What are we to make of the NDP selection of Adrian Dix as their leader?
For one thing, leaders are not selected by the media or pundits. At least not with the provincial Liberals or NDP.
My first reaction to Adrian Dix’s choice was pretty glum. For the past 10 years the NDP have been moving towards the centre into a position where it could start getting traditional Liberal votes. Mr. Dix, on form, seems to be taking the NDP back to the days of Dave Barrett. Glee in the Liberal camp was unrestrained based upon the fact that the NDP could now be seen as a fairly bright coloured red – the “socialists” would be there to kick around. I believe, on reflection, that may be an exaggeration.
From the point of view of the Common Sense Canadian all three leadership candidates were sound on the environment and private power. But if they can’t get elected what does that matter?
But who says that they can’t win?
Premier Clark must still make decisions on the BC Rail Scandal, the environment and energy. These will be issues impossible to avoid. If nothing else, BC Rail will raise itself as soon as one Liberal accuses Dix of scandalous behaviour in doctoring a memo while trying to pull a hot chestnut out of the fire for the earlier Premier Clark. In fact Dix might be wise to raise the issue himself saying I made a dumb mistake but I’ve made a full confession – now it’s up to you Premier Clark II to do the same by opening up the IPP contracts and coming clean on BC Hydro.
The Liberals will paint Dix as being bad for business – but does that matter if he has good policies for small business? Do voters like being screwed by Big Business? In my day, admittedly a century ago, one could not go wrong by bashing Big Business and Big Labour. Now, of course, the NDP must avoid angering Labour but if Mr. Dix understands that Big Labour doesn’t lend itself to great support on the ground for the NDP and he can play to that while skating the fine line between that and Labour leadership, he might be able to do something that the NDP have always had trouble with: getting the blue collar worker.
We at the Common Sense Canadian retain our stated policy: we will support candidates who will stop the destruction of BC Hydro by Independent Power Producers and the destruction of our environment.
What about third parties, namely the BC Firsters and the Tories?
Given time, the BC First Party could do some serious damage. But they aren’t going to get time – look for an election in June, September at the latest, Chris Delaney has spent too much time hand in hand with Bill Vander Zalm and John Cummins inherits right wing nuts. Both these two parties could hurt the Liberals if they had their ducks in a row – but they haven’t. Too late to the game and no money for tickets anyway.
Beginning one of the paragraphs of this article there is the statement that the Liberals will advance the claim that Dix is bad for business.
Ironically, at the same time, the Liberals promote this IPP concept that will raise hydro rates for all residents and businesses in BC some 50% or more.
I must be the dumbest guy in town because I simply cannot see how this helps business or the cost of goods generally speaking.
Oh but wait! Business will pass on the savings found with the tax shift of the HST. There I fixed my own problem…..I think…..didn’t I?? My brain hurts……trying to be a provincial Liberal is bad for my health. I’ll have to drop by a Tim Horton’s for medical treatment.
The reality is that no matter who prevailed in the NDP leadership race, the Christy Clark led BC Liberal Party would fall back on the usual messages such as Fast Ferries, dismal 90s, union support, etc., etc.
Ther is no doubt about it, Dix did a stupid thing when he was a staffer for Glen Clark, but He has not run away from his actions, and has been elected by his constituents in the last two provincial elections. And if people are honest with themselves, many have fudged something to help their boss in a tight situation.
One would hope that the next provincial election is decided on the policies put forward by the two major parties, rather than by people making their choices based on irrelevant accusations.
I voted for Horgan because I believed he had the best chance of forming government. Forming government (no matter what party other than Liberal) is key to stopping the destruction of our waterfalls, rivers and alpine lakes for private profit. His core values would keep the established NDP vote. His excellent sense of presence and communicative skills would easily add the very wide range of BC residents that are not NDP party members or may not have voted at all in the past. He would have brought Greens on board. These voters know our wilderness and rural areas. They are passionate about saving them. They may be concerned about perceived “leftiness” of Dix (I stress perceived). Those that were part of bulk signups in urban areas (organizers included) do not historically have the same reverence for life away from a wall outlet. Dix and Farnworth did promise action on IPP’s. They promised to work as a united team. That works for me. Get started. Show me. NI Holdings on the Sunshine Coast already has a purchase agreement with Hydro in spite of problems with Tyson Lake. Political confusion has allowed many more to advance under the radar. Let the team loose to stop them.