Of course it’s offensive, but good grief, the gasps of wrongdoing across the province over the Liberal strategy to gain ethnic votes is downright trite.
After a leaked document described using non-partisan government staff resources to improve the party’s standing with ethnic communities surfaced last week, an investigation has been launched and two resignations have been accepted.
In a statement issued Friday, Clark announced she had accepted the resignation of her long-time assistant, Kim Haakstad, who distributed the ethnic voter plan to party and government staff via their personal e-mail addresses.
And as of Monday afternoon Richmond-Steveston MLA John Yap has resigned from the B.C. cabinet pending the outcome of an investigation into government conduct on outreach to ethnic communities.
Add to all this, Clark’s incessant apology-spewing and it’s all very worthy of an eye roll or two.
Yes, the language used in the leaked e-mail is “inappropriate” and offensive, but what’s almost as cringe-worthy is the holier-than-thou reaction from opposition.
Every damn party is brainstorming on ways to garner votes, be it engaging younger participants, ethic groups or recruiting new members.
Get over it. Everyone is doing it.
What needs to be addressed is the use of taxpayers money to fund these types of campaigns and outreaches.
The issue here lies with the sincere need for campaign finance reform. Every party has the right to target whatever group they hope to sway, but the taxpayers of The Most Beautiful Place On Earth should not be responsible for footing the bill.
–Autumn MacDonald, Observer