Has anyone noticed how the politicians in B.C. have virtually abandoned government?
There are 85 MLAs and most are now immersed in politics, as opposed to government. Not just politics, but internal party politics, which are the most absorbing kind. That takes them even further away from the day-to-day work of governing (if they're Liberals) or scrutinizing government (if they're New Democrats).
Speaking as a taxpayer, I've never felt safer.
Four cabinet ministers resigned to run for the Liberal leadership. Twenty-nine Liberal MLAs have endorsed a candidate.
The government is marching in place. Premier Gordon Campbell took a few weeks off and went to Hawaii for an extended Christmas break and no one noticed. (This time.)
At any other time, this would have been a field day for the Opposition. But New Democrats are preoccupied with their own drama. Five MLAs are running to replace former leader Carole James. Seven more NDP MLAs have endorsed one or the other, with more to come.
Who's minding the store?
On the Liberal side, Campbell still has 18 cabinet ministers left, with a handful pulling double duties. But one, Ida Chong, is preoccupied with a recall campaign. Others will soon be coping with the same challenge.
On the New Democrat side, new leader Dawn Black will stand in until April 17, hoping desperately the Liberals don't pull a sneak attack and call an election before they can get their house back in order.
So the combination of a tax revolt, Campbell's leadership collapse and a mutiny within the NDP has created a time when there is so much political manoeuvring underway, there's just no time for government.
As is made clear by the lame stream of news releases emanating from the government.
"B.C. targets red tape," Finance and Health Minister Colin Hansen announced earlier this week. It's about the fourth time the Liberals have targeted red tape. It played well in their first term, so whenever there's a lull, they "target red tape" again.
Also this week, Forest, Lands and Mines Minister Pat Bell made an appearance that was interesting on a couple of levels. He toured a Ladysmith sawmill.
Why? Because there were people working there.
That's undeniably positive. The mill and the workers are to be congratulated. But it's a bit chilling to realize a coastal sawmill that is actually up and running is being pitched by the government as a legitimate news story.
There was a time when a working sawmill was the norm. Closures made the news. Now it's the other way around.
The broader context is that the industry is rebounding on sales to China. The week of the Truck Loggers' Association convention was a good time to celebrate that.
When Campbell showed up to speak at that convention, he provided an unintentional reminder that the government is in the doldrums.
In the middle of pitching a typical blizzard of future-oriented ideas for the forest industry, he cited the wood-first priority in building codes and assured the audience, "You can know we are going to move forward... "
Then he paused, realizing the promise rang a little hollow, since he'll only be around for about six more weeks. "I will continue ... I believe the government is going to be continuing... "
Truth be told, the government isn't doing much of anything. On the plus side, they're not making any new mistakes. On the down side, they're not fixing any old ones either. Like the ongoing mess in the Children and Families Ministry, or the half-baked makeover of the natural resources sector.
The upcoming throne speech and budget will make the point much more starkly. It's the annual launch of the agenda, but this year there is nothing to launch, because there is no agenda.
Just So You Know: A reminder last week about the toast to Sir Winston Churchill this Sunday omitted the time. My apologies. It will be 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23. That's near the anniversary of his death in 1965.
Readers are invited to gather around the tree he planted in Beacon Hill Park, near the foot of Quadra Street.
