The Written Word
for August 29, 1999.

Kamloops is the political bellwether for British Columbia. Since party politics came to British Columbia just after the turn of the century, Kamloops has always returned a government member. It is also a political hotbed.

Kamloops is the political bellwether for British Columbia. Since party politics came to British Columbia just after the turn of the century, Kamloops has always returned a government member. It is also a political hotbed – people take their politics very seriously. I know something about this because I lived there and represented it for five years in the Legislature.

In 1996 it elected an NDP member (things are a bit confused because Kamloops is now two ridings but I politics very seriously. I know something about this because I lived there and represented it for five years in the Legislature.

In 1996 it elected an NDP member (things are a bit confused because Kamloops is now two ridings but I’m talking about Kamloops South which is basically the city itself). Kathy McGregor won because the Reform Party split the vote. And why did the Reform Party do so well? Mainly because the voters detested the Liberals.

People in areas like Kamloops know what Liberals are like. After federal elections won by the Liberals, the "usual suspects" get all the political jobs the inventive party can dream up. This same "porkers" come flying out in a provincial election claiming that they’re not really federal Liberals at all but dedicated Gordon Campbell Liberals. Their assistance is accepted because it’s in the nature of all political parties to take their help where they can get it. The fact is they are resented.

When I defeated Gerry Anderson of the NDP in 1975 a good part of my success was based upon the fact that Gerry had not made cabinet under Dave Barrett and it was assumed (rightly) that I would be in a Bill Bennett cabinet. Kamloops feels very strongly that it is entitled to a cabinet minister and a high profile one at that. The sacking by Glen Clark of Kathy McGregor as Environment Minister will not be taken well by Kamloops voters at all. In fact it has killed, barring a miracle, the NDP’s chances in the next election. Cabinet making is not only a matter of appointing your most able people but also balancing regional concerns. Now it must be admitted that McGregor was a lightweight who did nothing more than give regional balance and not make too many waves in a highly contentious portfolio. But by firing Ms McGregor Glen Clark has mightily offending a region upon which he must rely if he is to make a comeback.

This sort of snub goes beyond the boundaries of Kamloops South. It will be seen as an insult to a half a dozen other ridings nearby.

Glen Clark did not fire other dissidents when he made his cabinet shuffle last month because their departure would hurt him politically – I think of Ujjal Dosanjh and Penny Priddy especially. He assumed that Cathy McGregor was politically expendable.

He was wrong as he will find out the next time Kamloops voters trudge to the polls.