In a release to the media, Gordon Campbell stated, “It has been an honour to serve the people of British Columbia as an MLA, as the leader of the Opposition, and as premier.”
"There are few things more rewarding than serving in public life and I feel fortunate to have had such an opportunity to do so for nearly three decades in a province and a city that I love."
In 1994 Gordon Campbell originally won the Vancouver Quilchena riding in a by-election (with nearly 68% of the vote) after Art Cowie resigned for him in November of 1993. Thus begins a tale in intrigue, and backstabbing, that continues today.
For those who may of forgotten, Art Cowie was elected as the Liberal MLA in Vancouver Quilchena in the 1991 election. He chose to step aside two years later so that the new leader of the BC Liberal Party, Gordon Campbell, would be able to have a safe riding to run in, and have a seat in the legislature.
In the following general election, Gordon Campbell decided to run in his home constituency of Vancouver-Point Grey. With that decision made, Art Cowie decided to let his name stand for the soon to be vacant Vancouver Quilchena riding; however he lost the nomination to now former Finance Minister Colin Hansen.
It is interesting to note (and Cowie was probably bewildered by it), Gordon Campbell did not intervene to see that Cowie got the Liberal nod ... after ensuring Campbell had a safe seat to run in. Meantime, Campbell went on to win the Vancouver Point Grey riding in the next four provincial elections held in 1996, 2001, 2005 and 2009.
This history lesson shows that:
· Gordon Campbell is elected leader of the BC Liberal Party after a three-way Gordon race (Gordon Campbell, Gordon Gibson, and Gordon Wilson)
· Art Cowie resigns so Gordon Campbell can be elected as MLA in a safe seat
· Gordon Campbell did not ensure Cowie got the Liberal nod for the riding, which allowed Colin Hansen to then be elected
· Colin Hansen became the Finance Minister, then became one of the most despised politicians in BC history (along with Gordon Campbell) after the implementation of the HST
· Gordon Campbell resigned as premier in November of last year and in the following race to become the new leader, Christy Clark was elected by the members of the BC Liberal Party last month
· Colin Hansen was dumped as the Finance Minister by Christy Clark, and in fact did not even make it into her cabinet.
During the past several months leading up to Christy Clarks Liberal leadership win, and in the days and weeks since, Christy Clark has not put down speculation that she may call a snap general election. Shouldn’t Christy Clark however seek the approval of voters in the Vancouver Point Grey riding, rather than putting taxpayers to the expense of a early general election?
This government has been one of excess spending for some time now, and many British Columbians do not see the need for her to call a general election before the current government mandate expires in May of 2013.
Newly sworn in Premier Christy Clark should allow the residents of British Columbia to see how she, along with her newly minted and largely recycled cabinet from former premier Gordon Campbell, will perform. After all, Clark sat as a Liberal MLA when the government of the day passed legislation to have fixed election dates, and there really is no justification for her to now call an early general election.
B.C.’s election regulations require Clark to call a by-election for the Vancouver Point Grey riding within six months.
Given the history of the Liberal Party with regards to sitting MLA’s and the history of the two riding's; with Art Cowie, Colin Hansen, Gordon Campbell, and now Christy Clark needing to win a seat to sit in the legislature, I look forward to seeing her meeting the challenge of being elected as an MLA in a by-election … which likely will be the Vancouver Point-Grey seat.
I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, and those are the thoughts of one conservative.
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