Skip to main content

British Columbia NDP leader Carole James in Victoria, B.C., on Tuesday March 2, 2010.Darryl Dyck/ The Canadian Press

Perhaps Carole James should be asking Premier Gordon Campbell to stay.

Mr. Campbell's exit from B.C politics is not only unlikely to squelch leadership worries for the NDP Leader but also could actually make things worse for her as the party heads toward the 2013 provincial election.

Even a dogged NDP supporter like Jim Sinclair, head of the B.C. Federation of Labour, sounded a cautious note Wednesday, hours after Mr. Campbell announced his resignation, ending a run of nearly 10 years as Liberal Premier.

"The job for Carole and the NDP is to go out and show they can govern the province, and they have a vision," said Mr. Sinclair.

He said they do have a vision, but part of the process of reassurance is learning to deal with the caucus tensions that prompted Ms. James to oust Caribou-North MLA Bob Simpson from caucus for, among other things, criticism of the leader. Ms. James has also acknowledged some in the party have issues with her leadership.

"The challenge for the NDP is to show discipline, that they can deal with their problems. Obviously that was one of the strengths of the Campbell government is their MLAs were disciplined despite some pretty rocky times as you can imagine; they were disciplined," said Mr. Sinclair.

"And I think if you want to be government, they have to demonstrate the same discipline. They have to deal with Bob Simpson, find some solutions and bring it back together again."

Ms. James was predictably bullish about her party's prospects, suggesting in an interview that she never expected the embattled Premier would last until the next election and she will tag any new leader - "even if it's a shiny new outsider" - with sins of the current government that include controversies over the HST, sale of BC Rail, and high rates of child poverty.

"The slate doesn't get wiped clean with a new person coming in."

She also played down turmoil in her own caucus. "There are always going to be questions of leadership in any party. The only time you don't get questions on your leadership is if you're doing nothing."

But others are more cautious.

Political scientist Norman Ruff said the NDP can no longer rely on antipathy to Mr. Campbell - a major asset. "The bottom line is the NDP is faced with an enormous amount of uncertainty," said the professor emeritus at the University of Victoria.

Mr. Simpson himself said in an interview that Mr. Campbell's resignation will prompt renewed focus on leadership issues within the NDP. There will be heightened debate at a provincial council meeting set for Nov. 20 in Victoria where there are at least three resolutions calling for a leadership convention in 2011.

"For many [New Democrats] the fear was that the Liberals would actually get out from under Campbell, would have a leadership convention, would find someone who would have more appeal to the public. Because the NDP hasn't moved, the possibility exists for the Liberals to recapture their base of support," said Mr. Simpson.

The tactic has had mixed results in B.C. politics.

Bill Vander Zalm revived the Social Credit brand in the 1980s after Bill Bennett exited politics ahead of the judgment of the voters. However, Rita Johnston failed to save the Socreds from Mike Harcourt and the NDP in the 1990s. Glen Clark came to the rescue of the then-troubled NDP government, beating none other than Mr. Campbell in 1996.

Mr. Clark's former communication's director, Bill Tieleman, who lately has criticized Ms. James for reaching out to the business community, said the situation is perilous for the New Democrats.

"The NDP's problem is they have got a leader who has lost two elections, albeit narrowly, and who has been around for seven years. Somebody new and shiny who doesn't have the baggage could well be the ticket for at least an improvement [for the Liberals]" said Mr. Tieleman

"Almost anybody who comes after Campbell will be an improvement."

And, he said, the clock is ticking. A new Liberal premier, he said, could repeal the province's fixed election date, set for May 2013, saying he needs a mandate from the people and thus rushing Ms. James's next date with voters.

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe