January 29, 2001
Lunacy in Lotusland - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- So there are a few things, politically I wait for with great anticipation. The Throne Speech, need it be provincial or federal (by the way, the federal one is tomorrow,) isn’t one necessarily as a physical document, but one of how it is delivered by Her Excellency in the Senate or His Honour in the Legislature. The budget, never really excites me; I look to the excitement as shown by the media more. The volatile world of British Columbian politics has one such document pending release that I am actually waiting for. I can’t wait to read it, but I think it’ll take a while.
The report in question is by the Conflict-of-Interest commissioner regarding Glen Clark’s conduct in the whole granting of a casino licence to a neighbour. The Hon. H.A.D. Oliver handed his report to the cabinet, but it was sealed and delivered to the Supreme Court, which shall make the report public at its own order or until after the Clark criminal proceedings are complete. Vaughn Palmer, the provincial political columnist for the Vancouver Sun on Saturday wrote that the public is entitled to know, as the report was completed by a commission that was created for determining whether politicians are in conflict of serving their own interests, while in public office.
Mr. Oliver’s predecessor, the Hon. Ted Hughes, composed one such report as to whether former Premier Bill Vander Zalm violated the conflict-of-interest guidelines during the sale of Fantasy Gardens. These are the same guidelines, I dutifully submit, implemented by Mr. Vander Zalm’s own government. Following Mr. Hughes’ report, which found Mr. Vander Zalm guilty, the Premier stepped down. Now that Mr. Oliver has delivered his report, shouldn’t the public know whether Mr. Clark was in conflict? Sure, he isn’t Premier anymore, but he is still the MLA for Vancouver-Kingsway, and as such is involved in voting with the government and more importantly, as a member of the government caucus. If the report contains judgement to the fact that Mr. Clark was in conflict-of-interest he will have no recourse but to step down. Doing so, however is another point, I’ll investigate that in just a bit. Mr. Oliver’s believes however that the contents of his report may prejudice the criminal proceedings involving Clark in the Supreme Court of BC. However, Vaughn Palmer suggests in that so said column, that Mr. Oliver’s commission is sanctioned only by a provincial statute and not part of the Criminal Code.
I await the publication of this report to the public. This is a serious matter, and Mr. Clark’s involvement, not as Premier, (as he’s paid the price for that) but as a member of the NDP caucus, seriously impedes the legitimacy of the Dosanjh government. If the Legislature sits this spring, with Mr. Clark in caucus, and should he cast his vote in government, yet technically not be a member, and the government stands (when it could fall), then history will sincerely be the judge as to whether the Dosanjh government commanded the confidence of the House at that time.
This is nothing to do with the Ujjal Dosanjh or the NDP government. It’s clear that Mr. Clark refuses to step down, and Mr. Dosanjh refuses to force his resignation. (Mr. Dosanjh would be silly to do so, because if he does, that loss of a seat may deplete the government to minority status or precipitate a by-election.) Mr. Clark then, isn’t under any pressure to step down. If the report by Mr. Oliver contains damning information, I’m sure the Mr. Clark will have no recourse but to resign. Now under the cloud of supposition, I will assume that the report does contain damning information. I won’t suggest that Cabinet or the Premier is sealing its contents, because they probably couldn’t have. But I seriously question the sealing of the report. If the report was clean and couldn’t possibly prejudice the criminal proceeding, then I have no doubt it would have been made public by now and Mr. Clark would be forced to resign; not for his conduct, but I think for the embarrassment involved.
The saga of Glen Clark, some 2 years old now, will no doubt continue; well into the next election. The roles are clear. Ujjal Dosanjh shall work to separate himself from the antics of Glen Clark; and Gordon Campbell to be as shrewd as ever, will paint the NDP close to that. I doubt however that Mr. Campbell and the Liberals will stoop to that level, but then again it is British Columbia. The Oliver Report’s would end a part of this adventure and all the more closer would we be to resolve this speckle of political lunacy in Lotusland.
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