If B.C. politics were an amusement park, it would be safe to say the Liberals are frantically trying to hang on as they ride a rollercoaster with a lot of steep falls, while the NDP is content to take in the safe and sure pony ride.
The Liberals are certainly having a wild ride right now. The government seems to experience one mishap after another and its outlook is bleak and uncertain.
The New Democrats, in contrast, are having an error-free time of things right now. The party is behaving with extreme caution, and it's hard to stumble when it's barely even moving.
It's fresh off two big byelection victories, continues to sail high in the polls, and is led by someone who continues to show moderation and maturity in his role as Opposition leader. And there's nothing to indicate Adrian Dix's approach will change if he becomes premier, which increasingly appears to be a likely scenario.
In the current legislature session, Dix has lowered the temperature in an oftenheated bear pit. He has insisted his party cease all personal attacks, and has even toned down heckling.
The government side is behaving in a more partisan manner and often looks out of control up against the disciplined New Democrats. Premier Christy Clark, in particular, comes off looking weak when she allows her aggressive, partisan style to clash with Dix's quiet, almost plodding approach.
The NDP hasn't really broken any new ground in the current session. Most media coverage flows from question period, and few new issues have been raised in that forum, as the NDP is content to hammer the government over old issues.
But this doesn't really matter. The NDP does not need to score any points right now, and is simply doing what an Opposition is supposed to do when a government appears to be falling apart: stay out of the way.
The most interesting thing about the NDP right now is trying to get a handle on how the party will perform in government.
Dix has recently provided a few clues. At this year's party convention, his speech stressed that expectations of what a government led by him can and will do must be lowered.
In a long-ranging interview with host Bill Good on CKNW radio, Dix demonstrated that a number of controversial government measures won't suddenly end just because the NDP wins power.
For example, he said the carbon tax is here to stay because the $1.4 billion in revenue it generates is locked into government spending. He would redirect some of that money into targeted areas, such as transit, but he won't be scrapping the tax itself.
He also acknowledged we're likely stuck with the smart meter program, largely because about a billion dollars has been spent on the initiative.
He said he would call a public inquiry into the sale of BC Rail, but noted he didn't want it to turn into a large money trough for lawyers, and so would greatly limit its scope. He re-iterated his promise to do more for post-secondary students when it comes to financial assistance, and again said he would raise business taxes to the levels established by the Liberals back in 2008.
All in all, Dix continues to make some very cautious and realistic promises. In the meantime, his go-slow approach continues to madden the Liberals, who would love to target him more, but find very little to aim at.
And so the government will have to content itself with that at-times frightening roller coaster ride it's stuck on. And the NDP will plod on, taking things one slow step at a time. When they finally get into government, they'll be on a much faster ride, believe me.
Keith Baldrey is chief political reporter for Global BC.
