Saturday, January 11, 2003
The lustre's off Gordon Campbell - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER – To date, the only statement made by the Honourable Gordon M. Campbell, Premier and President of the Executive Council of British Columbia, MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey, is this, which was released Friday evening:
"I have made a serious mistake, and I want to apologise to everyone including my family, my colleagues, and the people of British Columbia.
"Last night, I was returning home from dinner with friends, and the Maui police pulled me over. I was arrested and charged with driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol. I do not intend to contest the charge.
"I will make myself available to the media Sunday, January 12, at 3:00 pm at a location to be determined."
The surprising news that Premier Campbell had been drinking under the influence in Maui hit me as I was trying to doze off on the #25 bus heading home from UBC. The driver, obviously of no enamour of the Premier, took to the PA system with: "For those of you who like news about Gordon Campbell, he's been arrested for drunk driving in Maui. Too bad it couldn't have happened here."
There was but little chatter amongst my fellow passengers. Perhaps we were all trying to steal some sleep. (I tend to discount anything I hear on the bus. Back in 2000, midway through the federal election campaign, some moron came onto a bus I was on, telling everyone that Prime Minister Chrétien had suffered a stroke and that "as he spoke," the Liberals were meeting to figure out who was going to lead the campaign. Well, the idiot messenger sent me to CBC Newsworld and CTV News Net forthwith, looking for the appropriate ticker at the bottom of the screen to confirm the news. Alas, I'd been duped.)
Anyways, I did get home in time for Friday's BCTV News on Global's News Hour. Sure enough, it was the lead story – Gordon Campbell had been arrested and charged for driving under the influence. Political analysis followed from the numbers one and three political pundits in the province: The Vancouver Sun's Vaughn Palmer and Mike Smyth of The Province. They had joined the number two political reporter in this province, Global's Keith Baldrey, outside the Legislature. All supposed that Campbell had committed the ultimate boo-boo, short of calling for the Premier's resignation. They pointed out that Gordon Campbell, in opposition, had one of the lowest levels of tolerance amongst government ministers and members of his own caucus. Ask C. Jeremy Dalton, a former MLA who was booted from caucus for mixing up family and government business. Ask Tony Bhullar, a current MLA from Surrey, who's serving out a year as an Independent MLA, after a police investigation following his own private conduct. Or how about Paul Nettleton, who was booted from caucus when he expressed an opinion that was not in sync with the Premier's. Palmer went on to make the point that ours is a society with a low level of tolerance for drunk driving. (Earlier today, MADD, Mother's Against Drunk Driving, called on the Premier to step aside in the interim that an investigation was being conducted.)
Clearly, as Vaughn Palmer noted, British Columbians consider driving drunk a serious offence. Those, who endanger the public good should having nothing short than the book getting thrown at them. We should appreciate the fact the Premier has admitted wrongdoing, accepted the charge and made an apology. The court of public opinion, though relentless and unforgiving, will no doubt, consider what the Premier has already said.
The question that remains is how this will affect Mr. Campbell's standing as Premier. Should he resign? I appreciate the behaviour and conduct of NDP Opposition leader Joy MacPhail. When asked for comment on the story, she conceded that it was all very serious and that until the Premier himself spoke, she would make no further comment. Perhaps, Ms. MacPhail, due to her past as an NDP cabinet minister, was in no moral authority to say much, but it was a smart political move that was well mannered in accordance with the highest level of jurisprudence.
I would expect Premier Campbell – irrespective of the fact what happened in Maui happened during the Premier's vacation, thus he was not on government or political business – between now and Sunday afternoon, to sit down with his wife Nancy, and decide if he himself can continue as Premier. Obviously, a lapse of judgement took place, and we cannot tolerate that from a man who heretofore has demanded nothing short than unimpeachable conduct of his political opponents and colleagues. The same conduct, I might add, that he pledged himself to after receiving a decisive mandate from the people of the Province of British Columbia.
Premier Campbell's father suffered from clinical depression, which untreated, led the senior Campbell to take his own life. If the events of Friday morning in Maui, have any connection to the Premier's family medical history, then I would expect Mr. Campbell, in consultation with his family and physician, to take the appropriate action, whatever that might be. Regardless of political stripe, I suppose British Columbians will come to some level of understanding for the Premier and his family.
Mr. Campbell has admitted that what he did was very stupid. That kind of judgement, or lack thereof, should not be tolerated from a man who preached, and was elected to bring, integrity and sound judgement to the governance of British Columbia. One can only hope that between now, and the time the Premier will speak on Sunday afternoon, Mr. Campbell and his family will do some serious thinking as to how and in what position they'll lead their lives from here on in. Mr. Campbell must consider his actions under the same level of scrutiny he placed so well on others. Mr. Campbell, were it someone else, would expect nothing less.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .