We have to wonder if Mayor Derek Corrigan isn’t just keeping us all guessing about his future plans as part of a larger political game plan.
After all, why give potential opponents extra time to organize?
There’s no question that Corrigan’s presence and iron-fisted leadership is a large part of why and how the left-leaning Burnaby Citizens’ Association has reigned supreme in the city for several decades.
Corrigan has broached no opposition, internally or externally, to his leadership.
And, to be sure, that’s a large part of why Burnaby has done so well in so many ways.
Opposition slows things down. When you’re all singing off the same song sheet, plans can move a whole lot faster.
But opposition, or different voices, also helps to keep politicians honest and approachable.
A one-party system does not encourage those who don’t agree to sign up for committees or city groups. (And, of course, since these spots are often political appointments, the chances of getting diverse and differing political positions on such committees is slim to none.)
Citizens with different opinions or views feel disenfranchised and not part of the bigger picture.
And this is not good.
We have to say we have noticed (and reported on) cracks in the all-for-one, all-for-Corrigan system recently.
BCA teammates are clearly testing the waters and occasionally even seem to contradict Corrigan’s talking points at times.
Will someone in his own ranks challenge him?
We doubt it.
Any fissures in the BCA city council or school board are kept discreetly behind closed doors.
And let there be no mistake – Corrigan still holds the reins firmly.
The outspoken mayor of Burnaby has been likened to a mother bear defending her cubs. He is devoted to this city and clearly believes that he knows best when everything is taken into account. And the majority of voters have agreed with him since 2002.
But he is, we’re sure, also aware that politics is a fickle game. As he told our reporter, “You always have to be brutally honest where you’re contributing and whether the public sees you as contributing. If at any stage I wasn’t fulfilling what the public wanted, I would get out before I was kicked out.”
The challenge for politicians, as always, is if they can ever truly tell when the public doesn’t want them anymore – aside from losing an election.
