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Honour is out of Order

So the guy who gave us the HST - sneaking it by us with lies, deceit, and general subversion of the democratic process, no less - is to be honoured as one of the greatest among us. Gordon Campbell is being awarded the Order of British Columbia.

So the guy who gave us the HST - sneaking it by us with lies, deceit, and general subversion of the democratic process, no less - is to be honoured as one of the greatest among us.

Gordon Campbell is being awarded the Order of British Columbia. Now, if that ain't a kick in the teeth.

"The Order of British Columbia recognizes the excellence and achievements of our citizens," Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point explained as he announced that 14 recipients, including Campbell, would be receiving the award in October. "It is the highest honour we can bestow on individuals in our province."

Apparently, it is a significantly higher honour than being drummed out of the premier's office with a remarkable nine per cent approval rating.

And it's probably a stronger legacy for our ex-premier than having been responsible for the launch of the only successful public initiative referendum in the province's history - to dump the most universally despised tax in the province's history. It's a feat that could not have been accomplished without the anger Campbell generated through the deceitful means he foisted the HST on B.C. which now finds itself "honouring" this "visionary, leader, proud British Columbian" with its highest accolade.

While there is much in Campbell's resume that could make him worthy of consideration for the Order of British Columbia, it's hardly fair to the other people on the list of honorees to present it to him while his popularity remains in an abyss, while we're all in the midst of correcting what probably was the biggest mistake of his public career.

It's not fair to Campbell himself, either. The timing ensures that his inclusion in the order will forever be linked to his HST fiasco, instead of with some of what should be his more memorable accomplishments.