Facing intense criticism from inside his party and out, British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell resigned Wednesday, saying his decision was in the “best interests” of the province.
Mr. Campbell made the announcement at 11:30 a.m. PT at the Pan Pacific Hotel.
“This decision is what I believe is in the best interests of British Columbia, our government, our party, and the people who live here,” Mr. Campbell told reporters.
“At a time like this, everyone’s attention should be focussed on helping our economy rebound from the global recession and move forward with an agenda that families can see is in their long-term interests. It’s time for a new person to lead the province.”
Mr. Campbell made a call to party organizers asking them to move “as quickly as possible” on making a transition to new leadership.
“My goal is to return public attention to what is important to British Columbians: their jobs, their families and how government can best support them. That is what the decision with regard to the HST was all about. And I am hopeful that my announcement today will allow British Columbians to move forward and fully consider the HST and its alternative as they move towards September 2011.”
Mr. Campbell has come under increasing fire in recent months over his decision to introduce the controversial harmonized sales tax in British Columbia, a move that sparked unprecedented levels of protest from various citizen groups. Anger stemmed from Mr. Campbell’s promise not to introduce the tax before the May 2009 election.
During his farewell speech, he urged British Columbians to consider the merits of the HST in September 2011, when a province-wide referendum on the tax will be held.
“It’s not always popular to do what you think in your heart is right, and in the long-term interests of the province and the families who live here,” he said.
“But whether it was restoring British Columbia’s economic leadership, leading the way on climate action, building a new relationship with First Nations, getting our fiscal house in order or making our taxation system one of the most competitive in North America, it was always worth the effort.”
The provincial Liberal leader’s announcement comes on the heels of cabinet shuffle and a television address he gave last week in which he promised to cut provincial sales taxes by up to 15% — a move many saw as an effort to placate critics of the HST.
Another source of controversy for the party came in the form of the Basi-Virk scandal, in which two Liberal insiders, Dave Basi and Bob Virk, pled guilty to breach of trust and accepting benefits for information about the sale of the provincially owned B.C. Rail in 2003.
Mr. Campbell was criticized for defending his government’s decision to cover the legal fees of Mr. Basi and Mr. Virk — about $6-million — during the seven-year legal battle.
The B.C. Liberals were first elected to a majority under Mr. Campbell in 2001, and were re-elected in 2005 and 2009. Before becoming premier, Mr. Campbell was the mayor of Vancouver from 1986 to 1993.
Priemer Gordon Campbell Resigns (BC)
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. This province, as well as Alberta, really needs a political "reset" button. At least you guys have the Wildrose Alliance mixing things up.
