Thursday, May 3, 2001
‘What if they held a war and no one showed up?’ - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- Parliamentary protocol -- in the Victoria Legislature or the House of Commons in Ottawa -- dictates that in debate or whatever that goes on in Parliament, members are not to address each other by name, rather by their constituency. (So if Ujjal Dosanjh would be prodded in the house, it wouldn’t be mere ‘Mr. Dosanjh’, rather ‘the Honourable member for Vancouver-Kensington.) I’ve both been befuddled and at times marvelled the concept. It’s terribly archaic, yet it’s still used. Thus, while watching debates (a most boring task at times) one wishes they’d just mudsling without the fraudulent pleasantries. An election is that time, and while we are mired in one now -- sorry, no such luck.
Rafe Mair, in yesterday’s National Post, began his analysis of last Monday’s debate on BCTV with the prescient line, “What if they held a war and no one showed up?” The diagnosis being that the debate between the NDP’s Ujjal Dosanjh, the Liberals’ Gordon Campbell, the Green’s Adriane Carr and Unity BC’s Chris Delaney -- was a royal bore. (Mr. Campbell is to be blamed for that as he and his main people -- Martyn Brown -- insisted on non-combative rules, so as to save face and that gigantic lead in the polls.)
As juicy and combative, the debate in the House gets, one thinks the debate outside Parliament as volatile to a higher degree. Alas, this election campaign has been lackluster and this debate is the best example of that.
One expected that either Campbell would stumble or screw up, but he was cautious. He preached the proper platitudes and did not engage in the cut-throat nature of British Columbian politics. He was a great success to his handlers. Dosanjh, the Premier, did not act Prime Ministerial at all. He was a real fighter, odd as opposition would be thrust to that strategy during any debate. Gordon Campbell looked like the Premier.
A lot of stock was put on Adriene Carr to upset the pollsters by pulling a ‘Gordon Wilson’. She had no remarkable one-liner that tipped the scale in her favour. The best lines were spouted by the obscure Chris Delaney. With his analogy that the Greens were the NDP in fast forward, and the Liberals, the NDP in slow motion -- he was hopeful. However with his Celine Dionesque, ‘turn the love of power into the power of love’ -- (yuck!) he’s sunk back to obscurity.
Ujjal Dosanjh was good, if for no other reason, in that he admitted his fate. No longer is he running to win, rather he is running for second place. He has sealed the fate of the result on May 16th. History will indicate that this debate demonstrated a change in strategy. Perhaps it will indicate advantageous thinking or perhaps the beginning of the end.
This debate was stilted and quite the bore. Vaughn Palmer asked, as usual, great questions and signified fairness through and through. However that wasn’t good enough as he and Keith Baldrey aren’t running for anything. Gordon Campbell looked more and more elusive in a debate that was meant to make us learn more about those that were running.
This debate was a mere exercise in futility. From my take of things, Dosanjh would get a seven out of ten, for putting the issues he’s running on, on the table. Campbell would get a six for eluding questions he’ll have no alternative but to face when he’s Premier. Carr would get a five for being a fresh voice. She was also unwavering in her ideals, which is a sign of great character. Yet it became her downfall as she went on and on about stumpage fees and forestry. (Go figure, when that’s what her platform’s based on.) Delaney would score a four, if for no other reason that he was no better than Carr and that he missteped with a miscued rant against Natives. (I totally agree with his position, by the way, but I think some tact would have saved some points and/or political face. Then again, he might have boded well in the hinterlands.)
Next Thursday, on The Rafe Mair Show on CKNW, Gordon Campbell and Ujjal Dosanjh will face off in the only other debate during this campaign. That will prove more exciting, if we’re to believe Rafe as he’s indicated, Monday night will not be repeated next Thursday morning. Rafe’s debate promises to be lively and judging from his recent shows, we can expect an even handed host in Mr. Mair as Campbell and Dosanjh will both face a tough crowd.
It’s too damned bad that Monday’s debate turned out the way it is. It could have been better on many different levels and I think it was a missed opportunity for all. I believe all parties would have suffered better with a different format at the most basic level.
The voter remains resigned to their judgements prior to the debate, for that matter, prior to the election call. This debate, which was both information session and such, was not. It was a waste of time and as Rafe Mair has said, an Amish quilting bee would have elicited more excitement.
Before leaving this subject, this final thought. When all is said and done, Gordon Campbell did wonders in winning this election. This campaign tour is rather a coronation tour, much like the one Prince Chuck just finished. Campbell is merely surveying the land he’ll soon rule. However, his tactics also give us an indication of what’s in store for the next four to five years. His handling of the debate shows us the degree to which he’ll go to project the image of himself that he wants out there. Should we be scared, I believe so. Then again judging from the picture so far, an Amish quilting bee is far more entertaining.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .