CKNW Editorial
for November 23, 2000

I’ll have my final comments on the federal election tomorrow which will be my last day before going on vacation. Today, let me expand on a wild, way out, 1000-1 shot I spoke to Bill Vander Zalm about yesterday.

Let us first go back nearly 10 years to the Fall election on 1991. This was the scene. The Socreds had lost their premier that spring to a scandal. He had been replaced by a new face that immediately made the Socreds look better. She and her cabinet never could, however, shake the gremlins and even though there were cabinet shuffles and money spent all over the place, the Social Credit Party was a no hoper for the ensuing election – it was bound to be Mike Harcourt and the NDP by a mile.

When it came time for the televised leaders’ debate, Gordon Wilson, leader of the memberless Liberals, demanded a position. He was refused and he made a hell of a fuss, even threatening legal action. At the last moment the networks let Wilson in, he looked good by comparison to the other two, got off a zinger of a oneliner and would up in the House with 17 colleagues and the Leadership of the Opposition. Could this happen again to the benefit of Bill Vander Zalm?

Not a chance. Likeable, indeed lovable as he is, Bill Vander Zalm carries with him too much baggage. Most of his enemies are amongst the voters any third party would need to attract if they were to secure any spot on the spectrum.

Is there, however, a political vacuum available for some one with a new party to move into? After all, in 1991 it was the right wing that was vacated by the Socreds and into which the Liberals moved.

I think there is. The NDP have been forced so far to the left that there is no room on that side. All those of the center-left, which is to say the bulk of NDP voters, are alienated from the party and really don’t have too much philosophical reason to be scared of the Liberals. Again, like 1991, I think the main vacuum is on the right always bearing in mind that there are perpetual vacuums on the far left and far right.

That the BC Reform Party has hung in so tough at near the 20% mark shows that there is a base upon which to build for a united right wing party.

The next question is whether there is a party and a leader in a position to lead a unified assault on that vacuum to the right of Campbell’s Liberals?

The answer to that, right now, is no. Moreover it looks most unlikely that there will be a real coming together of the right. Nor, do I think there should be. For if you applied the same argument to the left you would have the NDP uniting with communists, Trotskites, Marxist Leninists and all manner of old time and way out lefties. This is what’s wrong with Bill Vander Zalm’s "unite the right" effort – every half baked, religious zealot – every mouth breathing, bottom feeding troglodyte – every anti Semite and racist … they all come out in force and distract both attention and effort away from these efforts.

Moreover, to the extent religious parties are attracted to amalgamate with a new party, that new party will turn off many more who don’t want religion and politics mixed. For every person a Heather Stilwell or Kari Simpson would bring into the party, 5 would leave.

In fact the vehicle is there, right before our eyes. It is the BC Reform Party. Its problem is a lack of saleable leader. Maybe in his day, Jack Weisgerber might have been that. In fact I suspect he might still be the man. But it isn’t Bill Vander Zalm.

So there is a 1000-1 shot out there but there must be a leader. For if the Reform Party were to abandon its reliance on the religious right who, when it comes to voting will have no other choice any more than the religious right had a choice when the Bennetts ran Social Credit, they might just pose a third option for those who loath the NDP and are not fussy about Gordon Campbell.

There is going to be a dynamic in 2001 much like 1991. There will be an enormous urge to throw the rascals out and a confidence that voters can still do this by voting for a third option.

Now for those who want the NDP out so bad they can taste it, this is a dangerous course to pursue. But if – and that’s the 1000-1 if – the 2001 equivalent of the 1991 Gordon Wilson could be found, the NDP might be pushed out with the Liberals moving further left leaving room for a new party.

I don’t think any of this can happen – it’s just that the weather is the same as it was in 1991 and it’s just a matter if someone can take advantage of it and do the same amazing things that happened way back then.