How many times over the last 10 years have we heard Premier Gordon Campbell wax eloquently about how much he loves B.C.?
If that were really true, and not just empty political rhetoric, he should use the occasion of his speech to the province next week to officially announce his retirement.
It doesn't necessarily have to be at the end of the month, but as any political backroom boy or girl will tell you, you need a good 18 months to win an election, and that's assuming you're starting from an even playing field and not at a single digit approval rating in the polls, which is where the Premier dwells at the moment.
From the botched introduction of the HST to the stench emanating from the BC Rail corruption trial settlement, Campbell's place in the Hall of Shame of B.C. politics is assured.
Vander Zalm had his Fantasy Gardens, Harcourt in keeping with his lefty roots had his BingoGate, and Glen Clark got decked by CasinoGate. For Premier Campbell, it will be Rail Gate.
After one of the longest and most complex political scandals in B.C. history, including the unprecedented 2003 police raid on the legislature, the case was settled on Monday with the surprise reversal by the accused Dave Basi and Bob Virk to a guilty plea.
In return for saving the government from the ordeal of having senior cabinet ministers, including perhaps the premier on the witness stand, Virk and Basi settled for the government picking up their legal costs of $6 million dollars.
Not only did the deal allow them to escape jail time, but even though they pled guilty, the government agreed to pick up their legal tab. Who says crime doesn't pay?
Meanwhile Attorney General Mike De Jong's assertions that the deal was made to save the tax payer the further expense of a trial are so much horse feathers.
In addition, the government's assertions that Basi had no money to pay his legal bills was immediately called into question by the discovery that he had real estate holdings worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that could have been seized to satisfy some of the debt.
Rather than put an end to the matter, Campbell and his government have merely added fuel to the flames of suspicion surrounding the involvement of Campbell, senior ministers and government consultants.
1. What was Campbell's role in the sale of BC Rail?
2. Was CN set up to win the bid?
3. After the scandal broke, why wasn't the deal cancelled?
4. Why did BC Rail executives continue to sit on the board after the railway was sold?
5. What role did consultant Patrick Kinsella play at BC Rail?
At the end of the day this is just another example of Lord Acton's famous quote - "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". If Campbell does not wish to be the architect of the demise of the once proud B.C. Liberal Party, if he does not want to be responsible for delivering his beloved province into the hands of the "gang that couldn't shoot straight NDP" led by the hapless Carole James, he has to do the right thing, the honorable thing, and announce his retirement.
Good politicians not only know when to run, but also when to walk. The time has come Premier to take that walk.
