EDITORIAL – New rule from the NDP – don’t call yourself a British Columbian

An editorial by Mel Rothenburger.

BRITISH COLUMBIANS have reason to be shaking their heads over an NDP government writing guide that tells us we should stop using the term “British Columbians.”

Here’s what it says: “The term ‘British Columbians’ is often used to reference people living in B.C. This term excludes Indigenous Peoples who may not identify with it. For many, they identify as members of their own sovereign nations and do not consider themselves part of one that has actively worked to assimilate their people.

“’British Columbians’ also excludes other groups such as newcomers and refugees. We recommend instead saying ‘people living in B.C.’”

OK, stop now. Reconciliation is important; let’s keep it from getting silly. Anyone who lives in this province is a British Columbian and should be proud of it. And do refugees and newcomers really not want to be British Columbians?

BC United MLA Ellis Ross, himself indigenous, got it exactly right in Question Period when he said, “Are you kidding? We’re all Canadians, we’re all British Columbians, and we’ve got bigger problems to solve.”

He added, “This effort to erase history and foster division is offensive.”

Indeed. For his part, Government House Leader Ravi Kahlon would rather ignore it, trying for the brushoff and claiming — just as Ross said — there are bigger problems to solve.

Both of them are correct. There are much bigger problems to work on. So why write such a stupid rule?

Among the bigger problems is the one of… reconciliation. There are serious things to do on that file. For example, the government’s plan for changes to the Land Act to give a louder indigenous voice on land matters has just been withdrawn for further consideration. That, after the government messed up the public consultation process.

Trying to control the way British Columbians speak is not a good use of anyone’s time. On the contrary, it creates division and works against reconciliation, not for it.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a recipient of the Jack Webster Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award. He has served as mayor of Kamloops, school board chair and TNRD director, and is a retired daily newspaper editor.  He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.