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Created on Thursday, 31 May 2012 16:38
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Written by Rafe Mair
Clark Skips Western Premiers' Conference to Avoid Pipeline, Tanker Talk
The refusal of Premier Clark to represent BC at the annual Western Premiers' Conference is a disgrace!
This
is a very important conference. It allows Premiers to discuss many
important issues. No doubt the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines and
resultant tanker traffic will be on the agenda and Clark hasn’t the guts
to deal with this.
This means that when Alberta Premier Alison Redford,
who favours the pipelines and tankers, raises this issue, whether on or
off the record, there will be no premier of BC to put our views on the
table.
It wasn’t until Bill Bennett, in 1976, pressed the matter
that BC was even part of this process.
I went to all five conferences
when I was in cabinet and was made chair of a special WPC committee to
assess federal intrusion into provincial constitutional rights which
became very important during the later run-up to patriating the
Constitution. This is but one example of many where the conference
becomes a political power in the country.
Premier Clark has
obviously concluded that notwithstanding the photo-ops this conference
would provide, the prospect of making an ass of herself is more
important.
All British Columbians have been shamed by this bad excuse for a Premier.
Rafe Mair was a B.C. MLA 1975 to 1981, Minister of Environment from
late 1978 through 1979. Since 1981 he has been a radio talk show host,
and is recognized as one of B.C.'s pre-eminent journalists.
Website: rafeonline.com/