A long-time supporter of B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell is now calling for his resignation, saying it's the only way to calm the anti-Liberal backlash spurred by the HST.
Former Williams Lake mayor Scott Nelson chaired the BC Liberal Party's provincial council for four years. He was also among the first to support Campbell's move from mayor of Vancouver to leader of the Liberals almost 20 years ago.
Now he says it's time to step down.
"People feel betrayed," Nelson said. "The government just seems to continue to move forward no matter what political time bombs come out of the woodwork."
Nelson says the NDP is poised to assume power in the province, and that without new leadership the Liberal party is in danger of splintering.
"There are a lot of people leaving the party," he said. "Members are very frustrated, they're disillusioned and if anything, they're disappointed."
That could lead to the emergence of a new third party in B.C., Nelson says. But if Campbell resigns, there could be salvation.
"We need to have a fresh, bold face put back on the party," he said. "People right now are trying to send a message to the premier: ‘Thank you very much, you've done a great job, but it's time to retire.'"
Last week, internal documents were released that showed BC Liberal bureaucrats were conducting cost-benefit analyses and preparing lengthy briefing notes on the tax for Finance Minister Colin Hansen as early as January 2009.
The documents directly contradict statements by both Campbell and Hansen, who repeatedly said the tax "wasn't anywhere on the radar" before the May election.
The premier's office declined to comment on Nelson's call.
