News No leadership aspirations — Couvelier by Girard Hengen The Review If there is a change at the helm of the Social Credit party, local MLA Mel Couvelier says he’s not interested in filling the void. “I don’t consider myself part of that race,” the former finance minister told a general meeting of the Saanich Peninsula Chamber of Commerce Thursday night. Couvelier said if Premier Bill Vander Zalm resigns or is forced out, “then I’m of the view we should rally around one of the existing (cabinet ministers). “And in my view it would not be myself, and my cabinet col- leagues know who I support,” said the MLA for Saanich and The Islands. Elaborating later, Couvelier noted because he had been in the finance portfolio, “other persons would be more acceptable (for the Local Liberal welcomes split Local provincial Liberal candi- date Clive Tanner applauds the move by B.C. Liberals to split from the federal wing of the party. “T’ve been working for it for 11 years because we need a party that’s made-in-B.C.,”” he said Monday. “We can finance, organize and make policy strictly for B.C.” Most of the 280 delegates attending the party’s convention last weekend in Richmond endorsed the measure. Tanner, who is running in the Saanich North and The Islands constituency, was elected vice- president of the B:C. Liberal party at the convention. He says the time was right for a split. “Everything happened to come together. The feds wanted it and the provincial executive wanted ite Noting Liberal executives have taken the same position in other provinces, including Ontario, Alberta and Quebec, he says the two B.C. wings will provide a greater degree of flexibility for Liberals and perhaps improve the popularity of each. For example, those who want to join the provincial Socreds can also be members of the federal Liberals, or those wanting to become Liberals provincially can become involved with another national party. He says it has been difficult trying to convince potential sup- porters that the provincial party is distinct from the federal wing. leadership) than myself.” Couvelier’s comments came after he told a crowd of about 75 the reasons for his recent resigna- tion from Vander Zalm’s cabinet. The root of the problem, he says, can be traced to “an outmoded style of government.” In Canadian party politics, elected officials are expected to provide “absolute, total blind loy- alty,” he noted. “It is mandatory that you be a team player. “My view is that that is an anachronism. It is archaic.” Couvelier said he was enlight- ened during a recent trip to Austra- lia, where party politicians come into conflict with the leader on a daily basis, “and it is the accepted thing.” He told his attentive listeners he could not give his “straitjacketed support” to Vander Zalm in the legislature during the controversy over the premier’s role in the sale of Fantasy Gardens, especially since he didn*t have access to all the facts and didn’t know the truth. “And as events have turned out, my fears were realized,” he added. “We continue to be blindsided on a daily basis.” On another matter, a questionner said he was very concerned about the level of taxation imposed by governments, be they local, provin- cial or national. “Now we have two parties.” Also at the convention, dele- gates voted about 70 per cent in favor of leader Gordon Wilson’s performance in a leadership Teview. . Tanner says this show of support is strong enough for Wilson to continue. He adds Liberals have come out of the convention optimistic they will gain seats in a provincial election, which must be held this year. “We think the Socred party is falling apart, and we feel we are going to be the beneficiaries of that division.” Locally, he assesses his chances “are stronger than they’ve ever been before.” MEL COUVELIER Couvelier agreed, adding, “We must reduce our demands from the public purse.” For example, in the field of health care, politicians should look at the benefits of funding discre- ulonary Operations at the same rate as they are performed in other industrialized countries, he said. Canadians have more discre- tionary surgery operations than those in other countries, adding to the burden on the public purse, he suggested. 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