Health Minister Adrian Dix addresses delegates at the UBCM Convention in Whistler (Image Credit: Flickr / Province of B.C.)

By James Peters

Two and Out

PETERS: All this talk about action is still just talk

Sep 16, 2022 | 10:43 AM

MLA TODD STONE BEGAN HIS COLUMN on CFJC Today this week by quoting Ashcroft Mayor Barbara Roden, who was in turn quoting punk legends DOA with this mathematical equation: talk minus action equals zero.

Stone could have reached even further back and quoted the King himself: a little less conversation and a little more action.

Or he could have quoted his own party leader, Kevin Falcon, at this week’s UBCM Convention, who said people don’t care which level of government gets the job done, as long as the job gets done.

Action has been the theme of, ironically, much talk in the political sphere lately. A lot of people are calling for a lot of action.

They want action to battle inflation and the rising costs each and every one of us is facing. They want action on the crime and social issues plaguing our streets right now. And they want action on the healthcare staffing crisis.

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In that context, you can understand why local leaders were frustrated that there were no announcements from Health Minister Adrian Dix during his session with them this week.

Dix hid behind the moratorium on announcements during the period of mourning for Queen Elizabeth, even though that supposed blackout didn’t prevent other ministers from making their own announcements.

The entire idea of that moratorium is ridiculous anyway, but that’s a topic for another day.

Elsewhere, there are steps the provincial NDP can take to address both street crime and inflation, but movement has been glacial.

It’s almost as if having a lame duck premier is paralyzing everyone else in cabinet.

That paralysis is leading some local mayors and councils to take matters in their own hands – setting a dangerous precedent for future provincial governments to exploit.

If the provincial government is responsible for health policy and funding, for example, then the provincial government should be the government taking action.

In times like these, a government sitting on its hands has lost touch and should be voted out.

The election we have before us is on the local level, but you will still hear many a candidate talking about action.

Voters need to get specifics from those candidates — and after the election, hold the ones they elected accountable for their actions and lack thereof.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.