British Columbia

Wednesday May 31, 2017

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday May 31, 2017

B.C. NDP and Greens to release details of their power-sharing deal

B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan held a triumphant meeting of his MLAs at the legislature Tuesday, as his party prepares to overthrow the governing Liberals and take power with the help of the B.C. Greens.

March 11, 1999

Horgan arrived to a standing ovation and a flurry of desk thumping as NDP MLAs and party staff crowded into the Opposition board room at the legislature to hear details of a power-sharing agreement announced Monday with the Greens.

“Wow, what a race, what a contest, what an election campaign, and how excited are we today?” Horgan said to applause.

“We’ll have the opportunity as a caucus of 41 New Democrats to ratify an agreement that will bring stability to the legislature and allow us to focus on the things we campaigned on, allow us to ensure we can make life more affordable for British Columbians, that we can protect the services people care about, and most importantly we can make sure the economy works for everybody.

“That’s what we campaigned upon, that’s what we’re going to deliver. I’m very excited to have you all here, and I’m very excited about the prospect of forming the next government of British Columbia.”

Combined, the NDP and Greens hold 44 seats in the legislature, compared to 43 for the Liberals.

Horgan said the NDP will release a copy of the agreement with the Greens at 2 p.m. Tuesday. He mentioned it will allow an NDP government to improve housing affordability, improve health care, defend the coast from pipelines and improve the education system. (Source: Vancouver Sun)

 

Thursday March 11, 1999

By Graeme MacKay, Editorial Cartoonist, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday March 11, 1999

Glen Clark’s political demise is imminent

Thanks to the reluctant support of his caucus, it seems like British Columbia Premier Glen Clark has a brief reprieve from early retirement. No matter. There’s no graceful exit for the besieged NDP leader and his party. Popular support stands at about 17 per cent. The government is nearly out of money and needs to recall the legislature to present a budget. B.C.’s economy is on the skids. The diminutive, feisty premier is toast.For political reasons, Clark and his dwindling band of supporters decided the premier shouldn’t step aside right now. Politically, they may be right. To date, there is no hard evidence that Clark was involved in anything serious enough to require his resignation. Quitting now would only lead to widespread speculation that he is guilty of more serious sins than having shady neighbour Dimitrios Pilarinos build a porch on the premier’s house and cottage. Strategically, it’s better for the government that Clark stay on for a respectable period of time, then resign as quietly as possible.

Of course, that’s a common sensical sort of outcome, and common sense isn’t abundant in British Columbia provincial politics. Remember Socred Premier Bill Vander Zalm, who fell from grace in 1988 amidst allegations of corruption? Then there was NDP Premier Mike Harcourt, who fell on his sword in 1996 because of his government’s apparently inappropriate use of gambling proceeds. As far back as anyone cares to remember, B.C. politics have been wild and wooly.

Even so, the brief Glen Clark mandate will go down as one of the wildest, at least in recent memory. Clark was barely elected when the first tempest struck over promises his government made about balancing the budget. Instead, the books showed a burgeoning deficit. Things went downhill from there.

Clark, of course, has a justification for his government’s woes. It’s a common refrain from politicians acting in desperation: The media are to blame. (Source: Hamilton Spectator Editorial)