Liberal win good for stability at the top

British Columbians woke up today to something not witnessed on the West Coast in more than two decades: Stability in the premier's office.

It's been a sad run for leaders of this province since the union-crushing days of Bill Bennett, who until Gordon Campbell's triumph on Tuesday was the last B.C. premier to win re-election.

The list of political also-rans is a long one since the mid-1980s. Bill Vander Zalm sailed in on a boatload of charisma, but sank in a Fantasy of a theme-park sale. He was followed by fellow Socred Rita Johnston, who governed for little more than a summer before being dumped by an angry, pro-NDP mob. Mike Harcourt took the fall when party members were caught skimming money from charity-bingo operations. On Glen Clark's watch, some go-nowhere ferries were built and budgets were fudged, but the approval of a buddy's gaming license led to his fall from grace. Part-timers Dan Miller and Ujjal Dosanjh followed.

Since then, Campbell's run has been turbulent and, at times, downright embarrassing. Anyone remember the last time a premier in Canada has been arrested while in office? The answer is no, because it didn't happen until that martini-fueled night in Maui.

But all the union-financed bitchin' and complainin' couldn't topple Campbell; love him or loathe him, he has fixed a date in history by receiving a rare vote of confidence by British Columbians.

Our province has long been a laughing stock of Canada for political wackiness, but perhaps those days are behind us - if only until the next scandal of the reigning government. Here's to stability, folks.

posted on 05/18/2005