Two days before the Thanksgiving weekend and the Ipsos poll finds the new Democratic Party ahead of the Liberals with B.C. voters. Another source sees the Conservatives coming, led by John Cummins. Could we have “déjà vu all over again”? — to borrow New York Yankees venerable catcher Yogi Berra’s phrase. The last time B.C. had a female premier, we elected another government and another opposition. So what are the odds on an NDP government and a Conservative opposition whenever the opportunity comes?
However, we will not have that challenge for a while. Maclean’s magazine (Oct. 24) cites the results of the recent HST referendum as reason for premier Clark to delay an earlier mooted election call.
In the meanwhile, here comes the municipal call to the polling booths. In Summerland, Janice Perrino, acclaimed as mayor, earlier expressed both pleasure with her council experience and frustration, and even anger, with two ministries of the B.C. government formed by a political party she supports and may even run for if the opportunity presents itself.
For all elected locally, there will be frustration. Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, the weekend after Thanksgiving, tells CBC TV National news anchor Peter Mansbridge, “The world’s a dangerous place.”
Let’s hope no municipal candidates want to put anywhere in the Okanagan “on the world map.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tells Europeans to clean up the Euro zone financial crisis, while from New York to other cities in the U.S. and Canada, protestors “occupy.”
For frustrated municipal (and even provincial) elected representatives, here are some tips on managing feelings of anger:
From folk music era chanteuse Joan Baez: “Anger is a useless emotion.”
From U.S. humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910): “When angry, count to 10, when very angry, swear. Profanity furnishes a relief, denied even unto prayer.”
From a source unknown to me: “Don’t get mad, get even.”
Remember the last one when the provincial election is called. It’s one of the joys of living in a parliamentary democracy.
Dick Clements
Summerland