Rob Shaw: Rating the B.C. Liberals as they continue transition to Opposition
Credit to Author: Rob Shaw| Date: Tue, 03 Sep 2019 10:00:30 +0000
VICTORIA — After 16 years in power, it’s still taking time for the B.C. Liberals to adjust to life on the Opposition benches.
Some MLAs have held Premier John Horgan’s feet to the fire on key issues. Others are struggling. And a few veterans need to consider retirement to help the Liberal party refresh for 2021.
We recently examined the NDP cabinet performance. Here’s how things stand for the B.C. Liberal Opposition at Year 2 (note: with 41 Liberal MLAs, not everyone is listed):
Andrew Wilkinson: The Liberals attempted a rebrand of Wilkinson in Year 2, emphasizing his humble upbringing and family life in Kamloops to contrast with the fact he’s a doctor and lawyer from one of the richest ridings in B.C. The campaign was targeted more at the party base than the public. But faux pas undermined the message, including when Wilkinson called rental life “wacky” and attended an event at a yacht club. As leader, he’s struggled to persuade certain MLAs to retire for the good of the party. Yet he scored a major victory when he convinced Horgan to debate him live on television during the proportional representation referendum, and then successfully flummoxed the premier with aggressive questions about how the different systems would work. Still, there’s still a long way to go before (or if) Wilkinson looks like a premier-in-waiting.
Mary Polak
Mary Polak, house leader: A veteran MLA, Polak more than any other ex-minister has excelled in Opposition. She’s a tough adversary in question period. As the Opposition house leader, she’s worked with the NDP and Greens on the spending scandal involving the former clerk and suspended sergeant-at-arms, while also criticizing the sometimes questionable conduct of Speaker Darryl Plecas.
Jas Johal, jobs and technology: A former Global TV journalist, Johal has helped gain the Opposition media coverage. He’s a versatile asset, and Wilkinson often taps him to help on big Metro Vancouver issues.
Tracy Redies, finance: An emerging star as finance critic. The former CEO of Coast Capital Savings, Redies can crunch government budget numbers as well as ministry officials. When she debates economic figures and tax policy with Finance Minister Carole James (herself an exemplary finance minister), the public is well served.
John Rustad, forestry: The former forestry minister has found his footing in Year 2 as an effective critic of minister Doug Donaldson’s Crown tenure veto legislation and slow response to help workers who lost their jobs in mill closures.
Peter Milobar, environment: Willing to tackle any topic, at any time, Milobar has proven one of the most reliable and versatile new faces on the Opposition front bench. He doesn’t always land every punch he throws. But for a rookie MLA, he’s an impressive thorn in the side of the NDP.
Ellis Ross, LNG: Articulate, thoughtful, and widely respected by all sides of the house, the former Haisla Nation chief is on top of the liquefied natural gas development file because his riding of Skeena is ground zero for the $40-billion LNG Canada project in Kitimat.
Mike Bernier.
Mike Bernier, oil and gas: Scored points this year for pulling Premier Horgan aside and persuading him to intervene in the botched caribou protection consultations.
Ian Paton, agriculture: A farmer from Delta South, Paton has kept on top of NDP changes to the Agricultural Land Reserve because he lives in that world and knows it well.
Norm Letnick, health: Perhaps wisely has chosen not to spar with one of the NDP’s most formidable cabinet ministers, Adrian Dix. Instead, Letnick has struck a collaborative relationship. Dix is even seeking his input on reforming regulatory bodies. We’ll see how well that unorthodox strategy develops over time.
Mike de Jong: This old Mazda Miata of an MLA may still have some gas left in the tank. His experience developing the financial details behind the LNG sector as a former finance minister has helped trip up the NDP.
Jane Thornthwaite, mental health and addictions: A low-key backbencher while in government, Thornthwaite has grown into her role during the overdose and addictions crisis.
Michael Lee
Michael Lee, attorney general: He almost won the Liberal leadership race in 2018. But since then, Lee has become Mr. Invisible at the legislature. Rarely digs up criticisms of ministries or stands up in question period. A lawyer, Lee instead seems to enjoy debating the intricacies of legislation. Unfortunately, he’s debating against Attorney General David Eby, who routinely steamrolls him.
Jordan Sturdy, transportation: Has maintained too low a profile in an area with many potential issues the Liberals could exploit in the Lower Mainland, including the Massey Tunnel, Pattullo Bridge and Surrey SkyTrain.
Todd Stone, municipal affairs: The charisma is there to be a top-tier critic, but Stone has struggled to regain his credibility after leaving the Insurance Corporation of B.C. near insolvency during his time as transportation minister.
Rich Coleman
Rich Coleman: The longtime politician from Langley East, and former deputy premier, has been a workhorse for his party for 23 years. But in the words of Kenny Rogers, sometimes you’ve got to know when to fold ’em and walk away. Wilkinson wants Coleman to retire. Coleman doesn’t want to be pushed. This conflict resulted in Coleman embarrassing Wilkinson by speaking at an anti-abortion rally outside the legislature this past year. His high standing in the party allowed the NDP to cast the Liberals as closet social conservatives who want to take away a woman’s right to choose. Coleman would never have jammed Gordon Campbell or Christy Clark like that.
Laurie Throness, children and youth: He hasn’t been a bad critic, and he’s highlighted how the NDP’s $10-a-day child care promise is full of problems. But that’s been vastly overshadowed by his insistence to pursue his religious pro-life, anti-transgender and anti-same-sex-marriage positions. It may represent his personal views, and those of some of his constituents in Chilliwack-Kent. But, similar to Coleman, he’s created a headache for the larger Liberal party that is trying to appeal to socially moderate Metro Vancouver urban voters.
Linda Reid, seniors care: The 28-year Richmond MLA should have retired long ago, especially after a disastrous tenure as Speaker. Ironically, the NDP and Liberals helped her survive her Speaker troubles years ago. But in this new era of legislature spending scandals, everyone has retroactively turned on her.
Shirley Bond, finance: A tough-as-nails minister with a hard work ethic that she’s transferred to critic. But you’d be hard pressed to find anyone who looks more miserable and frustrated sitting in Opposition.
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