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Politics is a team sport – until you win?

Premier John Horgan’s remark isn’t just untrue, says Jordan Bateman, but reveals the hazards of elected office.
Horgan rugby
Premier John Horgan, in front of another team sport – rugby.

Power changes a person. That’s not a startling revelation – politicians have often flip-flopped on various policy issues; just ask the Green Party about the NDP’s stance on Site C and LNG.

There’s a bubble created around political leaders. Their schedule is no longer their own, and their interactions with real people become more and more limited. This is how Christy Clark, B.C.’s most gifted retail politician since W.A.C. Bennett, ends up fumbling in a grocery store aisle under the questions of a woman named Linda.

They get rusty and end up relying too heavily on paid staffers, key cabinet officials, and other lackeys who depend on their grace for their job.

They begin to believe their own hype, and that they are the smartest people in the room. (This is how Justin Trudeau and his braintrust – using that word very loosely – screw up #LavScam over and over again.) Don’t question the boss.

Premier John Horgan is well on his way to that same disconnect with who he once was. I was astonished last week to read his declaration that “This isn’t a team sport, politics.”

Horgan was trying to put distance between himself and “his friend” Rachel Notley, the NDP premier of Alberta who dares to support the nation-building Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

Horgan, of course, cut a deal with the BC Green Party to use “every tool in the toolbox” to kill Trans Mountain. If he reneges, the Greens could pull their support.

Politics is not a team sport, Horgan spat out at the press conference. That’s a big shift from a guy whose leadership campaign in 2014 used the Twitter handle, @TeamHorganBC.

It’s also wrong. Politics has evolved into the ultimate team sport. Horgan only serves as premier because his NDP team cobbled together a slim majority, with the help of the BC Greens.

I wonder if NDP cabinet ministers are sensing their boss has changed his views on team.

Once upon a time, team was all these NDPers could talk about. Let’s review a small sample:

Michelle Mungall, now B.C.’s energy minister (but still woefully misinformed about oil and gas)  “Thrilled to be on same #bcndpldr team as @mikefarnworthbc and @jjhorgan.”

Judy Darcy, the long-ago Workers’ Communist Party candidate turned Minister of Mental Health and Addictions: “Congratulations @s_malcolmson … An exceptional candidate and amazing woman who will be a fabulous @bcndp MLA. Can’t wait for you to join the @jjhorgan team to build a #betterBC!”

Advanced Education Minister (and proportional representation non-expert) Melanie Mark: “Great night with @bcndp team, the @ynd_jnd, @richardharlow, @jbtwickens, our Premier @jjhorgan.”

Horgan’s communications director Sage Aaron: “Thrilled to work for @jjhorgan & with this incredible team to build a #betterBC.”

Finance Minister Carole James – who definitely knows politics is a team sport, given that it was a big chunk of her team that scuttled her leadership run a decade ago: “Thank you Premier-designate @jjhorgan Proud to serve as part of your team.”

Here’s the best one, and it comes from Barb Nederpel, president of the Hospital Employees’ Union and defeated NDP candidate: “This will not be the John Horgan New Democrats as @jjhorgan emphasizes ‘team’ 2 make BC better for all @bcndp.”

(Amusingly, Horgan welcomed Nederpel with this tweet: “Congratulations @bnederpel. Welcome to our #BCNDP 2017 team as our candidate for #Kamloops-North.”)

Back in 2014, Horgan contradicted his current view: “Honoured to be leader of the BCNDP. Much work ahead, but a united team will earn the support of British Columbians in 2017. Game on!”

That was Horgan then, but this is Horgan now: “Politics is not a team sport.”

Obviously, Horgan is wrong. Politics is absolutely a team sport. Elected officials, staffers, volunteers and activists work together to accomplish a goal of setting a vision, reaching out to the electorate, winning power and changing things.

Horgan and his (apologies, Premier, for using the word) team will no doubt brush off his comment as being solely about Rachel Notley and the Alberta NDP. But bear in mind, both BC and Alberta NDP are automatically members of the federal NDP and thus ON THE SAME TEAM.

BC NDP MLAs may want to keep an eye on their Premier. If the seeds of selfishness are taking root, if he’s been insulated from the very people he was elected to serve, the beginning of the end of this NDP run could be near indeed.

Jordan Bateman has a long history of public policy work, championing small business and fiscal responsibility. Currently the Vice President, Communications & Marketing for the Independent Contractors and Business Association (ICBA), Jordan also served six years as the B.C. Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, and was a two-term Langley Township Councillor.