ItB次元官网网址檚 that time of year when B.C. politicians should start thinking about some New YearB次元官网网址檚 resolutions for a bit of political self-improvement. So, in the spirit of giving, here are five ideas for politicians to consider as they set their resolutions for 2015.

1. Do the shuffle

In keeping with the seasonB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址渙ut with the old, in with the newB次元官网网址� theme, a cabinet shuffle is overdue. But a real one, trading deck chairs between Andrew Wilkinson and Amrik Virk a week before Christmas doesnB次元官网网址檛 count.

And what was Premier Christy Clark thinking when she put Virk in charge of Technology, Innovation and CitizensB次元官网网址� Services as a political demotion, when technology clearly wasnB次元官网网址檛 his strong suit at Kwantlen University? Virk needs some shifts in the minors, not a far seat at the cabinet table.

Todd Stone would likely appreciate a new portfolio after the S.S. Minnow B次元官网网址� err, MV Nimpkish B次元官网网址� affair. Bet Mary Polak might prefer a change too. And talking about trading deck chairs, how about Andrew Wilkinson for Justice and Suzanne Anton for Advanced Education?

2. Remember: the secret to survivinB次元官网网址� is knowinB次元官网网址� what to throw away and knowinB次元官网网址� what to keep

Back in 2011, the B.C. government predicted that the first liquified natural gas plant would be operational by 2015. DoesnB次元官网网址檛 look promising.

Despite cutting its proposed income tax on the LNG industry in half and inking agreements with China to facilitate the use of foreign workers in B.C. to help build the facilities B次元官网网址� that is if theyB次元官网网址檙e built here at all and not just floated in B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 doubtful anyone from government will be cutting the ribbon at an LNG plant any time soon.

However, thereB次元官网网址檚 one take away lesson from this: if youB次元官网网址檙e going to play cards with the high rollers, it doesnB次元官网网址檛 hurt to know the rules.

So a little advice from Kenny Rogers: B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to know when to hold B次元官网网址榚m. Know when to fold B次元官网网址榚m. Know when to walk away. And know when to run. You never count your money when youB次元官网网址檙e sittinB次元官网网址� at the table. ThereB次元官网网址檒l be time enough for countinB次元官网网址� when the dealinB次元官网网址檚 done.B次元官网网址�

3. Stop counting your chickens before theyB次元官网网址檙e hatched

A quick review of Petronas headlines sums this one up well: B次元官网网址楶etronas LNG pullout threat just a negotiating tactic: PremierB次元官网网址� (Sept. 25), B次元官网网址楶etronas warns of possible delay of $11-billion B.C. LNG projectB次元官网网址� (Oct. 6), B次元官网网址楤.C. in B次元官网网址榞ood shapeB次元官网网址� to close $10-billion LNG deal: PremierB次元官网网址� (Dec. 2), B次元官网网址楶etronas defers decision on $36 billion BC LNG projectB次元官网网址� (Dec. 3), and B次元官网网址楥hristy Clark says Petronas LNG project is a B次元官网网址榙one dealB次元官网网址� despite delayB次元官网网址� (Dec. 8).

Yes, folk do want to know whatB次元官网网址檚 going on, but not if it makes them dizzy.

4. Stop stating the obvious

Back in August, Energy and Mines minister Bill Bennett had this to say about the tailings pond breach at Mt. Polley Mine: B次元官网网址淭his is a serious incident that should not have happened.B次元官网网址� Very true that.

In November, Health minister Terry Lake called the decision of the B.C. Cancer Foundation (a registered charity) to top up the salary of the former head of the B.C. Cancer Agency (a government body): B次元官网网址渜uestionable.B次元官网网址� At the very least.

And hereB次元官网网址檚 what B.C. Lottery Corporation chairman Bud Smith said reacting to a government audit of the BCLC that found a move to cut staffing costs ended up costing $25 million instead: B次元官网网址淭he execution wasnB次元官网网址檛 good.B次元官网网址� You donB次元官网网址檛 say.

Stating the obvious can leave you open to ridicule, unless itB次元官网网址檚 accompanied with a sincere mea culpa and a genuine promise for improvement.

5. Cancel B次元官网网址淭hat B次元官网网址�90s ShowB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檒l meet your fast ferries and raise you one B.C. Place Stadium roof.B次元官网网址�

In a few days, itB次元官网网址檒l be 2015. Can anyone think of a better time for the B.C. Liberal party and the NDP to finally put the 1990s behind them?

A little something for supporters of the B.C. Liberal party to consider as well: lobbing those fast ferries at the NDP may be the equivalent of a political grenade backfiring.

It doesnB次元官网网址檛 speak well of the governmentB次元官网网址檚 acumen, if supporters have to call up the fast ferriesB次元官网网址� debacle to counter criticism. Think of it as the theory of political equivalence.

And Happy New Year.

Dermod Travis is the executive director of IntegrityBC. www.integritybc.ca