Christy Clark’s swearing-in, March 14, 2011. |
The Christy Clark Show: Taxpayer-Funded, Victoria Edition is a reality show that has been both a tragedy and a comedy. So many people are watching, despite the unpopular star and her supporting cast. The series will be cancelled as of May 14 if enough voters across this beautiful province go to the voting stations and (with the mark of an X on a ballot) figuratively say that they’re mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
On March 4, Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham slammed Clark for running an “oral government” in an investigation into the non-disclosure of records by the Premier’s Office. On March 9, the Victoria Times-Colonist cited the Comox Valley Business Gazette’s report on a February speech in which she poked fun at her ex-husband’s manhood. On March 11, independent MLA John van Dongen fired his latest salvo at the Liberals over the unanswered questions about the BC Rail scandal and the Basi-Virk $6 million legal indemnity.
The quagmire continued on March 15 (the Ides of March!) when Clark went to meet with the Christians at the B.C. Leadership Prayer Breakfast.
Dyble’s March 14-released, in-house review of his boss confirmed Liberals broke government rules by performing party work on government time for the taxpayers’ dime. There is no evidence that Dyble probed what the premier knew and when she knew. She only denied knowledge of the Quick Wins memo.
“The essence of leadership is not to hide. It’s not to run away.”
“Our government will be open to the people of British Columbia. We will talk about our problems; we will set our priorities openly; and we will work with citizens to find solutions. And we will explain why we make the decisions that we do. You may not always agree with us and all the decisions that we make, but to the greatest degree possible, you won’t be surprised at the course that we take, and you will know for certain why we’ve chosen it.”
- The famous “gum-chewing” incident on March 14, 2012 at the Globe 2012 convention involving newly hired communications gatekeeper Sara MacIntyre.
- The April 2, 2012 incident at a downtown Vancouver hotel where CTV ace reporter Mi-Jung Lee pursued Clark for comment on the Liberals’ plummeting popularity. On the video, watch how Clark turns around and takes a step toward Lee to deliver her non-answer.
Clark (left) and Dennis Skulsky, March 8, 2013. |
I also tried asking a question on March 8 at B.C. Place Stadium, about how she could justify the $2.7 million subsidy to buy the Grey Cup hosting rights for 2014, while selling public assets to claim a balanced budget. Earlier, while at the podium, she looked right into my camera lens. But in the post-news conference mixed zone, she turned away and walked out before I could finish my sentence. I was standing less than 10 feet away and had unsuccessfully tried to gain her attention twice before. I was not alone. Laura Baziuk of CKNW had also hoped to ask a question.
Here is what she was supposed to say (notice the references to Vancouver):
“Thank you very much, I’m absolutely delighted. And Travis (Lulay) and team, I know of course you can’t guarantee we’ll win it, I believe we will, and when we win it let’s just promise we’re not going to break it. What do you think?
“Sen. Braley, I’m delighted to be here with you and all the great football players from VC. Thanks. I hope that some of you are going to have a great future in the CFL.
“And Al Wilson, Jim Young, I grew up in a family of BC Lions fans, my grandfather was a season ticketholder, my father was a season ticketholder. I remember the days at Empire when we would go and we’d get free tickets to Playland afterwards.
“This team has been a part of British Columbia families for generations. I’m just one example of that, and of course the original Lu, a fellow Burnabyite, who was a great representative for my city, for my province and made us all so proud.
“Thank you to my colleagues who are here today as well.
“British Columbia this month created 40% of the new jobs in the country. One of the ways that we did that is because we stayed focussed on job creation.
“This is a great sporting event, it is a great source of pride for all Canadians, it is a tremendous opportunity for Canadians to come together and celebrate what makes this country tick.
“But it’s also a great economic opportunity for us. So when we made that over $2 million investment in bringing the Grey Cup to British Columbia, when we made that decision as a province, we did it because it would create jobs for people here. We know that the over $100 million in benefits that will come to british columbia are going to put a lot of people to work.
“I’d say that’s a great investment for our province, it’s a great investment economically, but much more importantly, or just as importantly, it’s a great investment in pride, in our pride.
“I’m delighted, here we are at this incredible stadium, one that some said should never have been rebuilt. Well if there is proof that it was the right decision, it’s this announcement today.
“Because it’s this stadium that’s allowed us to be able to win the Grey Cup, it’s been this great team, this fantastic organization this proud legion of fans and our bright history.
“We’re going to keep making history folks, we’re going to win this Grey Cup.
“We’re not just going to win it with the right to host it, our players are going to win the right to hoist that cup again, out here on this field and give British Columbians something to cheer about.
“Thank-you very much.”
Here’s what she was going to say:
News and views on Vancouver 2010 (and beyond) from Bob Mackin.