鈥淪he鈥檚 a bit of a rock star,鈥� says Royal Roads University President Allan Cahoon.
He鈥檚 talking about Premier Christy Clark, after watching her for a week as part of the trade delegation she led to Japan, Korea and China.
Clark鈥檚 staff always come back from overseas trips enthused about how well she goes over, which is just what you鈥檇 expect to hear from them.
But the view seems to be shared by people who don鈥檛 work for her. It鈥檚 hard to find anyone with a criticism of how Clark performs on the trips.
The missions are basically like election campaigns, only they鈥檙e staged in foreign countries. Clark obviously proved last spring she excels at campaigning, and the most recent trip shows she鈥檚 still got the moves.
鈥淪he鈥檚 charismatic,鈥� said Cahoon. 鈥淪he speaks very well and her level of engagement resonates very well.鈥�
He said the people he dealt with on the trip were surprised to find that a politician would have that much personality. 鈥淧eople could hardly leave her alone. She was over the top.鈥�
Cahoon came along to execute several agreements with institutions in Japan and Korea to do with Royal Roads programs.
Having the premier on hand gives credence to the signings of the understandings. 鈥淗aving the blessing of the leader says that you鈥檙e credible and important.鈥�
Cahoon left with the impression that of all the jurisdictions beating a path to China鈥檚 door, B.C. has a bit more cachet than most.
Port Alberni Port Authority CEO Zoran Knezevic concurs with the view that B.C. and Clark present well on such missions.
He was impressed with her energy and enthusiasm. 鈥淚 have nothing but positive things to say. I think we made a good impression.鈥�
The dozens of people who represented B.C. all made good connections, including with one another.
鈥淚t鈥檚 funny how you have to go abroad to get to know the people in Victoria better,鈥� he said.
Recounting her trip to a 91原创 audience on Tuesday, Clark shared some of the credit around for what she was the most successful of the four trade missions she has led since becoming premier 2 1/2 years ago.
International Trade Minister Teresa Wat, also responsible for the Asia-91原创 strategy, was singled out. Hong Kong-born, fluent in Cantonese and Mandarin, she鈥檚 the only trade minister of Chinese descent outside of China, Clark said.
Clark also found a 鈥渄eep appreciation鈥� of the fact Ben Stewart was named special trade representative. He was awarded the job after stepping aside from his Kelowna seat to make room for Clark in the legislature.
A recent B.C. financing move was also noted in China, she said.
Last month. B.C. became the first foreign government to issue bonds into the Chinese renminbi market. The $428-million offering was snapped up and is seen as a vote of confidence in that market.
Others will likely follow, but Clark said it will always be remembered that B.C. was first.
The thrust of the mission 鈥� the thrust of Clark鈥檚 entire government 鈥� is, of course, the liquefied natural gas projects.
All the salesmanship on the medium- to long-range goal overshadows the fact that B.C. Liberals don鈥檛 have much going on in the present when it comes to economic development.
That鈥檚 proven by monthly job-creation reports from Statscan, which show the province is limping along with no sign of any positive trend, despite the vaunted B.C. Jobs Plan.
It was advertised incessantly leading up to the election campaign and it鈥檚 the keystone policy of Clark鈥檚 government. But there鈥檚 no sign that it鈥檚 working.
In year-end interviews this week, Clark said she won the election by sticking to a plan and executing it. Tuesday, she said the same applies to the jobs plan.
The weak numbers are all the more reason to stick to the plan, she said. 鈥淭he places that have a plan are the ones that are going to succeed.鈥�
It鈥檚 good sales technique to sell the future, not the here and now. Clark鈥檚 outline of the trillion-dollar future is rosy, but it鈥檚 still a long way off.
