Former Shuswap MLA and one-time challenger for the premier害羞草研究所檚 job, George Abbott says the current political climate will be a difficult, stressful time in B.C.
Abbott, a former political science professor, who is working on his doctorate and operates a public policy consulting firm, predicts another provincial election call within one to two years.
害羞草研究所淏ased on my 17 years in the legislature, with the numbers being that close, it is going to be extraordinarily stressful害羞草研究所� While I害羞草研究所檓 just guessing like everyone else, my thoughts are that there is probably sufficient party discipline to allow the NDP government to survive in the short-term 害羞草研究所� six to 12 months.害羞草研究所�
Abbott notes the precariousness of the situation.
害羞草研究所淎ny time you have a group of 87 people, there害羞草研究所檚 going to be illness or sudden adversities, or the discovery that living in this environment is not for them, with this kind of margin that could be the tipping point, so I don害羞草研究所檛 foresee an extended tenure.害羞草研究所�
Speaking from a political science perspective, Abbott says it was unlikely the Lieutenant Governor would have chosen to call an election, despite the request from Christy Clark to do just that.
害羞草研究所淏ased on what I know, and I am by no means an expert, but I have done a lot of reading in my capacity as a political scientist, it seemed obvious to me and many others that the Lieutenant Governor would provide Mr. Horgan the opportunity to put together an administration and attempt to win the confidence of the legislature,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 think there would have been huge howls of outrage had the opportunity to form government been denied.害羞草研究所�
Clark害羞草研究所檚 throne speech, which borrowed heavily from the NDP and Green platforms, may have muddied the waters for the electorate.
害羞草研究所淚t is not providing as much contrast for the Liberals in comparison to the other parties as has been the case in the past,害羞草研究所� noted Abbott.
害羞草研究所淒uring my leadership run, I felt strongly that what was needed was a poverty plan 害羞草研究所� and not because someone else was suggesting it, but because it is the right thing to do. It is my hope that the incoming NDP can, in some focused way, try to develop that.害羞草研究所�
Abbott also suggests that while eliminating tolls might be a popular move, it may not be fiscally responsible, especially with increasing demands on health care and education budgets.
害羞草研究所淏.C. may be enjoying a surplus situation at the moment, but based on my experiences, surpluses do not continually replicate. There will be fiscal challenges in the future.害羞草研究所�
Abbott wouldn害羞草研究所檛 comment, however, on whether he thinks Clark should resign. For the moment, Clark has stated she will remain as leader of the opposition.
害羞草研究所淎s the period of the NDP in office gets longer, there will be growing debate about that issue in the Liberal Party. It really will be up to her to decide what害羞草研究所檚 best for the Liberal Party and B.C.害羞草研究所�
Abbott says that, for now, the parties are all saying the right things.
害羞草研究所淢y one hope is they live up to the rhetoric that they will try to work together for the benefit of the province. But I害羞草研究所檒l believe that when I see it,害羞草研究所� Abbott said.
While Abbott was a BC Liberal MLA in both opposition and in government as a high-profile cabinet minister for 17 years, he ultimately resigned from the Liberal Party shortly after an unsuccessful leadership run against Clark and Kevin Falcon.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 happily non-partisan these days,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 not interested in returning to politics. Now that I害羞草研究所檝e beat the addiction to political life, I害羞草研究所檓 not about to revive it.害羞草研究所�
