The End of an Era

After nine years as Premier of British Columbia, and 17 as leader of the BC Liberals and MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey, Gordon Campbell is resigning. After 16 months of bitter political attacks over his flip-flopping on the HST, a 15% income tax cut, a cabinet shuffle and a 9% approval rating, it appears to have been internal upset that caused his soon to be removal, and not external forces. It's fitting in the fact that Mr. Campbell has been ousted in a similar manner to his predecessor, Gordon Wilson.

He expects to stay on until a leadership convention can be held which could be as late as June of next year, but waiting so long seems unlikely for a party sinking like a rock in the polls. These revelations also have little effect on the HST or HST referendum for that matter. A good question to ask ourselves however is who will become the next BC Liberal leader and subsequently Premier.

If the Liberals were smart, they would get an outsider of the party, disassociated with its current actions regarding the HST, and place him/her as the new leader. Still, names like Rich Coleman and Kevin Falcon have appeared as possible successors. Luckily, Colin Hansen has stated that he has no plans to become the first minister of our province. This new leader could drastically alter current Liberal policy, and even adjust them to their roots, centrism. Should this be the case, the Conservatives will appear as the dominant successors to the pre-2009 Liberals.

It's the end of an era in British Columbia, and the end of a career for Gordon Campbell. Let us rejoice, for this was inevitable, but recognize the party of which he affiliates with, remains in power. Let us celebrate in the fact that this is a step towards the BC Liberals overthrow from power in 2013, and let us celebrate in the fact that this too is a small step towards the complete introduction of social democracy in our province, and the beginning of something better for all of us.