Goodbye Steve, Hello Judy

Old: Point

One day, British Columbia had a chief for Lieutenant-Governor.

The next day it was a cowgirl.

The province's first aboriginal to occupy Government House, Steven Point, was given a farewell ceremony Nov. 1, 2012. Point was appointed in 2007 by Premier Gordon Campbell and served through the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Judith Guichon, the incoming representative of the Queen (number 29 in the province's history), was sworn-in a day later. Both once-every-five years happenings took place at the Legislature with the required amounts of pomp and circumstance.

In a rare show of frugality, the two events came in way under budget. The farewell was budgeted at $7,915 and the swearing-in $7,835.

New: Guichon

Point's swan-song actually cost $2,860.42, including the parting gift of an $1,114.50 guitar inscribed with his name, from Riversong Guitars in Kamloops. For those keeping score at home, the government correctly spelled his name this time (unlike the embarrassing spelling errors on the forms signed by incoming cabinet ministers at their swearing-in ceremonies).

Guichon's installation cost only $2,666.76.

Add it up and taxpayers were only dinged $5,527.18. See all the documents, including the invitations, programs and guest lists, below.

Yap's secret swearing-in

Compare that with the $3,600 closed-door ceremony held March 24, 2012 when Premier Christy Clark shuffled her cabinet. Point presided at a swearing-in ceremony for John Yap at Vancouver's Chinese Cultural Centre (right) that was a secret affair until a news release was issued after the unusual Saturday afternoon event.

Goodbye Steve, Hello Judy by BobMackin

Showing the oaths

When she announced her open government policy in July 2011, Premier Christy Clark said she was encouraging public bodies to issue information on a proactive basis.

Is it working? I'd say it isn't. Here's one test. The oaths sworn by members of cabinet and their appointment certificates should be posted publicly the day they are signed. Instead, they are still subject to a Freedom of Information request. Below are the swearing-in certificates I obtained for all members of the B.C. cabinet, including the Premier. 

The appointments were formally made and oaths sworn before Lt. Gov. Steven Point. Look closely at the certificates and you'll notice his first name is incorrectly spelled as "Stephen."

Lt. Gov. Point's first name is spelled Steven on the Office of the Lieutenant Governor website and in an Oct. 1 news release announcing the appointment of his successor, Judith Guichon.

B.C. Cabinet Swearing-In Certificates: Collect the Whole Set!