CKNW Editorial
for September 23, 1999

I am distressed to hear that Ujjal Dosanjh may not seek the NDP leadership and I am especially concerned that this may have something to do with what I may have said. So people can be clear in their own minds, let me make my position clear.

Last week I asked whether or not Mr Dosanjh or his people had made any efforts to sign NDP members after the police raid on Premier Clark’s house and before his resignation. I made it very clear at the time that this was a real question, not an inference. Mr Dosanjh has said that the answer is no and I think we should take him at his word – I do.

The more difficult issue is the question of Mr Dosanjh’s obligations upon learning, on March 4 last, that the Premier was under a criminal investigation. Mr Dosanjh and I disagree on this point but let me make this abundantly clear – I do not suggest that Mr Dosanjh did not confront Mr Clark at the beginning for any political reasons. I am satisfied that Mr Dosanjh honestly felt it to be his duty not to disclose this information until he was specifically told by Crown Counsel he could do so. I have never called into question Mr Dosanjh’s motives nor his integrity.

Where we differ is on the question of an attorney-general’s obligation upon learning that Her Majesty’s principal adviser in B.C., namely the premier, is under criminal investigation. I think Mr Dosanjh and I would both agree that prior to the passing of the Crown Counsel Act of 1991, his duty would clearly be to confront the Premier forthwith and advise him he must resign. Mr Dosanjh takes the position that since a special prosecutor was appointed under that statute – the statute requires that an assistant deputy attorney-general make the appointment not the AG himself – that he, Dosanjh was bound not to interfere with the investigation in any way … and that making public the investigation of Mr Clark would have been interference. I take the view that to make public the mere fact of the investigation is different, that this could not interfere with the investigation itself, and that Mr Dosanjh’s duty was to confront the Premier.

Now it is very important that everyone knows that probably the most distinguished Attorney-General in modern times, Allan Williams QC agrees with Mr Dosanjh. On the other hand, former Attorney-General Alex Macdonald agrees with me.

The point is that we’re dealing with a contentious issue here and one which goes to custom and practice, not strictly the law. It would be wrong indeed, in my view, if members of the NDP took the position that Mr Dosanjh did something unlawful or even unethical. I have no doubt that Mr Dosanjh thought he was doing the right thing and in that opinion he has powerful allies. I believe that the best interests of British Columbia would be ill-served by Mr Dosanjh deciding not to seek the leadership. Ujjal Dosanjh is a decent honourable man who has untarnished the image of the Ministry that he inherited.

The suggestion that Mr Dosanjh ever stabbed the premier in the back is preposterous and defamatory – there was never any question at all that Mr Dosanjh would have to confront the premier. That was his duty, The only question was when.

Now let’s put to bed once and for all this nonsense that Gordon Wilson wanted out of the Finance Ministry so that he wouldn’t be seen as assisting one or other candidate. That is utter rot, despite what Mr Wilson might say. He’s out of the Finance Ministry so he can go into the leadership race without the albatross off that ministry around his neck. Put yourself in his place … would you want to go into a leadership race explaining a deficit for the current year of $1.5 billion, double what was declared in the budget? And explain to the delegates how you were going to make it better?

No, I’ll tell you the considerations and they are plain, raw politics. Gordon Wilson needs a ministerial vehicle which can take him, at our expense, around the province meeting school boards, talking to teachers, snipping ribbons, and by no means incidentally or accidentally, polishing his political image with potential delegates to the leadership convention. Premier Miller and Mr Wilson must think we’re all fools. In Finance Mr Wilson was stuck in Victoria attached at the hip to the corpse of a huge government debt and deficit, a deficit and debt he would be called upon to explain and offer solutions for. Now he is free to pursue the leadership and dump all over the decisions which got us into all this trouble.

Perhaps this all leads to a new axiom for my next book – whenever politicians explain their actions, the precise opposite to what they say is invariably the case.

British Columbians of all political persuasions deserve to see a leadership campaign for the next premier include all those best qualified and that means that in addition to Mr Wilson and Ms McPhail and perhaps Corky Evans, Mr Dosanjh be included.