Leftover notes from the weekend B.C. Liberal convention in Vancouver:
• Determining the order of resolutions to be debated is a dark, shadowy art at most political conventions, including the Liberal one. Members come up with notions that might be a long way from what the government or party executive wants to talk about.
The last thing they want at a convention is for members to start a serious argument about a controversial topic that could expose a deep difference of opinion.
But it’s an “open, democratic, inclusive, big-tent party” so they have to be given at least the appearance of a chance that they can influence policy.
So from the “1,000 ideas” that B.C. Liberals have been kicking around, 58 of them were accepted as formal resolutions to be voted on. But with pep rallies, picture-taking, guest speakers, volunteer awards and videos, they usually only manage to get through 12 to 18 of them.
So the batting order is crucial. That’s why most of the first two dozen resolutions were relatively boring. Strengthen education. Build more homes. Support volunteer firefighters. Get to Yes.
It’s also why a truly contentious hot-button issue like “banning trophy grizzly bear hunting” was listed 24th, where it had only the slightest chance of coming up for debate.
The one exception to the mundane was the very first resolution: Allow ride-hailing in B.C.
But the priority was quite deliberate. The government has spent years considering whether to allow Uber and other high-profile ride apps to take off in B.C.
It’s to the point where Vancouver is the last major city in North America without them.
The party had an enthusiastic appeal on the web to support the “sharing economy.” The government looks ready to move on it, but wants some validation. So putting the ride-hailing idea at the top of the list, where it was briskly supported by well-spoken young delegates and passed by 81 per cent, gets the ball rolling.
Community Minister Peter Fassbender said the vote mirrors the public’s mood, and Liberals will have a clear position on the subject out in time for the election.
It was a prompt response to a clear direction from the members. But it didn’t happen by accident.
• There was a much less structured session earlier that was more revealing on another topic. The subject of Medical Services Plan premiums came up, and there was a wave of enthusiasm for getting rid of them. That’s already the position taken by the NDP and Greens, which have been badgering the government about the inequities in the current flat rate. Turns out a lot of Liberals don’t like it, either.
A delegate got a big hand after saying MSP premiums are a costly, inefficient way to tax people, and the money could be raised in much simpler fashion. The government has been acknowledging the complaints but dithering on what to do about them.
Health Minister Terry Lake said they’re “looking hard” at a change, and it would be “the biggest red-tape reduction initiative we could make.”
Look for a move on MSP next year.
• Also noticeable was the absence of a big wave of support when the Site C project came up.
Considering it’s the Liberals’ flagship energy project and the biggest single investment in provincial history, you’d think “Site C” would get an obligatory round of applause. Energy Minister Bill Bennett cited it and got a solid show of indifference.
After a delegate advocated more emphasis on solar and wind power, he said B.C. needs the massive dam for its reliability and said it would lead to more alternative-energy projects.
Just So You Know: B.C. Liberals are rolling in so much money they can afford those finer touches. The Bayshore Hotel convention hall was closed until shortly before the show started Friday and delegates were held in a lobby.
Other parties would just have a few buttons or displays to keep them occupied during the short wait. B.C. Liberals had a DJ with a sound board laying down some kind of free-enterprise frenzy trace beat to keep them happy.
That’s the difference corporate donations make.
