With the recent resignation of Gordon Campbell, residents of BC were left with mixed emotions. Campbell, who was BC’s longest standing Premier, serving 10 years in office, was forced to resign on Wednesday Nov. 3 due to the alleged brewing caucus rebellion within the BC Liberals.
“A large part of the BC Liberal caucus was preparing to force Premier Gordon Campbell to step down as leader in a emergency meeting Thursday, but that move was headed off by the Premier’s snap resignation one day before.” The Globe and Mail stated in an article on November 4.
Giving tax breaks to small businesses made him popular with some people, but opinions of Campbell are diverse. With the introduction of HST, the foreclosure of schools to cut costs while at the same time going into a private partnership spending close to $600 million on a new roof on BC place, constituents’ opinions on Campbell create a significant spectrum of variance.
ON THE RESIGNATION
Students at Capilano University, as well, had different views about Campbell’s abrupt resignation.
“It takes a lot of courage for a man to recognize when it is appropriate for him to step down,” says Ellyette Mitchell, a first-year creative writing student. “He has done many wonderful things for British Columbia, but ultimately made some fundamental mistakes as premier.”
Katie Shore, another student at Capilano, disagrees.
“I think that Campbell's resignation was a long time coming,” she says. “I didn't really like him and I don't think that the general public did anymore either. His resignation arrived at an appropriate time, and will make space for a leader who has a better grasp of what this province needs.”
ON DRINKING AND DRIVING
Campbell’s recent passing of the new drinking and driving laws, which have moved the legal limit to 0.05 percent have caused quite the stir with student’s as well. “On the surface it seems to be quite hypocritical [because of his DUI charge],” says Mitchell. “These laws are affecting the service industry in the toughest way, and causing those who depend on it to suffer.”
“I think it's kind of his way of trying to make himself look better after basically doing something which, as far as I'm concerned, is inexcusable for any government leader,” says Shore of the drinking and driving laws.
ON THE HST
The main issue that brought Campbell to his decision of resigning came down to his recent plunge in popularity due to the highly disliked Harmonized Sales Tax.
“I actually think HST is a good thing,” says Amy Maycock, a student at Capilano, “HST was given a way worse hype than it actually affects people, and the referendum is way too far in the distance to make a real difference.”
“We are excited [about his resignation], the leadership race that is to come and about speaking with potential leaders and seeing what they can offer the students of BC,” says Michael Olson, national representative from the Canadian Federation of Students-BC to the CFS. “We’re hopeful that this gives the Liberals a fresh slate for potential leaders to improve.”
Capilano student Shelby Stefaniuk was less hopeful, however, saying, “I can’t foresee much changing for us [students] in the future, I mean, we have a good education system and I can’t see a new leader wanting to change that.”
//Catarina Haber
Writer
