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This weekend marks both the Liberal anniversary — it was three years ago that the B.C. Liberals swept into office with the largest majority in provincial history — and the one-year countdown to the next election, May 17, 2005.
By any measure, the last three years have been marked by turbulence, a dramatic downturn in the economy, and chaos in government. Tens of thousands of jobs have been cut, hospitals and courthouses across the province have been closed, delivery of health care services has become increasingly privatized, B.C. Rail and B.C. Hydro have been sold off, and children, the poor and the disabled have found themselves under almost constant attack from, perhaps, the most right-wing government on the continent.
In the process, the Lie-beral government has battled with major segments of the population, including teachers, students, seniors, nurses, doctors, health care support workers, lawyers, judges and public sector unions. Strikes and other labour disputes have forced the cancellation of thousands of surgeries and medical procedures, ferries and transit services.
As a result, the government has lost public support from almost the moment they were elected. At present, the B.C. Liberals and the New Democrats are locked in a dead heat in popularity numbers, setting the stage for a political dogfight. Over the course of the next year, VanRamblings will continue to chronicle the litany of government abuses to which the Lie-berals have subjected British Columbians.
