Wednesday, September 15, 1999

Jeff Lee
The Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER - Bill Vander Zalm, the former premier of British Columbia who resigned in disgrace over the sale of a theme park, kicked off his latest bid for political leadership yesterday by demanding that the federal government do something about the Chinese migrants showing up off the B.C. coast.

Mr. Vander Zalm, who announced yesterday that he will run for the leadership of B.C.'s tiny Reform party, said the way to discourage illegal immigration is to fly recent boatloads of Chinese migrants to Ottawa.

"If you do not address it within a six-week period, we're going to send these people to Ottawa," Mr. Vander Zalm, himself a Dutch immigrant, said to a smattering of cheers from supporters at a press conference.

"We'll put them on a plane, send them to Ottawa, and I'm sure then you'll change the process."

Nearly 600 Chinese migrants have landed on the B.C. coast since July.

Mr. Vander Zalm, 65, also announced he will run for election in a byelection in his home riding of Delta South later this year.

Mr. Vander Zalm, who had a long history as a municipal and provincial politician, served as premier from 1986 until 1991 when he presided over the destruction of the once-powerful Social Credit Party. He resigned when it was ruled he was in a conflict of interest over the sale of his Fantasy Gardens biblical theme park in Richmond.

During his time as premier, Mr. Vander Zalm was known for his outrageous remarks, including his suggestion that French should be removed from Corn Flakes boxes.

Mr. Vander Zalm said he believes he can lead the province's Reform party to power in the next general election, and barring that, to at least form a credible opposition to the Liberals, whom he predicted would otherwise likely win almost all provincial seats. He believes the NDP are heading for a wipeout.

His optimism runs counter to recent polls, including one done by party insiders that shows Mr. Vander Zalm has little chance of winning the Delta seat.

The vacancy was created by the recent death of Liberal Fred Gingell. Reform has no elected members in the provincial legislature.

In making his announcement, Mr. Vander Zalm said the provincial Liberal opposition is colluding with the NDP over many issues, and unwilling to criticize the federal Liberal government. He even suggested the Liberals were partly responsible for the NDP's deficit budgets because they hadn't protested strongly enough.

Under his former administration B.C. had the last balanced budget, had the most vibrant economy in Canada, and was fiscally sound, he said.

He attacked not only provincial politicians, but the federal Liberals as well, saying they are not paying enough attention to B.C. He cited the growing problem of illegal immigration, and said B.C. should give Ottawa a deadline to make immigration laws tougher.

He was asked at the press conference whether voters will trust him, after he was forced to resign in disgrace.

"Why? It's up to the people. That's not for you or I to decide. It is the people who will decide whether they have the faith or not. It's the people who will decide whether they believe everything that has been printed, said or what they've seen on television. It's not you or I."