Dear Editor,
Re: “MLAs eyeing Opposition role,” News, July 7.
John Yap, Linda Reid, Teresa Wat and Jas Johal didn’t quite get what they were hoping for. The voters elected enough NDP and Green party candidates to provide a coalition to form government.
Enough B.C. residents, outside of Richmond, also saw fit not to support the right-of-centre “Liberal”government’s platform or record in the last election.
The NDP and Green coalition handed long-time Liberals a long-overdue reality check, showing them how far out of touch they really are with working families.
For the new MLAs, such as former journalist-turned-LNG lobbyist Jas Johal, who grabbed the coattails of longtime Richmond right-of-centre provincial politicians, lower your expectations.
Johal says he signed up for public service. I would ask, why? What is in it for you? Serving the public is a curious detour from your previous endeavours. Looks more like calculated opportunism from were I am sitting.
For Yap, in spite of the controversy with the 2013 ethnic vote scandal resulting in his resignation as minister, he continues to be sent to Victoria by Steveston voters.
The record of Richmond MLAs is the same as their party’s on education, health care, Site-C, childcare, big-money party donations, etc. They cannot talk or spin their way out of the last 16 years.
By the numbers, B.C. voters think they are, and have been, out of step and out of touch. Richmond MLAs are putting on a brave face, keeping to the party talking points and sucking up a big dose of humility. I have been waiting 16 years for this. It is worth it.
David L. Merke
Richmond/Saltspring Island
