It's the job of the Opposition to oppose, so we can't blame the B.C. New Democrats for calling for the resignation of North Vancouver's Naomi Yamamoto, the Liberal minister for advanced education.
But the latest Liberal botch has already ended the career of Harry Bloy, the minister actually responsible for tipping off a private company about an investigation by the Province newspaper. Any more bloodshed would be a headhunt too far.
Yamamoto received some questions about numerous student allegations against Eminata Group's postsecondary schools. She reviewed the questions and handed them on to a staffer, who felt that Bloy, the minister of multiculturalism, should also have a look. Lots of new Canadians attend these schools.
So far, so good. If this version is accurate - and there's no evidence to suggest otherwise - this was just routine internal communication. Exit Yamamoto.
It was Bloy who briefed Eminata about what was up, deliberately undermining legitimate investigative journalism being conducted in the public interest. That the company's head is a generous Liberal donor makes this look particularly sordid. It also meant the end of Bloy's disastrous cabinet career.
We have to ask though: What sort of minister believes his job is to shelter a private firm from the grievances of students and the questions of reporters? In what sort of cabinet do these leaks seem like acceptable behaviour? These questions need answers, but they must come from the premier, not Yamamoto.
