Teachers, not tankers: On Christy Clark’s misplaced priorities

Christy Clark loves to do photo-ops wearing a hard hat. That was basically her uniform on the campaign trail last year. It was meant to symbolize her commitment to jobs, as she touted the “trillion dollar” bonanza that B.C. would reap from expanding Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) exports. If only Premier Clark were as committed to and respectful of actual workers in this province as she is to imaginary future workers in this one sector of the economy. (Worth noting: Clark’s estimates of the potential of LNG to create jobs seem as wildly overstated as her projections for the climate change causing emissions of this new Gas Rush are understated.) Clark and the BC Liberals’ misplaced priorities have been on full display of late. Last week, Clark was a featured speaker at a three-day LNG industry conference in downtown Vancouver. Meanwhile, her government was busy antagonizing BC teachers, causing disruption and uncertainty for education workers, parents and students – all this just as exam and graduation time approaches.