West Shore MLAs suspect that Premier Christy Clark's about-face on a fall election hinges on the unpopularity of her party in the wake of the defeated HST, rather than sticking to fixed election dates.
The leader of the B.C. Liberals had suggested in February she would seek a mandate to govern, fuelling speculation and nomination planning around a fall election. Clark reversed that position in interviews with selected Vancouver media outlets Wednesday.
B.C.'s election law specifies a provincial election every four years, the next being May 2013.
Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan (NDP), who supports fixed election dates, said the failure to pass the HST is equivalent to a non-confidence vote on tax policy, meaning the government should fall.
B次元官网网址淚f the HST had been defeated in the legislature, that would have been a vote of non-confidence. Instead we had 1.6 million people pass judgment on tax policy of government, and yet they still govern,B次元官网网址� Horgan said.
B次元官网网址淯nder normal circumstances that would say B次元官网网址榶ou guys are done.B次元官网网址� This is new grounds. In Canada weB次元官网网址檝e never voted on tax policy before."
"IB次元官网网址檓 disappointed," he said. "I was looking forward to defeating the Liberals in an election.B次元官网网址�
Esquimalt-Royal Roads MLA Maurine Karagianis (NDP) called ClarkB次元官网网址檚 position a B次元官网网址渃lear flip flop,B次元官网网址� which provokes further uncertainty of an economy in an 18-month sales-tax limbo.
B次元官网网址淐lark said she would go into an election after the HST (referendum) because she is an unelected premier,B次元官网网址� Karagianis said, referring to the fact that Clark, while winning a by-election, hasnB次元官网网址檛 led the B.C. Liberals through a general election. "But she read the tea leaves that she would be defeated.
B次元官网网址淭he state of economic uncertainly magnifies itself the way Clark conducts herself. There is no vision presented for where this government is going. I think the government has gotten worse under this premier.B次元官网网址�
Both MLAs concede voter fatigue could undermine another election in 2011, after a federal election in May, a summer referendum and municipal elections in November. At the same time, they know the NDP would likely sweep the Liberals from the office and form government.
B次元官网网址淢y preference would be good governance, not necessarily my government,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淭he Liberals have got to show they can govern, but theyB次元官网网址檙e all over the map. That happens to governments that have been around for a long time.B次元官网网址�
--with files from Tom Fletcher
editor@goldstreamgazette.com
