Score one for the cynics who dismiss politicians as being only self-interested and concerned with clinging to power.
In a chain of emails revealed by the Globe and Mail this week, we saw two B.C. Liberal cabinet members making comments that could charitably be described as not befitting their office. Or any public office, for that matter.
Pat Pimm and Bill Bennett lamented that they had been unable to successfully lobby the Agricultural Land Commission to redraw agricultural land reserve boundaries so their constituents' redevelopment proposals can go ahead.
Pimm chastised those involved for wasting a chance to "muster up some support for our team" and were instead going to "ignore it and go out and find some way to give the Indians more money which doesn't get me one vote!"
Pimm's comments at once capture everything an MLA should not be - encompassing an apparent contempt for First Nations, a complete lack of understanding as to why we have arm's length agencies to begin with and naked self-interest in how he can wield government power to make sure he's elected again.
Sadly, with the ALC due to be neutered by legislation crafted by Bennett so oil and gas development will receive more flexibility to operate in the ALR, we see that administrative power apparently needs to be placed even further from the reach of politicians.
Too often the words uttered behind closed doors or buried in email chains belie the official press releases. If leaks are the only way we get to learn what our politicians really believe, we've got some buckets ready to be filled.
