The senior deputy  minister in the BC government has left the job after four years in the position.  This in itself is neither remarkable nor significant.  Having myself served in this position to two BC Premiers in the 1990’s, I can attest to the unrelenting demands of the job.  It is not a position that one can expect to serve for a long period of time without serious therapy.  On the other hand it is one of the most challenging, interesting jobs that one could ever have.  As Cabinet Secretary, chief policy advisor to the Premier and Cabinet and head of the public service, it provides one with a great opportunity to wrestle with the important issues of our time and to make a difference.

Jessica MacDonald, the one who is now leaving, deserves credit for some important accomplishments.  She is clearly committed to a greening of policy, and until the recent almost complete retreat by the government, deserves a lot of credit for moving this agenda in the face of a lot of internal opposition.  She also took the lead in moving the Campbell government into the 21st century on aboriginal rights and reconciliation after a hostile start on the part of Campbell.  These are to her credit.

On the other side of the ledger the so-called Reconciliation Act was badly designed and handled by her, and she has to accept responsibility for its failure.  Further, the deceit and fudge on the province’s finances through the winter, spring and summer should never have been allowed to happen, given that it could be predicted starting last November.  The fact that so many organizations and groups were misled into thinking that their budgets were secure until early September, long after their plans for the year were set and commitments made, and then cut without notice, was an unconscionable act and  she should never have let it happen.

It is curious  that she chose to send a letter of explanation to her fellow deputy ministers with wording that raises more questions than it answers  and with the almost certain knowledge that it would be publicly released.

To me, having 30 years of experience deciphering the code of government and political communications, this  communication to deputy ministers raises all kinds of questions about why she left.    Is it true that she left of her own accord, or was there more to it as a result of internal issues and problems?  Is the letter just another attempt at spin by a government that has trouble telling us what really happened?   Her attempt to suggest it was natural, planned and for her own reasons leaves one wondering more than it convinces.

The media has been amazingly gullible on this.  Columnists have accepted and amplified her letter as if it were all true and completely transparent.  Not one that I have seen has asked why such a letter was needed and what really went on with her leaving.  Not that it matters that much, but that much gullibility by the media  makes you wonder about its judgment on all of the other information the government feeds it.  Might this be part of the explanation of why this government is able to get away with so little media scrutiny?