Dear Editor,
Re: “MLA eyes Liberal leadership race,” The News, Aug.9, 2017.
Richmond-East MLA Jas Johal’s brief stint as a minister under former Premier Christy Clark’s short-lived government has whetted his appetite. He is currently the critic to the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology, led by the NDP Minister Bruce Ralston, who, I believe, will promptly hand Mr. Johal his head when the B.C. legislature convenes again in September.
Being a former television reporter for GlobalBC allowed Johal to make the right connections for his run at politics.
For example, Mr. Johal, as a reporter, was talking with the Liberal’s communication director about the Mount Polly disaster. He suggested to Liberal staff that government needed to control the situation. He says he was only saying that the Liberals would need to make a statement.
As a proponent of the LNG industry, he was the spokesperson for BC LNG Alliance. And when, just recently, LNG giant Petronas cancelled the contract and withdrew from Clark’s previous cornerstone election promise, the legacy fund evaporated like the hot air it was based on.
Johal promptly blamed the NDP, although Petronas publicly denied that NDP had anything to do with their decision to withdraw.
Now, Mr. Johal is considering a run for leader of the party. He said his priority is to represent Generation Xers and Millennials, whose needs, according to him, are not being met. Those needs being affordable housing, daycare and transportation.
Sounds pretty much like everybody’s needs to me. This is an example of niche politics – manufacture a constituency and get out in front of it.
Overstating, understating, these are definitely lessons learned from his previous careers in media and as a lobbyist.
This pre-political apprenticeship will serve Johal well, but I fear not so the people of B.C.
David L. Merke
Richmond
