, B.C. New Democrats have been surprisingly hushed on the net-zero question.
Speaking of costs to the taxpayer, it would be good to see an NDP budget prior to the next election. This is not difficult. It's politically scary, but not difficult. By way of background, the legislative budget process in B.C. is absolutely transparent. If you want to look it up, go to the government website, find the budget and click on the PDF titled Estimates.
There you will find details on revenues, expenditures and the itemized costs of every ministry. This document, along with quarterly reporting makes projecting a B.C. budget an easy task. Remembering of course that like any other budget, an increase in expenditures requires raising taxes, decreasing expenditures in another department, or going further into debt.
We know how the Liberals budget, the books are open. The more critical question is what would an NDP budget look like? Before we go to the polls next May, B.C.'s New Democrats should roll out a proposed budget, just to let the electorate know how its priorities would differ from the Liberals. And don't let any NDP MLA or candidate say it can't be done; believe me it can.
For you political history buffs who want to visit the Estimates, former Premier Glen Clark created his fudget-budget issue when he overstated resource revenues.
Finally, there's the question of NDP leader Adrian Dix.
There's no doubt Dix does not have Dave Barrett's energy or sense of humour. Barrett was B.C.'s first NDP premier defeating Socred premier W.A.C. Bennett in 1972.
In addition, Dix pales considerably in the personality department when compared to the genuinely likeable Mike Harcourt, who defeated the Socreds in 1991.
Not exactly Mr. Congeniality, Dix is also brings a few personal integrity questions to the 2013 election.
He has admitted to backdating a memo to protect then Premier Glen Clark in what was called the Casino-gate affair. He has admitted to riding the Sky Train without a ticket, plus the details surrounding his membership drive when he was elected party leader are messy to say the least.
None of these admissions are capital crimes in themselves, but in the wild history of B.C. politics I know of no other premier-in-waiting who has entered a major campaign with this type of baggage.
It's easy to say we all make mistakes. But before we make an enormous one next May 14th, let's insist on a candid and upfront campaign from the NDP.
*** *** ***
A dazzling contrast.
Average university tuition in Quebec -- $2,519. Average university tuition in B.C. -- $4,952. Enjoying beef on a bun at last Friday's UNBC convocation with hundreds of happy, smiling and decidedly non-confrontational university grads - priceless.
Bruce Strachan is a former B.C. cabinet minister and Prince George city councillor. His column appears Thursdays. E-mail: [email protected]
