Hard to believe there were times when Justin Trudeau was beloved by tens of millions of Canadians; Gordon Campbell was elected and even re-elected as British Columbia’s most popular provincial leader; and, even Brian Mulroney managed to achieve two back-to-back majority governments.
And then … they lost it: rejected, replaced and even reviled by many of the same voters who had for years respected and richly rewarded them.
Sadly, it happens to so many who achieve public office … at all levels, from all political parties.
But not all.
John Horgan was elected to head an NDP minority government in 2017, re-elected in 2020 with the highest share of the popular vote in BC NDP’s history, was still well ahead in the polls in 2022, when health problems forced him to step down … and right to the end, he was still highly revered by many, and I believe he would have been re-elected again.
Lester B Pearson, Peter Lougheed, Bill Davis, Jean Lesage also come to mind.
But not David Eby.
Politics … and power, seems to me have changed David Eby … and not for the better.
The BC Premier was in the news this past week after, in the Legislature, calling the man charged after driving a vehicle into a crowd at a Vancouver Filipino Festival and killing of 11 people “a murderer.”
“Because my opinion is that the man made the decision to drive a vehicle into a crowd of children, parents, and seniors, volunteers, kill them,” Eby said. “In my opinion, he’s a murderer. It’s my opinion that he should spend the rest of his goddamn life in jail.”
I’m sure many of us would agree.
But “we” are not Premier of BC; “we” are not trained, licenced lawyers … ie Officers of the Court; “we” were never BC’s Attorney General; “we” were never Executive Director the BC Civil Liberties Association; and, “we” were never adjunct Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia.
Eby was all of these … and I put it to you his public remarks violated the responsibilities attached to ALL of these positions.
Totally inappropriate for a public official involved in government …and especially a Premier … to pronounce on the guilt and sentencing of ANY accused still before the Courts.
And making it worse: rather than apologizing for having an emotional lapse, Eby reportedly doubled down outside the Legislature and repeated his clearly inappropriate condemnatory remarks.
I knew the David Eby at the BC Civil Liberties Assoc before he entered politics: I respected that David Eby; I liked that David Eby. I never heard that David Eby publicly pass judgement, condemn/sentence anyone charged with a crime before their case was even heard!
To me, it shows the new arrogance that too often besets many politicians in power … one that increases proportionately to the time they spend in office. (Like Justin Trudeau, Gordon Campbell, Brian Mulroney.)
The accused in this case is entitled to the very basic precept of our justice system (presumption of innocence until PROVEN guilty in a Court of Law); and, in this case, certainly a medical evaluation to establish mental competence or incompetence at the time of the incident.
BC’s Premier knows this!
“The Law Society said the premier had threatened the rule of law. The Canadian Bar Association said Eby was “ignoring the presumption of innocence and the requirement of due process and giving “permission for others to do the same.”, the Vancouver Sun reported Thursday.
I think it’s even more scary than that.
What David Eby did I’d expect more from Donald Trump, than someone who has held any elected position in BC.
The Premier should apologize … to the Legislature, the Courts, the Law Society … and, most of all, to the public.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to all new postings on this blog.)
What ever has happened with the standard; “I cannot comment on that because it is before the courts?”
(Response: That rule is used when a politician does not want to talk about something; but apparently can be tossed away if he/she thinks it might win some popularity with a large group of voters! Ho)
I wonder what the gift stricken families think about the, oh yes, the alleged driver that killed all those innocent family members, from child through to the elderly. I just wonder how we would react if it were our loved ones lost. I don’t have to guess. I know how I would react. I would never let up until justice was done.
The alleged perpetrator was apprehended by citizens and he allegedly said sorry , and I read a column of the Vancouver Sun by Investigative Journalist/ Crime reporter Kim Bolan whom I admire for her courage that there was a phone call made by a concerned family member of Lo to a physc facility hours before the incident to report his spiralling condition. Time frame gap is quite large there for interdiction by alleged professional leadership to have ytaken place. We can only wonder at the moment what happened in those hours before the killings. I meant the alleged killings. The truth has to come out. Unfortunetly, but it does. As much as I completely agree with the courts and investigation must be impartial and hopefully will not be tainted in anyway, but I don’t think that is 100 percent possible. As much as I never cared for the NDP government, in this case I don’t think David Eby must apologize. This was a horrendous act and I believe he was acting on the principle of speaking out for the victims and families in that time of unbelievable grief, that was reflective of the moment, but i think it was still his opinions as he saw things at the time. On the heavier side, yes, but still opinions. I think he was also generalizing and focusing on the broader scape of public safety interests in general that played into the speeches. I don’t think his hard opinions will sway any court decisions and I dont believe he needs to apologize in my opinion even if he’s the Premier, he gave a strong opinion. If anything his speeches may give a boost to help get some kind of better changes needed in our mental health system. I dont see anywhere that he actually made a predestined, predetermined, set in stone decision to tell the courts this must be. I also dont see any Trump stuff that can be attached to him. It just doesnt meet the smell test. I see lots of politics at play though, where as people just dont like the NDP and are more conservative, but would they say that about their own party leader if they were in power. I dont think so. Rustads side called for an apology and never got one and the Eby caucus gave Eby and ovation and backed him up. Why wouldn’t they. He only apologized for saying damn. I also just like to look at all sides to form an opinion and thats it. I think this horrendous alleged murderous rampage will be enough to see the case through to where it will be concluded. I know my opinion may not be popular, but I wont trouble my heart about it either because there are thoughts and opinions on both sides of this. If anything this case and incident should hopefully change our soely lacking mental heath care system, especially where involuntary care is concerned and maybe even help boost our justice system. But at the end of the day it is up to the judge. That is my opinion. Thankyou.
(Response: A private citizen can express any opinion on any topic, as long as it is not libellous or slanderous or incites violence etc. However, ANY elected official, or Court official has a greater responsibility to protect the independence and the fairness of any judicial process. Eby should not have condemned ad sentenced the accused … before the Court had even convened …let alone had a mental evaluation carried out. Totally improper …and I believe the fact he has not apologized is a stain on him personally, as well as his record in office. H.o)
When I was a teenager living in Vancouver, if you did something stupid, someone would say “you’ll end up in Essondale”
That place no longer exists. I think it was located in New Westminster. It was for the mentally challenged and some government stopped it. I think the building is still there. The government has to get off their polished butts and do something … now !!
(Response: Essondale, also known as Riverview, is in Coquitlam. Here’s the history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riverview_Hospital_(Coquitlam). The largest facility there was closed down a decade ago, but part of the site still houses a small mental illness treatment facility It’s clear BC needs more facilities to seriously address/serve the mentally ill and also laws that would allow the involuntary commitment of those who pose a danger to themselves or others. It’s a matter of priorities: just think of that every time you see a BC minister making an announcement about so much other spending! H.o)
Lapu Lapu is not a festival of the Philippines. It would make far more sense to celebrate a day that is truly meaningful for Filipinos. Premier Eby is avoiding a very important issue. If police knew the suspect and he needed treatment for his mental illness, why was he ignored? If the government failed to act, that’s very serious. It’s not sufficient to condemn the man. One of the most important responsibilities of the government is to protect its citizens.
(Response: He was ignored for the same reason that thousands of other people with mental illnesses are ignored: the government has not allocated enough money to treat them and also there aren’t enough facilities to take them in. Clearly treating people with serious mental illnesses must become a greater priority for the government. I’m sure the legislature (or a citizens committee) could find hundreds of millions of dollars in the provincial budget spent on other programs that would be better spent on assisting those with serious mental and capacities! Ho)
After this horrific incident maybe we’ll see more public safety and government will get more serious for implementing tighter policies for involuntary care, and mental health care in general. More people and more money also ? Don’t know. All I can figure is maybe this event could have had more chance to have been avoided. Maybe. As for the courts and rule of law. Thats where the real decisions lay. I agree totally. But, as you have said many times before in previous stories, relating to how our society like Vancouver, for one is becoming swamped basiically by criminals, druggies, random attacks, stabbings, muggings and even crazies and how our incompetent justice system like the courts and judges and judicial system in general punishes law abiding citizens more than criminals. What are we to have come from that. Will this case help implement change on the crazies side of things. Somethings got change or give. Well maybe now things will head towards change even with our mental care side also, that even works better on the most serious and dangerous side of mental health. I personally dont have a now now and there there and a shoulder for this guy along with our system that may not have been as on top of things as it could have been. But yes it’s up to the courts and even though totally incompetent weak judicial system is its up to the that judge to decide and not us, no matter what our opinions and beliefs are.
(Response: Of course, we do not know yet in this tragic case whether mental illness was indeed involved, or whether the suspect was just evil and deserves, as the Premier said, to be put away in jail for the rest of his life. But I agree our society must do a better job at protecting the public and getting those unfortunate violent mentally ill people the medical help they need … even if it involves involuntary commitment. Treatment is costly, but probably less costly in the long run when you consider the costs of policing and the Courts involving the same people over and over. Ho)
I agree with your condemnation – public officials should be better than us. They should be wiser, smarter, kinder, and more articulate than the average person. I fear that social media’s emphasis on relatability above all else is affecting our politics too. Every major politician tries to convince the public that they are just like us, when they should be explaining their qualifications instead. I don’t want a leader like me, I want one who’s better.
(Response: We certainly want leaders who are capable of leading and generally have more knowledge or even experience than the rest of us. However, there is a fine line between having a politician who represents us and one who, especially after a long time in office, feels we are his/her subjects. In the case of Eby, it sure looks like power has changed him … and not for the better. if that continues, Eby could go the same way as Trudeau and Mulroney did … tossed from power by a public that once admired them. Ho)
Eby has Trump envy and one must wonder when you look at his efforts to grab and centralize power.
Opinion: When local planning becomes provincial command
Opinion: On B.C.’s Bill 13, Bill 15 and the end of urban democracy: These bills give the province the tools it has long sought: faster approvals, fewer checks and less local resistance
Author of the article:
By Erick Villagomez
Published May 12, 2025
https://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/opinion-when-local-planning-becomes-provincial-command
and
Still no word on police unit recommended by Cullen
B.C. won’t say when key Cullen inquiry recommendations will be implemented
Vancouver Sun, 13 May 2025, GORDON HOEKSTRA
Hmm wonder why.
(Response: lots of political leaders, after achieving power, and especially after being reelected for a second term or longer, tend to lean towards consolidation of power in their own office. It’s as if they feel invincible. And the only thing keeping them in check is a good opposition party and a strong media. EB should not be left off the hook on this: both the opposition and the media should keep demanding why he has not apologized and what it means to the justice system in British Columbia to have a Premier who makes announcements about people’s guilt and even how they should be sentenced before they even go to trial. It will be unfortunate for our justice system if the Opposition and the media both drop the issue. Ho)
First off, my wife is Filipino and though no direct relatives were involved (her nieces were actually boarding the Fraser St. Bus to go home and heard the outrage happen!) a relative of a relative still remains in hospital.
Secondly, we must ask; “What happened to the provincial NDP?” The politcal party has seemed to morph into Vision Vancouver Provincial, which sole function is to promote densification in Metro Vancouver. The transformation came during Horgan’s illness. Eby is the Premier of the NDP, barely won the last provincial election and remains largely aloof from major issues and has largely ignore the growing financial government time bomb in BC. His tax and spend philosophy doesn’t work in 2025.
Thirdly, we must ask; “Is premier David Eby bored being a Premier?” He certainly acts as he is and in fact he seems to be pulling a “Trump” by circumventing the democratic process.
What holds the fabric of a country together is the “rule of law” and in Canada that “rule of law” is growing more and more flexible with people who hold “power”.
As we see in the USA, the “rule of law” is merely for the peons as the Republican party and the president continually flaunt the “rule of law”.
In Canada we are considered innocent until convicted or exonerated in court; in Canada we deem people who are proven to have a mental defect or diminished capacity, but guilty of a crime, to be treated differently.
The (at this point in time) alleged perpetrator of the crime awaits his “due process” and with Eby’s actions, may seem to taint the legal process with Canada’s “rule of law”, that I think Eby, if he had any moral fortitude, should resign.
He won’t of course, because he believes himself above the law and that is the start of a slippery slope of authoritarianism, where politcians believe they are above the “rule of law.”
(Response: Will the REAL David Eby please stand up!! Maybe he recently did! I can just imagine what the pre-politician Eby would have said as Exec Director of the BC Civil Rights Assoc if another Premier at the time had made the same condemnatory remarks about any accused, especially before a mental examination had been carried out! That Eby would have loudly proclaimed the need for politicians to stay out of it. I believe the old Eby knows the new Eby should apologize …but isn’t it interesting how so many politicians, once elected, find it so hard to be the person the public elected …or thought they were electing. Ho)
Had to laugh, “the old Eby”. The “old Eby” was much younger Now that he is older, has a family he most likely sees a lot of things differently. When I saw him make the statement it was clear to me, he was angry, very angry.
Don’t expect him to apologize for what he said and that is fine by me. On the other hand, I don’t want to see this become a regular “event”.
Yes, its before the courts would have been a better response, however my take is he was very angry this happened because he realized at that moment its one of those events he and his family might have attended as a private citizen.
Many of us hold certain principles which we could not see violating and then along comes something which upsets us so greatly we say something which violates those principles and when we say it we mean it. We may never act on it, but when we said it we meant it.
Oh the irony .
Premier Eby immediately venting outrage over the Lapu Lapu killings and voicing his conclusive opinion on the guilt of an alleged offender immediately after the attack….
…..has asked the public not to jump to conclusions over the “alleged” offenders’ “lack of govt services treatment” for his fragile mental state in the weeks previous to the attack when the alleged offender sought help…..”
The public and the media have been voicing their concern or outrage over random attacks, stabbings, assaults by obviously mentally disturbed people…. for YEARS.
While the govt has repeatedly made excuses and washed their hands of culpability.
Mental hospitals such as Riverview closed all over the Province…as the population exploded…..
Where did those mental patients go?
Where do new mental patients go?
It’s not rocket science.
If you leave violent , mentally disturbed people to wander the streets…bad things will happen.
If you take away the actual support and replace it with keyboard typing bureaucrats….bad things will happen.
It’s all coming back to roost….and bad things are happening.
What an absolute joke.
(Response: Let me explain how it works for so many politicians: what they say in one case does not necessarily apply in another case, unless it suits their personal or political biases, interests … or polls show they are going down in a pending election! Then …and often only briefly … they see things in a new light and even take responsibility for shortcomings … at least until they get re-elected! Then the arrogance returns and principles are kicked to the side …until the next election appears on the horizon! Sounds awful? Sadly, just keeping it real! Ho)
Yes Eby has changed very much since he became NDP leader & Premier. This man once put forward the concept of unionization of federal inmates, I know, something too ridiculous to fathom! Now lose lipped for no real reason, other than he seems to like the mic & camera, not sure either reciprocates. The defense council for the driver on Fraser st will call the Premier’s statements to account and the judiciary will sort out Eby’s word salad. I wonder what the BCCLA would say about Eby’s comments?
Just curious what all the “carbon tax” administrators are doing at work now? No collections to track, no “revenue neutral” refunds (revenue neutral except for all the govt. employees who ran the walnut shell fiasco) to process, wondering when we’ll hear of all the amazing tasks now being expedited due to the former carbon tax employee pool?
(Response: The media did a pretty good job of reporting his remarks and asking him about it, but Eby still hasn’t apologized (as far as I can see). I believe this reveals a terrible character flaw, that as I mentioned seems to befall many politicians who get into power, and then disappoint many by changing and, in some cases, abandoned the principles that the voters liked when they first elected them. I think it’s kind of sad. Ho)
Highly inappropriate to say the least, Crass politicking, AND yes he knows better. Not premier material in my opinion, never was.
Eby ain’t no Horgan. Way to left and sanctimonious, bad combination.
(Response: I could see it as politicking if an election was in the near future. But there isn’t … so I see it as just bad form … and find his refusal to apologize (so far) very disappointing, maybe even a symptom of how his position has gone to his head. Ho)
As soon as I read your post (welcome back by the way) I immediately recalled the Charles Manson trial and Nixon commenting on his guilt. To refresh my memory, I googled and found this story.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2019/08/08/how-charles-manson-almost-won-mistrial-courtesy-richard-nixon/
Eby was wrong to say what he said (even though a lot of his non-supporters likely agree with his sentiments) but I hate to see this become a political distraction from the utterly tragic events of the Lapu Lapu festival
(Response: The case involved is almost incidental in my reaction to Eby’s actions. You are correct …and as I stated in the blog, no doubt many people would agree with Eby’s stated sentiments. But we should expect better from our leaders …especially one with Eby’s education and professional background. It might have even been excusable had he done a “mea culpa” afterwards and apologized …but Eby made it worse, by repeating his totally inappropriate (for a Premier or any elected or Court officer) remarks! That’s what I find really interesting …how power, in my view, so often compromises people’s principles and standards and seems to turn self-confidence (necessary for a leader) into arrogance, self-centeredness. H.o)
What more can be said … good blog HO…and Eby has another few years in power .. and what the hell happens to the case now … trial out of Province?
(Response: Certainly any defence lawyer could/should argue the Premier’s remarks tainted the legal case. But what I would find really pathetic is if the suspect is found to have severe emotional/mental illness: what does it then say about the BC’s Premier’s value system … to pronounce guilt and call for a life sentence on the sick wretch, before the truth is known? H.o)