The Written Word
for February 11, 2001

As New York governor Al Smith used to say, "let’s look at de record!"

In 1991 Premier Vander Zalm having been found to be in a conflict of interest on several accounts, resigns. Notwithstanding he was later acquitted of criminal activity, it’s certainly a blot on the BC escutcheon. After a brief interregnum, Mike Harcourt takes over to face a huge scandal – not of his doing I quickly add – called Nanaimogate or Bingogate according to your preference. Harcourt mishandles the file, which is just too much for a decent man like him to handle, and in 1995 resigns, the reins being taken by Glen Clark. In March of 1999, Glen Clark’s home is searched by the RCMP, he finally resigns in August and subsequently is charged. While all of this is going on an 8 year lawsuit comes to an end with the judge making scathing findings about the conduct of five NDP cabinet ministers, three of whom were at one time or another, premiers while, at the same time, the present premier’s conduct while attorney-general dealing with the case is seriously questioned. Moreover the province, already laughed at by all for these goings-on, gets into a hugely expensive fiasco over fast ferries. The cherry on the icing is provided by present Premier Ujjal Dosanjh who apologizes not once, but twice to the public for his government’s actions – most weould agree that he didn’t apologize enough.

These incidents, accompanied by nine years of various degrees of incompetence, have not only made BC the laughing stock of the country – we’re getting used to that – but a jurisdiction where it’s just not safe to invest your money. And it’s this terrible image that Gordon Campbell, safely I think assuming he will the premier some time this year, will have to deal with. One of the interesting sidelights of Premier Dosanjh’s recent trip to India, where he was feted as the local boy who made good, was Mr Dosanjh’s admission on my show that his Indian hosts knew all about his political troubles back home. If they know, presumably so does everyone else.

Good reputations are quick to disintegrate – bad reputations are slow to disappear. Gordon Campbell must not only erase 10 years of government of the quality of Peter Sellers’ Ruritania, but establish in the minds of investors a confidence sufficient to bring capital into the province. This is not only going to require some fancy footwork, but courage as well. For I think that before he brings in any personal tax relief, he must abolish the Corporate Capital Tax.

This tax was never understood by the NDP. In one interview Glen Clark taunted me by accusing me of sticking up for the banks because I criticized the tax on capital. It was beyond his comprehension – and that of his colleagues – that this tax is not paid by the big corporations but by consumers because the tax is simply passed through. When you look at your local shopping mall, don’t think for one second that the owner pays the capital tax. It is simply passed on to his tenants who pass it on to you or, as often happens, go broke because they can no longer compete.

But the main reason that Mr Campbell must make repealing this iniquitous tax his first priority is because nothing he can do would better signal to investors that BC is again open for business.

And being open to business again is the best news the BC voter – and taxpayer – could possibly hear.