“Perceptions” by Gerry Warner

Op-Ed Commentary

Cranbrook hasn’t always been a Conservative stronghold. Nor has Kimberley. Indeed, quite the opposite is true. But to find that out, you have to dig deep into the past when socialists – and not Conservatives – dominated Kootenay politics.

Almost three generations ago, two political giants of the left – Leo Nimsick and Bert Herridge – dominated Kootenay politics for decades. Nimsick won six provincial elections serving tirelessly as Energy Mines and Petroleum Minister and Minister of Tourism for the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation – or CCF – as it was called back then.

On the federal side, Herridge, or the “Squire of Kootenay West” as he came to be called, was a staunch socialist who served 23 years and was well known for his corrosive criticism of the Columbia River Treaty.

In more recent times, provincial MLAs Anne Edwards, Jim Doyle and Norm Macdonald carried on the socialist tradition as the CCF transitioned into the NDP. All of them were strong supporters of social democracy, unionized workers and Indigenous people at a time when conditions were under siege. Under today’s electoral boundaries, they would represent the new federal constituencies of Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies and Columbia River-Revelstoke.

But over time, the political winds changed and political populist Jim Abbott came to power marking the end of the socialist era in most of the Kootenays. Abbott was a different kind of political practitioner – a nice guy – who was known more for his upright character than his politics which today are so toxic and polarized they’ve become dysfunctional south of the border and in much of Canada too.

And did it ever work!

In 18 years as MP,  Abbott virtually clobbered all his opponents, never getting less than 50% of the vote total and once finishing with 67.7% of the final tally How did he do it?  First elected as a far-right Reform Party member, Abbott earned the admiration and respect of all Ottawa MPs with his honesty, integrity and good political manners which earned him the trust of all parliamentarians and not just the members of his own party.

In other words, his handshake was cashable. which unfortunately isn’t always the case in politics now or before. But especially not the case today with a compulsive liar and charlatan occupying the Oval Office.

Add to this the fact that the first loyalty of many politicians today is to themselves and their careers and not the constituents that elected them. Hence time goes by and they start believing the lies they’ve helped to spin and that’s when the hot poop really hits the fan.

What’s wrong with annexing Canada? Migrants are all criminals and rapists. The election was stolen. Covid was a hoax. Tariffs will result in a Golden Age of prosperity. Vaccines are a fraud. The list is endless. And it’s deadly because it’s destabilizing the world’s entire economy.

I don’t know what Donald Trump says in his prayers at night. I don’t know if he prays at all. That’s his business. But this much I do know. If the unholy trio of Trump, Elon Musk and J.D. Vance doesn’t start showing a little consideration soon for the world’s eight billion inhabitants, we’re all going to be in deep, deep trouble.

Trouble we may not survive.

– Gerry Warner is a retired journalist who’s doing the best he can.

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