Christy Clark's in motion and we should be too!

Christy Clark sits on the back bench of the Government side of the BC Legislature, a place far removed from her days as a major power broker in the Gordon Campbell cabinet. But the Liberal MLA for Port Moody-Westwood is starting to stir again, showing that her final months in the Legislature won't at least be lost in the shuffle. She has launched an interesting trial balloon for her fellow government members to ponder, while she waits out the session of parliament and then heads off to spend more time with her family.

And her idea is one that should appeal to tax cutters, parents and educators alike as she tackles the growing problem of child hood obesity.

Clark has come up with an idea to offer tax credits to parents that enroll their children in after school sport and arts programs. In effect giving parents a bit of cash back for those various sporting activities that seem to be spiraling out of control.

She plans to submit the idea as a private members bill in the next two weeks or so, giving hockey parents, basketball families and Soccer and Dance Moms and Dads a little bit of ca ching, ca ching in their wallets and purses at the end of the season. The side benefit a healthier group of young people, more physically active and participating in positive group activities, I believe in politics this is called the win/win scenario.

It's a novel attempt to get children to become more fit and could provide the added bonus of getting more parents involved in their children's after school activities as well. Which is always a good thing. It could also prove to be a positive development for the various sporting groups across the province looking for more participants and volunteers.

While private member's bills traditionally die a lonely death, hers might have a shot heading into an election campaign, what politician can resist the opportunity to promise more money to a voter. And while Clark won't be there to reap the applause of thankful parents, she'll have on her political resume a final entry as that of a campaigner for families and fitness. Which should help to counteract those controversial years in Education and Family Services, those dark cost cutting years of the Campbell era, now apparently long forgotten with each successive government spending program.

Should she decide to return to politics (and the rumours are that she will once Gordon Campbell takes his leave from the political scene) she'll be able to build on the base of being a Liberal in the traditional sense of the title and not the politically expedient variant that seems to populate the current "Liberal's" of British Columbia. With many of the more socially conscious Liberals making plans to "sit out" the next election, her chance to return to politics may only be a few years away.

At any rate, for a back bencher she's showing the flag again, just enough to remind people that she's around and still has a few ideas to offer up. Her website offers viewers a chance to sign an on line petition to get the ball rolling, so to speak. It will be interesting to see how many people take to her idea, which for the most part should cross all party boundaries.

UPDATE: Ms. Clark's motion is certainly attracting a lot of attention. As the featured item in the first half hour of the Bill Good gabfest on CKNW on Thursday morning (8:30-9 am), reaction was split among those not busy dropping their kids off at school. Some welcomed the opportunity to receive a bit of money back after putting their children through the many after school activities, others bemoaned the idea as another perk for the middle and upper classes.

Many callers expressed the opinion that those of the working poor or marginalized can't afford to send their children to after school programs anyways, so really it's just more rewards for the Liberal's base. Which is a valid point, however perhaps there is room to expand this idea even further to enable all to become involved. While I normally view some of the machinations of the provincial Liberals with a suspicious eye, I think anything that helps families get their kids out of the house and taking part in a positive activity is a good thing.

The nay sayers may have it right, but perhaps they can push the idea forward rather than just letting the debate degenerate into the typical left/right BC split. For those that want to learn more about the program and the reaction, Ms. Clark will be on Nightline BC , Thursday night at 7 on CKNW, if you miss that just click on their audio vault icon and listen in at any time.