By this time next week B.C. will have a new premier. It’s been a blah campaign.  The remaining four candidates have a few ideas on some smaller issues, but no one has a big picture.   It probably doesn’t matter.    Gordon Campbell had several visions. Does anyone remember them? He did keep his promise to decrease taxes but seemed to forget others. The sale of B.C. Rail and the introduction of the HST weren’t part of his stated plans, but he was elected three times, so why should candidates bother committing themselves on the big stuff? And there is big stuff.   There hasn’t been much in the way of governing since Mr. Campbell announced his retirement. Short term, the new premier will have to figure out how to make the Natural Resource Operations (Monster Ministry) work, decide what to do about the  gaming grants, and deal with any fallout from the HST referendum. Long term there’s the dicey economy and our massive debt to deal with.   In 2001 the debt was almost $34 billion and growing moderately. According to reports, it’s $47 billion now and growing so fast it’s expected to be $53 billion by the end of this year, and $60 billion in 2013. None of the candidates seem to care. I guess they figure our grandchildren can pay it.There are actually so many issues one wonders why anyone would want to be premier. It would be easier to be in opposition and criticize. With little in the way of different (any?) visions, Liberals might choose the leader on personality. Kevin Falcon is said to be Mr. Campbell on steroids. It might be nice to have a rural premier for once, and that would be George Abbott.  Queen Christy Clark would rule with  pizzazz.  Mike DeJong is the dark horse.  So who will we get?  Diana French is a freelance columnist for the Tribune. She is a former Tribune editor, retired teacher, historian, and book author.

Williams Lake Tribune