B.C. Premier Christy Clark says her predecessor Gordon Campbell deserves the Order of B.C. Her comments follow the furor over the controversial award criticized by some as being either undeserved or given too soon after the former premier left office.
"I understand these things are always controversial, but I think after 25 years in public life, it's difficult to argue the service he provided, that he didn't deserve it," Ms. Clark said Friday in her first comments on the matter.
Ms. Clark, who has kept her distance from her predecessor since being elected leader of the BC Liberals in February, was referring to Mr. Campbell's years in elected office, including time as Vancouver mayor, leader of the BC Liberal opposition and a decade in power as premier.
"He did make a big contribution. He changed the province very profoundly," Ms. Clark told reporters following the unveiling of the new Terry Fox Memorial at B.C. Place.
Since leaving office earlier this year, Mr. Campbell has been appointed Canada's new high commissioner to Britain. The former premier has yet to comment on his appointment.
A protocol official from the Honours and Awards Secretariat confirmed this week he will not accept his award at the ceremony on Oct. 4. However, the other 12 recipients are expected at the ceremony at Government House in Victoria.
Mr. Campbell's appointment has already been made, but he will not be formally invested into the Order until he shows up at Government House to collect his medal - a stylized dogwood, with a crowned shield of arms on a green, gold, white and blue ribbon.
Because he won't attend this year's ceremony, he will be invited to next year's. In rare circumstances, the Lieutenant Governor of B.C. has held a private presentation when a recipient could not attend the annual event.
It is questionable whether Mr. Campbell can use the designation of O.B.C. in his title until he is formally invested into the order.
According to protocol officials, Mr. Campbell has technically been a member of the Order of B.C. since his appointment earlier this month, but "common practice" dictates he cannot use the title until he has been presented with his medal.
Ms. Clark noted the decision to honor Mr. Campbell, who left office amidst controversy for bringing in the harmonized sales tax, was made by a committee independent of government, and that she will leave it to the public to decide whether, as some suggest, the honor came too soon.
"But I think certainly his name would have been under consideration in future years if not this year and I think, given 25 years in public life, he would probably have received it – if not this year maybe another year," she said.
"To me, the question really is, `Did he deserve it?'"
She noted that even opposition NDP Leader Adrian Dix has said the former premier deserves the award for his 25 years service.
Mr. Dix later challenged the premier's characterization of his views, saying Mr. Campbell merits the order but it is too soon for him to be so awarded.
Ian Bailey
Justine Hunter