IAN BAILEY, Globe and Mail, Nov. 17, 2010
Energy Minister Bill Bennett, who urged resigning Premier Gordon Campbell to step aside for an interim leader, has been kicked out of cabinet.
A government spokesman confirmed the unusual move, which came as the cabinet met Thursday in Vancouver.
The spokesman declined to disclose the reasoning for the move, but it comes within days of Mr. Bennett's emphatic call for Mr. Campbell to leave the province's top job sooner than Mr. Campbell planned.
Earlier this month, Mr. Campbell announced his resignation as premier, and the B.C. Liberal Party executive has set a Feb. 26th vote to select Mr. Campbell's successor.
However, Mr. Bennett said in a weekend interview with The Globe and Mail that Mr. Campbell should leave sooner than later for the sake of the party.
"I am hoping there is a way for him to, you know, to step aside and let those of us who are left start to regain the trust of the electorate," Mr. Bennett said.
The Kootenay East MLA, first elected in 2001 and re-elected in 2005 and 2009, said Mr. Campbell should not remain while leadership issues are sorted out.
"It's awkward to say this given how we feel about him. But it would be better if we had a clean break and someone like Colin Hansen as deputy premier... could run things."
Ironically, Mr. Hansen announced Mr. Bennett's firing.
Blair Lekstrom, Mr. Bennett’s predecessor as Energy Minister, who left the Liberal cabinet voluntarily over the HST issue, said he believes Mr. Bennett’s views are shared by many within the party.
“I think he said what most people are thinking. The real issue is that the premier didn’t recognize the proper time to leave,” said Mr. Lekstrom, a potential candidate for Mr. Campbell’s job, shortly after the announcement.
He said there has been a strong negative reaction within the Liberal party over Premier Campbell’s abrupt announcements, without much consultation, of a 15 per cent tax cut and a dramatic re-organization of government ministries.
“It’s unfortunate for the premier, it’s unfortunate for the party, to be in this situation. It really handcuffs people to have him [Mr. Campbell] remain as leader. We are in a pretty interesting time, right now.”
Mr. Lekstrom said he will announce Monday whether he plans to run for the leadership.
So far, there are no official entries into the race, although Education Minister George Abbott has given strong signals he will toss his hat into the ring.
More to come.
With a file from Rod Mickleburgh
