DM Committee on Really, Really Hard Problems
The Political View from the Premier’s Office: Let’s Get Real
The Political Advisor to the Premier, the voice of cynical realism on the committee, reminded everyone of the electoral cycle with a provincial election due in just over a year. To delay on this commitment now would put the government at risk. This is a salient, central issue for this government, having chose to put itself out front on the environmental agenda (etc., on global warming). And a Liberal government here has to prove its bona fides on such an issue — it’s not a natural association with this government for the public.
You would be risking target voters that do not like subtle gradations in policy distinctions. Environment is an either/or choice, not a CBA calculation. We need to attract the voters that have soft sympathy for the environment — the suburban pro environment voter unable or unwilling to change their lives for the purpose. Also have more volatile ridings to worry about.
The Cabinet Secretary offered a rejoinder that the political context as just described is something that the government will have to consider and the committee needs to frame its advice within that context.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Ian McKinnon is the President, Pacific Issues Partners and a former Deputy Minister in the BC government. His role in this simulation was as Political Advisor to the Premier’s Office.
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