It has now been one month since B.C. voters went to the polls to choose a new government and, perhaps, failed so comprehensively that we may soon again be headed to another election.
That’s harsh, but the fact remains that the voters did not exactly deliver a coherent message on May 9.
Still, the last month has at least helped British Columbians improve upon their abysmal knowledge about the Westminster system of government. Unfamiliarity, dissembling politicians, an erratic media and – let’s face it – the generally boring nature of the topic have left most with little comprehension of how, exactly, politicians obtain the right to govern.
The last month has been a crash course, and, to their credit, politicians and the media have improved their previously uneven record on the subject.
Politicians from all sides have largely stayed away from trying to convince voters of the existence of imaginary rules that would benefit them if they were real (although the spinning of our system’s rules is ramping up as politicians prepare to return to the legislature).
And after some early stumbles, the B.C. media – parts of which stumbled after the results came in – has improved its coverage and knowledge base, and, hopefully, voters’ awareness of our system.
All of which provides some consolation as politicians return to the legislature and the province hurtles toward what may be an election that no one really wants a part of.