By Cheryl Jahn

“Odd couple for sure” Bond and Dix jointly announce new program

Sep 13, 2024 | 4:01 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – For years, the Health Minister and the Health Critic have been adversaries across the aisle in the Legislature. And today, the tenor was very different. The two stood shoulder to shoulder.

“Definitely an odd couple in politics for sure,” noted political analyst Chris Beach. “These are people that have been going head to head, either one in government or even both have been the leader of their parties at different times, cabinet ministers. So, yeah, you would think no love lost here at all.”

BC politics in recent weeks has been anything but smooth, with the BC United leader Kevin Falcon tossing in the towel on the election and many BC United members joining the ranks of the BC Conservative Party. But not Shirley Bond. She assures, though, that there’s nothing to be read into today’s joint announcement.

“So I think this is about an example of how an MLA can take an issue, take it to government, and actually demonstrate that their results are possible. So, you know, I think it’s an import. It’s also a reflection of the fact that you see one thing in the legislature.”

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And, it’s not always about politics, says Dix.

“So we’ve worked together on issue after issue as well as disagree,” says Dix. “And I think that’s what people want to see. I think that disagreeing all the time is not just tiresome. It’s not the right thing. There are a lot of things that she and I agree on. So this is not an olive branch that started today. It’s an olive branch that comes from mutual respect that’s taken place over the many years we served together in the legislature.”

Looking at the lineup at today’s announcement, Beach says the optics may ruffle some feathers politically.

“But, Shirley Bond is a household name in this community,” he says. “Everybody knows her as the hardest working MLA in the province. So, it might make a few people think, ‘Why is she showing up to a press conference with Health Minister Dix?’ But it’s pure speculation at this point. But kind of makes you wonder.”

On the other hand, he says, that’s politics. And with an election right around the corner. Anything can happen.