Cynicism about politics is a plague on our democracy, and the sa国际传媒 Liberals have only made it worse by appointing failed candidates to jobs on the taxpayer鈥檚 dime.
Nine candidates who lost in the provincial election in May are now working for various ministers. Christina Bates, who ran unsuccessfully in Victoria-Swan Lake, is the latest of five Island candidates to wind up on the public payroll. She is now ministerial assistant to Stephanie Cadieux, the minister of children and family development.
The other Islanders are Nick Facey (North Island), Karen Bill (Victoria-Beacon Hill), Rishi Sharma (Saanich South) and Steve Housser (Cowichan Valley). Housser鈥檚 contract is short term, and Bill and Sharma were already ministerial staffers who took leaves to run for office.
Premier Christy Clark has the right to put anyone she chooses into these posts because they are political positions. It makes sense to put faithful party members into such jobs because they understand the government鈥檚 goals and philosophies. Their loyalty to the party is not in doubt.
But filling those jobs with unsuccessful Liberal candidates makes it look as if taxpayer dollars are funding consolation prizes.
These candidates failed to convince enough voters to put them on the provincial payroll. To then appoint them as ministerial aides reinforces the notion that politicians look out for their buddies 鈥� and then send the bill to the provincial treasury.
There is no shortage of dedicated party workers who labour behind the scenes or other legislature staff ready to move up to fill the political posts.
The temptation to pick failed Liberal candidates for these jobs must be strong, but the premier should resist it.
