As a staunch right-winger, huge fan of Preston Manning, and early Reform Party volunteer for both John Cummins and Paul Forseth, I cannot express how deeply disappointed I am with the foolish and opportunistic BC Conservative Party.
A split on the right is simply not justified, and right-of-centre voters should stick with the highly successful coalition strategy. The Reform Party split the right federally, but for me the game changer was “western alienation.” Reform was in many ways anti-establishment, bucking the eastern domination of Canada and forging a more democratic ethos nationwide. It was a multi-dimensional cause worth fighting for. Our prime minister is from Alberta, and we have Reform to thank for that.
Let’s not spoil the legacy of Reform in this province by gift-wrapping the election for the NDP. There is no worthy cause to the Cummins campaign. It’s a short-term strategy to leverage a temporary dip in support for the government.
The business community, and in particular the natural resource sector that I work in, will never. ever forgive the BC Conservatives if they siphon off enough votes to ensure a socialist win.
I can see it now. Vast forests of for-sale signs and armadas of Alberta-bound U-hauls all emblazoned with one clear message: “Thanks, John Cummins. Thanks for nothing.”
David Brett
