Ron Norman, an ex-journalist who ended up becoming the head of communications for the B.C. government, has a broader view of government that most. He saw how policy was made, the in-fighting, and young people trying to do their best while under the microscope. According to Norman, it was never boring.
B次元官网网址淎 lot of people donB次元官网网址檛 know whatB次元官网网址檚 going on,B次元官网网址� said Norman. B次元官网网址淭hey think they know, but even the reporters donB次元官网网址檛 really know.B次元官网网址�
NormanB次元官网网址檚 debut novel, Slouching Towards Innocence, exists because of the insight he gained, but it is not based on himself. Norman started in government at 47, but his bookB次元官网网址檚 protagonist is based on the kinds of young people politicians often hire as staffers. His main character, Malcolm Bidwell, is fresh out of university and starts work for government, where he is immersed in a dark, funny environment. ThereB次元官网网址檚 sex, thereB次元官网网址檚 swearing and there are political scandals that Norman said reads like an updated version of the BBC satire Yes, Minister.
While he was in the civil service, Norman joked about writing a book. He was not interested in writing a non-fiction account or a tell-all, he said, but he wanted to capture the structure (the Legislature, the relationship between the press gallery and the government) and authenticity.
There were plenty of examples from his real life. He suggested a media event with a video game company to promote the provinceB次元官网网址檚 tech industry and suggested the premier play one of their games. It was shot down by his team, who asked him, B次元官网网址渨ill he win?B次元官网网址� When he said, B次元官网网址淲ell, probably not,B次元官网网址� they nixed the idea because B次元官网网址渢he premier canB次元官网网址檛 lose.B次元官网网址�
Norman expected government decisions to happen slowly, with much deliberation and planning, but many decisions were made because B次元官网网址渁 politician said, letB次元官网网址檚 make this happen, and boom, they want to make it happen fast.B次元官网网址�
Norman himself was in government during the HST debacle, where economists praised the policy, but it was ultimately scrapped due to how it was brought in. He learned that not everything is done because itB次元官网网址檚 good policy or good politics. Instead, it was more of a mix.
B次元官网网址淚t might make perfect sense, but the timing might not be right,B次元官网网址� said Norman. B次元官网网址淭here could be an upcoming election, or who knows what.B次元官网网址�
Before his stint in government, Norman was a reporter for 20 years, and worked at the Castlegar B次元官网网址, Salmon Arm Observer, Rossland Summit and the Peninsula B次元官网网址 Review (then called the Sidney Review). In that sense, he was unlike many of the political staffers, who were very young and had not done much besides politics. They were smart, he said, but they could sometimes make poor choices.
B次元官网网址淲hat if youB次元官网网址檙e 25, and advising the premier of the province, and you make a mistake? And then itB次元官网网址檚 reported in all the media in all levels. The stakes are much greater.B次元官网网址�
Ultimately, while the book is set in the halls of the Legislature, it isnB次元官网网址檛 just for hardcore politicos.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to like politics to like this book. It just happens to be in a political setting.B次元官网网址�
Ron Norman will read alongside Keith Ogilvie at the SHOAL Centre on May 11 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at TannerB次元官网网址檚 Books or at . Proceeds will support the 2019 Sidney and Peninsula Literary Festival.
reporter@peninsulanewsreview.com
