Seven Oaks Magazine.

In order to recover from my Valentine’s Day hangover -- an experience I am sure most understand, whether you are single or coupled -- I was watching a little daytime television. Ok, I will admit, I enjoy a “story” or two. Soap operas, daytime or primetime, are one of my only politically incorrect guilty pleasures and one of the precious few perks of being a recent graduate in search of work. As I was watching my favourite soap --whose title will remain nameless if I am going to maintain some creditability in my feminist circles – I started flipping channels, during what seemed to be an extended commercial, and clicked right into Colin Hansen’s budget speech before the Provincial Legislature.

The content of his pre-election budget was not that surprising. Like most governments before election dates, they promise people what they want, such as increased spending on health care, education, and some tax cuts for small business. (Hansen asserted that 98% of businesses in the province are small ones, which must mean that practically every business is getting a tax cut, except maybe Wal-Mart). But, even better for those poorly paid Wal-Mart employees and those 12 year-old children who can now work full time in this province, Hansen proclaimed that if they make 16 thousand dollars a year or less, they will not pay any provincial income tax. Ironically, in the same breath he gave a much higher tax break to the rich buying luxury vehicles. So, while those scraping by to put food on the table now have a few hundred dollars left in their pockets, upper middle class families have another two grand to upgrade their options on their new SUV.

But what I found to be the most surreal aspect of Hansen reading his new budget was his position between the bodies of women MLAs. With Gordon Campbell having an awful approval rating amongst women, the Liberal handlers must have thought themselves geniuses when they decided to encircle Hansen with women – Ida Chong, Shirley Bond, Linda Reid, Shelia Orr, Patty Sahota, and Brenda Locke. With the tight camera angle of Legislature television, it seemed like Campbell’s cabinet was flush with women. Unfortunately, women’s real position within the Campbell government and cabinet is similar to their position in the budget speech: window dressing.

Out of Campbell’s landslide win in 2001, only sixteen women were elected into government. Out of those only Christy Clark truly held an influential position within Campbell’s boys club. Her resignation, though, forced Campbell to appoint another woman to fill her shoes as deputy premier, Shirley Bond, who seems to be more of a token than a real player. The Liberal government must understand that if they are going to woo female voters it will not work to force us to watch women MLAs clapping and bobble-heading for Campbell’s new budget. Too many women, struggling to raise a family, working part-time labour, or caring for family members personally because of the cuts to health care, know the real legacy of the Liberals’ regime.

Hansen’s budget tried to have the appearance of caring about women’s health and well being, repeating the need for an almost Dr. Phil-esque, booty-camp for us inactive citizens, all as part of their “spirit of 2010” political marketing campaign.

Hansen’s budget, and his posturing that this government cares about women and our safety, is questionable, to say the least. Last year’s complete funding cut to Women’s Centres and funding reductions to transition houses and rape crisis counselling leads most women to question where the government places it priorities. Hansen’s budget tried to lessen our suspicion by increasing funding to transition houses, leaving them, however, short of the funding they received 4 years ago; and women’s centres are still not a priority.

The NDP is in position for an outside shot at making history in this province, as they hope to overcome the Liberals’ and mainstream media’s hype and anti-labour hysteria to make Carole James BC’s very first elected female premier. Despite this, only a pitiful 7 of 44 nominated NDP candidates thus far are women.

This, especially after three years of a 2 member all-female opposition, seems an almost unbelievable and inexcusable gender inequity, which could hamper the opposition party’s standing with the province’s women. And with only One Life to Live, it would be a shame to spend four more years of the Days of Our Lives under Gordon Campbell. No matter how they arrange the window-dressing, this Liberal government has, and will continue, to put the Second Sex further behind.