Vicki Huntington has always been one to stick to her principles, so it's not surprising to see that she's out of step with her legislative colleagues when it comes to Family Day.
The independent MLA was one of only three provincial politicians to vote against legislation last week when it came time to decide which Monday in February would become B.C.'s newest statutory holiday.
It's not that Huntington is against giving people another day off during that long, often dreary gap between New Year's Day and Good Friday, it's just that she believes it puts an undue burden on employers, particularly small business, at a time when they can least afford it.
With a sluggish economy, a higher minimum wage and a costly switch back to the old PST/GST system among the many obstacles facing business these days, it's hard to argue with the Delta South MLA's contention that now isn't the right time to be adding another financial burden to the mix.
You would think the Liberals, who have introduced the B.C. Jobs Plan since Christy Clark took over as premier last year, would be on board with that type of reasoning, but I guess when you're down in the polls and desperate to cull favour wherever you can find it, a new statutory holiday has a way of making sense.
So with her vote against Family Day, does that mean Huntington can be found to the right of the Liberals, a place now being occupied by John Cummins' upstart Conservative party? Was it just a coincidence that one of the other two MLAs to vote against last week's legislation was none other than John van Dongen, the former Liberal cabinet minister who joined forces with the Conservatives earlier this year?
There has been speculation in some corners that Huntington, who worked in Cummins' constituency office for a spell and was endorsed by the former DeltaRichmond East MP in the last provincial election, could give up her independent ways and run under the Conservative banner next spring. The fact her father was a Tory MP adds further credence to such a possible affiliation, although she strikes me as a greener shade of blue than most of your typical Conservatives.
It was, after all, just one vote, so perhaps it would be foolish to read too much into it. However, when it comes to fiscal policies, the former longtime municipal councillor would most likely be comfortable with what Cummins and Co. have to offer.
Her stance on Family Day is proof of that.
