Liberals launch a new era in doublespeak

The temperatures soared and records fell but most of all the last few weeks have seen unprecedented showers of ambiguity from a government that had asked you to trust them with their so-called straight talk.

We are all cognizant of B.C.’s reputation as a place of un-kept promises when it comes to politics, but Gordon Campbell and his Liberals have given new meaning to doublespeak.

From health care cuts to the last fudget budget to the imposition of the Hated Sales Tax (HST), Campbell has British Columbians wondering what next from this government.

We know….we know that it was in this same space before the last election that we said that the Liberals were better managers of this province than the NDP.

We still believe that, because while the Liberals have changed for the worse, the NDP has not changed for the better.

Maybe it’s time for a new political entity to rise from this mess.

That is for the future.

For now, many are gaping at the audacity by the Liberals to change so much with so little consultation, so fast and in such a turnabout fashion.

And come fall, the free falling Liberals are going to take another tumble in the polls reflecting an angry electorate.

Campbell may not care, as like we said before, he is not going to be running again and is most likely to leave the reins of a chastised party to someone else.

Here is some of what that “someone else” will have to deal with;

Health care crisis:

The heavily populated Fraser Valley is seething with anger following announcements that up to 9,900 elective surgeries, programs for seniors and the mentally ill will be chopped to save money.  In addition domestic violence abuse programs, 13 operating rooms and over 100 jobs are being eliminated.

During the last election campaign, the high riding Liberals called the NDP’s prediction of looming cuts to the health care system as “lies” and “fear mongering”. Increased wait times are now very likely.

Welfare debacle:

Our welfare roles have jumped but the government held back that information – a 47 per cent increase –  until after the election, not to tarnish the Liberal’s image. How they plan to tackle this roster of people asking for help is unclear and many predict the numbers will swell with the recession.

Fudget Budget:

The Liberals took great pleasure in slamming the NDP for fudging their budgets and now have done the same. Before the election, Campbell pegged the deficit at $495 million and not a cent more. That is not happening and British Columbians are waiting anxiously to see what Finance Minister Colin Hansen will say when he brings in a new budget and announce a new deficit figure on Sept. 1.

Leaky condo cash:

Thousands of British Columbians who bought leaky condos are now being left high and dry after the government axed the interest free loans that helped them fix their soggy homes. Initially the aid was to run until 2012 at least that was the promise before the election. Now it’s gone with thousands of owners left in the lurch.

Harmonized Sales Tax:

If there is anything to galvanize an angry electorate, it is taxes. Overburdened British Columbians are fuming after the Liberals did a flip-flop and announced that the provincial sales tax will be harmonized with the GST ostensibly to improve B.C.’s economy. The party had labeled such a move, prior to the election, as something that is not being contemplated and that would hamper BC’s economic flexibility. Rallies and facebook protest sites wait whoever takes over from Campbell. Everyone from contractors to restaurateurs is crying foul over this move that will see their costs go up.

As if all of the above is not enough, the Campbell government is also facing a huge credibility problem as the BC rail corruption trail continues in court. Thousands of emails that may provide damning evidence were destroyed before we went to the polls.

Yes folks it is going to be an interesting time at the Legislature when the House resumes sitting in a couple of weeks.

Stay tuned for further episodes of As the Liberal Wheel Turns.