Like many this last week I have been doing a lot of snow shovelling.
As part of my job, I have double duty — home and work. Needless to say I have had a lot of time for reflection on what is happening in our province.
With my involvement in politics, that usually comes first. Both major parties are going through a leadership race so you too may be getting an over overabundance of calls for your vote. Locally there seems to be some debate on whether there will be a recall or not. Like the rest of the NDP, the organizers are not all on the same page.
As I shovel I think of the road conditions, street maintenance and snow removal, along with the recall issue. It reminds me of 1987 when the debate over the privatization of Highways upkeep took place. I am not judging whether it was right or wrong, but remembering the individual who started it.
If you check the Vancouver Sun stories in the fall of ‘87 you will see that he refused to debate the issue, and also stated he would not make public any studies or reports that support this decision. So much for true democracy. This was also the same person who started the recall campaign. I don’t know if people have short memories or if they are just like sheep and follow without realizing the rational or outcome.
I also know many who are opposed to the HST but are not in favour of recall. In an article just last week VanderZalm stated that the recall had to be successful to stop the HST. That is absolutely false. The only thing recall will do is cause a byelection within a year of a general election and cost taxpayers millions. The HST will be decided by the referendum, not recall.
I now better understand how some are able to garner support by others willing to follow blindly when they do not understand the main intent or comprehend the final outcome.
Walt Cobb is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. He is a former MLA, former Williams Lake mayor, and current president of the Williams Lake and District Chamber of Commerce.