The old saying goes something like this: the only poll that matters is the one on election day when people mark their X beside the name of a candidate.
Often, the people who are voicing this mantra are members of a party well behind in the polls. That was the case Thursday night when we sat down with Trade, Tourism and Skills Training Minister Pat Bell for a wide-ranging interview.
“Our demise has been greatly exaggerated,” Bell said of the fortunes of the B.C. Liberals as the province enters into the home stretch of the election campaign that culminates May 14. In fact, the official writ comes today.
Recent polls suggest the NDP has a 17-20-point lead over the B.C. Liberals and are poised to form the next government.
These polls, Bell says, do not take into account two very important factors: the just-released NDP financial plan; and riding-by-riding analysis. In terms of the latter, Bell points out that under our current system, the party that forms the government is the party that wins the most constituencies, regardless of the popular vote numbers province-wide, which is generally what polls reflect.
Bell, who is facing some serious health issues and is not running for re-election in Prince George, said he found it interesting NDP Leader Adrian Dix was not front-and-centre — not even in the building actually — when the NDP rolled out the financial planks of its platform last week. Take that anyway you would like, but Bell suggested Dix either doesn’t approve of his party’s budgetary road map or doesn’t want to be closely linked to the tax-and-spend plans that look a lot like NDP circa-1990s.
Bell also believes a closer, riding-by-riding look — especially in areas like the North, the Okanagan and even here in Parksville Qualicum Beach — might make some people think twice if they are predicting a total decimation of the B.C. Liberals.
Yes, Bell is being a good soldier and putting on a brave face. But he has always been a straight-shooter and he is not running for office. And he seems genuine in his concern for the province in regards to trade and tourism and our economy if the NDP forms government.
But what else is he going to say, right? Well, he could say nothing. And he’s not the bombastic type. As always, we shall observe with interest.
— Editorial by John Harding
