In a perfect world – a perfect world for your friendly neighbourhood editorial writer, that is – Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Kevin Falcon would be the BC Liberal premier facing off with the BC NDP’s Adrian Dix, now that both parties have chosen new leaders.
Instead, we have a close second of a journo’s dream, with unelected Premier Christy Clark going head-to-head with recently selected Dix, as the former also heads into a byelection in Vancouver-Point Grey next month.
While it could be argued that Clark and Dix will be formidable opponents – during recent leadership races Dix identified Clark as the BC Liberal he would most relish facing – the track records of both have shown Falcon would be his truer polar opposite. It’s just that instead of north and south, it’s more left versus right, especially if you listen to either man’s opponents describe his place in the far-reaching political spectrum.
In addition, we have a history in which neither man minced words when countering each other’s claims over Falcon’s former health ministry.
Their debates would have provided reams of fodder for political analysts, potentially for years to come.
While there will still likely be Dix-Falcon barbs traded – with Falcon now serving as the province’s high-ranking minister of finance – all eyes will be on Clark to see if she can rid herself of the albatross that former premier Gordon Campbell has left her: The HST, the sale of BC Rail…
Dix, too, is not without his own crosses to bear. He will likely be spending much of the next general election trying to get voters to forget much of the late-1990s, when his party – then in power under the leadership of Glen Clark, to whom Dix was chief of staff – was no stranger to scandal, including the ‘fudge-it budget’ and the infamous Fast Cat fiasco.
Or, perhaps, Dix will attempt to present history under a slightly different light, with the brighter spots reserved for our more recent struggles.
No doubt Clark and Dix are both preparing for slings to come. Here’s hoping they fight the good fight admirably and respectably – with a few pointed barbs thrown in to keep the pundits in business.
- Peace Arch News