After an eventful week in B.C. politics, I’m ready to sit back and reflect on what’s been lost, and what has potentially been gained – or, more significantly, who has been lost – over the last months.
Number one is the many excellent MLA’s and candidates across the province caught in the wake of Kevin Falcon’s unilateral decision to shutter the BC United electoral run.
Of those, perhaps none is more respected, and possibly feared, than Shirley Bond in Prince George.
‘Hardest working MLA’
A 23-year veteran of the legislature, Shirley is one of the longest-serving MLAs and was the first female Attorney General in B.C.’s history. She was the Minister of Education, Health, Transportation, Deputy Premier and more. It might’ve been quicker to list the ministries she hasn’t led when BC Liberals formed government.
Most recently, she added Interim Leader of the Official Opposition to her resume, when she held the wheel for a year while the party chose a new leader after Andrew Wilkinson stepped down.
Shirley is known by many as “the hardest working MLA in B.C.”
In the legislature, she’s renowned for her tenacious Question Period interrogations. Shirley knows her files and woe to the minister caught short on his or her duties. She’s held many feet to the fire over the years and brought countless poignant stories of British Columbians to the attention of lawmakers.
In Prince George-Valemount, Shirley is regularly found at multiple community events on the same day in a riding that is no cake-walk to travel. She’s meeting with constituents, taking detailed notes, taking interns into key meetings, and supporting local businesses.
Most importantly, though, Shirley is my friend.
When I was considering a mayoral run, Shirley was a wealth of information and support. Constantly encouraging me, coaching me, and helping me engage with groups I had little connection with.
Shirley cares.
Deeply.
She deserves every bit of praise piled upon her.
“Grizzled old trapper grandad”
Another loss to Prince George and the province is Mike Morris, although, his departure is not related to BC United’s withdrawal from the election process. Mike announced several months ago it was time for him to be a retired “grizzled old trapper grandad.”
After a prominent career in the RCMP, Mike retired as superintendent of the North Division and successfully ran for MLA in the Prince George-Mackenzie riding in 2013, a constituency that perfectly matches his character and love for the outdoors.
As a policy and community safety expert, Mike enjoys a good debate about our pathways to safer communities, while staying focused on the value of every life – not just those who can advocate for themselves. A decades-long hunter, trapper and enjoyer of nature, he’s been a fierce and outspoken advocate for biodiversity, despite the fact it sometimes put him at odds with his own party.
Mike served as Parliamentary Secretary of Forests and Solicitor General under then BC Liberal premier Christy Clark.
Most essentially, Mike is a man of great integrity – something in too short a supply these days.
Shirley and Mike may not have seen eye-to-eye on every issue. But, they both agreed that the north is the greatest place in B.C. and deserves a high degree of representation for the value we bring to every corner of the province.
BC needs leadership that unites electorate
So, what have we lost? Amazing representatives that are not only great constituency MLA’s, but fierce advocates for a better B.C..
The burning question is: What have we gained?
That is inherently harder to answer, and remains to be seen in the days and weeks ahead.
What we do know is for this coalition or merger to work, members from all sides will need to come together and develop policy positions that do not alienate, but tolerate our differences.
B.C. needs to focus its efforts on fixing a failing economy and tax system that are overly punitive to small and medium businesses and do little to inspire investor confidence.
From our future leaders, we need politicians that are ready to work on day one of the new term. And we need them to pick up the pieces after a challenging few years and unite a fractured electorate.
At some point, we stopped debating the issues and discussing the matters that we disagreed upon and it became en vogue to jump to extreme anger and vilify those with different views online.
This is not discourse. This is not moving us forward.
It’s time to come together and fight the way Shirley and Mike did to create a better B.C. Because there is more that brings us together than divides us.