It doesn’t seem to matter where I have gone recently, Prince George to the Chamber of Commerce AGM or Kamloops to an Interior Science Innovation Council meeting, or right here at home.
There is much discussion on whether we are looking at an early fall provincial election.
There are a number and varied reasons given why some think there needs to be one, but with all those reasons I have only found a couple of individuals who think it is a good idea regardless of how many reasons are given. I suppose we can always find compelling reasons to do something if we really want to do it, but I think consideration needs to be given for all involved in that decision. The average person is not a political junkie like those who live and breath politics, and often if you have a narrow circle of people you are discussing issues with you do not always get the bigger picture.
The majority I talk to do not want an election under any circumstances regardless of those in favour. Maybe the circles of people I have talked to are too narrow. Who knows what is right? We just had a federal election, both provincial parties just had a leadership vote, the HST referendum us coming up, and the municipal, school board and regional district elections are this fall. Is that not enough for one year? Or maybe if we had a provincial election as well we would be free of elections for at least three years and get it all over with in 2011. I personally would prefer to keep to the four-year cycle regardless of the fact that both the ruling party and the opposition in B.C. have new leaders. Regardless of who the leaders are, or the direction, the party platform has not changed for either party — the only difference being that with new leaders emphasis is given to different parts of that platform.
So in my view let’s give our volunteers the summer off, wait for the municipal elections this fall, and until 2013 for the provincial election.
Walt Cobb is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. He is a former Liberal MLA, former Williams Lake mayor, and current president of the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce.