The Written Word
for November 8, 2000

The BC Liberals standing at 67% in the polls is, to me at any event, worrisome. Don’t get me wrong – I will vote Liberal, Like my fellow voters in the 67% group, I want to see the backs of the NDP.

But what if they are effectively shut out, as seems likely? What if there is only a handful in the opposition?

This can be very bad not because any opposition however big can ever change much, but a solid opposition can, because of its numbers, keep pressure on the government and get public attention on a wide variety of issues. A huge majority means that the government can not only do as it wished, it can do so with impunity.

What worries me even more is that the Campbell pledges of reform will likely go by the board with the exception of a fixed election day. I think he is too committed publicly to that promise.

But what about other reforms? The appointment of committees by the caucus, essentially the backbench? What about free votes? What about electoral reform?

Oddly enough, a large majority will be as hard, if not harder to control than a smaller one. With a relatively small caucus the leader can use the carrot of cabinet appointments, parliamentary secretary appointments, appointments as whip and promises of these where appropriate to keep idle hands from doing the devil’s work. With a big backbench this becomes difficult and factions will form. This is where the premier has to use his stick. Looking at a big backbench a leader will be looking at ways to enforce discipline rather than relax it.

The other trouble with a huge lead in the polls is that no one wants to rock the boat. Best not to trouble the leader with niggling questions about policy – let’s make sure that we don’t have a repeat of May 1997. If the buggers are down, let’s kick ‘em a couple of more times to make sure they stay there.

British Columbians are evidently in no mood to ask Mr Campbell any serious questions. That being so, we may find that we throw one lot of rascals out only to throw another lot in.