The Gordocracy

BC Liberal MLAs are yes-men
and yes-women with no say in party policy

Syndicated columnist Paul Willcocks reported that BC Liberal MLAs weren’t told about the harmonized sales tax (by far the province’s most controversial issue) until two days before the public announcement. By the time Premier Gordon Campbell informed his MLAs, the HST was already a done deal.

Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer explained how BC Liberal cabinet ministers often don’t know that their senior staff are working directly with Campbell on policy changes.

Georgia Straight editor Charlie Smith provides evidence that Finance Minister Colin Hansen might not have known that his own deputy minister and senior staff were planning the HST with Campbell and the federal government before the May 2009 provincial election.