Power Grabs, Minority Governments, And A Provincial Election: How Should We Feel?
By Jamie Mah @grahammah
“We’re focused on dealing with what the public of British Columbia delivered to us, and that was a message they want people to work for them, in this legislature, co-operatively when possible, and using our adversarial system to make sure we do better with our laws, not just throw things through because we have a majority,” — John Horgan back in 2017
It’s not in my wheelhouse to write about politics. My areas of expertise lie mostly with food, wine, and basketball. But with British Columbia Premier John Horgan having called a snap Provincial election for October 24th, while we are amid a pandemic mind you, let’s just say I couldn’t stop myself from saying a few words.
First, let’s get the obvious out. This election is a power grab. Plain and simple. Ever since they took power in 2017, the Green’s have propped up the NDP as a sudo coalition government. Essentially, the NDP need the Greens to pass budgets and legislation. To avoid a confidence vote in the House, both parties need to work together. I like that. We need a greater amount of this in politics.
Principally, what John Horgan is aiming for with this election is to secure enough additional seats from the Liberals, who hold an equal 41, to form a majority. If achieved, he’ll be able to run his government freely. It’s a BIG flip from what he’s touted these past few years, as he’s lauded many times the benefits of a minority government. But even with all his championing* of working with the Greens as being a grand thing, it can’t always have been easy.
**I used championing here because it’s the slogan word he employs on his website. Somewhat ironic, don’t you think?
With this in mind, I get why he’d want this election to happen now. Why not use the popularity of Dr. Bonnie Henry and British Columbia’s somewhat positive response rate to COVID-19 as evidence that his government is the most equipped to lead the Province? It’s a smart bet on his part as both the Liberals and Greens don’t seem poised to put up much of a fight this time around. He probably will win more seats which is fine as I’m not so much irritated that he will (I like his party the most of the three), I’m just more frustrated by his timing and what it signifies — that power is more important than the health of your citizens.
Whatever. My irritation aside, I wonder: If he wins a majority, are we losing out on the positives minority governments provide?
I ask this question just as our Federal Liberal government recently reached a deal with the Federal NDP’s on paid sick leave and an extension of CERB benefits. This agreement only happened because the Liberals need to work with the NDP’s as they don’t have a majority in the House of Commons. If I’m a politician, this might sound like a bad thing, but if I’m a Canadian, someone who isn’t in politics, seeing my government cooperate with rival parties so as to work together has to be great, don’t you think? What we’re currently witnessing down south in the United States should be viewed as a cautionary tale of how polarization and identity politics can poison government process and democracy as a whole.
“The fact that voters ultimately treated Trump as if he were just another Republican speaks to the enormous weight party polarization now exerts on our politics — a weight so heavy that it can take an election as bizarre as 2016 and jam the result into the same grooves as Romney’s contest with Obama or Bush’s race against Kerry. We are so locked into our political identities that there is virtually no candidate, no information, no condition, that can force us to change our minds. We will justify almost anything or anyone so long as it helps our side, and the result is a politics devoid of guardrails, standards, persuasion, or accountability.”
― Ezra Klein, Why We’re Polarized
Members of government are meant to represent those who have elected them. But sadly this isn’t often the case, as numerous politicians often toe the line of party loyalty ahead of what we have asked of them as their constituents or how they feel personally. Or they just flat out lie and hope that’s okay. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney does this often. This is obviously the opposite of how a democracy should work.
Here’s a quick brief of the NDP’s platform.
The Liberals for example have an agenda, one a vast majority of Canadians voted for. However, plenty of Canadians also voted for the Conservatives, New Democrats, Bloc Quebecois and Greens. Being forced to have to listen to their rivals requests and concerns strikes me as something we should be happy to witness, even if it means they make compromises. I say this knowing full well that I’ve enjoyed many of the benefits of past minority governments. Some of Canada’s most landmark achievements have come under their guise. Think Universal Health Care, Old Age Pension, or Government Loans for students. These accomplishments have had positive, long-lasting effects on our country, especially Universal Health Care as we’ve crafted it into our national identity, alongside the game of Hockey and Schitt’s Creek.
Even still, and I say this somewhat confidently, had we not been governed by minority governments during those eras, we might not have some of these spoils we so greatly love today. Our American neighbours to the south mostly see having Universal Health Care as something they covet, yet it’s an issue they will never resolve because of the fragmented political divide their two parties now occupy.
This political polarity is similar to how one roots for a sports team. While disliking your rivals, this division creates a chasm of viewpoints that to get either side on board for discussion seems both laughable and impossible. Again, a lot of this is because of party allegiance more than anything. Power is a corruptible force, one most hate relinquishing once they attain it. Just look at Trump or Putin as examples of this. Not to say that Horgan is of their ilk, as I don’t believe he is, however, he is in power, and he called an election during a pandemic, so…
Look, I don’t know John Horgan. I’ve never met the man. I’m sure he’s nice and has a good heart. I’ve recently reached out to his office hoping to get him on my podcast. If I do, I’d like to ask him what he thinks about democracy and working together, and if his perception of minority governments has changed these past few years.
Whatever he says, I still can’t imagine that it was easy having to always consult with the Greens on most decisions. Those who live in power often want their way. But with this in mind, we shouldn’t forget Tommy Douglas, the founder of the NDP party. Back in the 1960s, Tommy was at the forefront of Canada’s most successful minority government, led by Prime Minister Lester Pearson and the Liberals. In 2004, we rated him the greatest Canadian of All Time. Ahead of Terry Fox and Wayne Gretzky!! That says something. I’m sure a lot of young people don’t even know who he is. But his legacy is profound.
John Horgan is running for re-election during a difficult and monumental time for British Columbia. He has two massive issues to tackle, the obvious pandemic of COVID-19 and the “holy shit!” opioid/homeless crisis that seems to get worse by the day. If re-elected, I hope he listens to his constituents and those across the aisle from him in parliament — minority or not.
The word “pivotal” doesn’t even begin to describe the time we’re in, as each step taken today will have huge ramifications for how we combat these two issues, how we rise from this recession, and what state we want to leave this province for our children. Dealing with pandemics and wildfires might become our new normal. Climate change has arrived. Decarbonizing our society should be at the top of his and all our political leaders’ agendas. But I fear a lot of this might fall on deaf ears if we don’t work together. What Tommy Douglas achieved some 50 years ago has left an immeasurable mark on our way of life. Let’s learn from his efforts and listen to one another, because polarized or not, we’re all in this together.
“Whether you think I’m right or whether you’ll think I’m wrong, the fact is, is that I have fought for the interests of the common man, in season and out of season, in parliament and out of parliament.” — Tommy Douglas
Your move, John.