Full disclosure 鈥� I am a Liberal and have been a longtime supporter of Premier Christy Clark.
Now that we know the B.C. Liberals are here to stay, I have fielded many calls over the last week from businesspeople who are pleased the Liberals won, but are concerned about Victoria and the capital region not having representation at the government table.
Let鈥檚 be clear, we do have representation 鈥� they are the New Democrat MLAs who won their seats. I know several of them personally and I believe they have the best interest of this community at heart. The most successful MLAs will be the ones who can put aside partisan politics and work co-operatively with the government on issues beneficial to our region.
Over the next four years, things have to be done differently. We all have to get along. It鈥檚 fair game for the New Democrat MLAs to battle and fight on other issues that they deem are part of their ideology, but not on what is best for this region.
I have sat in the legislature and know that you can get things done with the right attitude. Yes, I was an MLA in the government in power, but be assured, I watched Joy McPhail of the NDP work successfully with the government of the day on issues that were important to her.
If the NDP MLAs have already decided they just want to block government at every move, then it will not work. We just have to remind them this is not about them, it鈥檚 about our community.
It is well known that the former premier did not like Victoria, but that is not true of this premier. She has lots of connections to the Island and understands the need for the capital region to grow. She likes Victoria.
Clark is an approachable person. She communicates well and is a pragmatic and reasonable woman. I know she will work with all MLAs if they are prepared to work with her. She has a whole new team of bright MLAs, many of whom have successful businesses. They are all coming to Victoria with a fresh new approach to government. Let鈥檚 capitalize on this opportunity to work with them.
When I sat as a municipal councillor and a director on the Capital Regional District, there was continual debate on the need to improve the Belleville Terminal, a bigger conference centre, the frustrations at how the downtown was becoming and the need to bring Victoria back to the tourism capital it once was. It鈥檚 like the re-run of an old movie.
So the time has now come for our NDP MLAs to work with the downtown businesses, come up with a reasonable strategy, negotiate with the government and city hall, don鈥檛 try to make the government look like the bad guys.
Although we are now in a wasteland of no government representation, we can work this to our advantage. This premier believes that every community matters equally, and as the North develops over the next four years, we need to work with her and her team to make sure the capital is not left behind.
The mayor of Victoria, who is NDP, also needs to work with the Liberal government and be responsible for making things happen. He has the power to change the bylaws that are inhibiting growth.
History was made last week with B.C.鈥檚 first elected woman premier. Let鈥檚 see if the NDP can make history by working co-operatively with the government.
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Sheila Orr was the B.C. Liberal MLA for Victoria-Hillside from 2001 to 2005.
