Over the Edge » November 17,2010 news 3
The Fate of B.C. Politics to be Determined

Premier Gordon Campbell resigns 17 months into a four-year term

HANNA PETERSEN

NEWS EDITOR

After a decade in office, Premier Gordon Campbell abruptly __ will play a large role in the party leadership race to replace Campbell’s resignation was previously called for by the
quit the position on November 3. The fate of the party and Campbell. Most likely candidates will attempt to differentiate | opposition back in 2003, after his arrest for drunk driving in
the controversial HST tax is now more ambiguous than ever themselves from the former premier in regards to the tax. Maui. The Liberal Party continued to support him and after
before. Campbell resigned from office in the middle of two The question then remains if the next Premier willgo ahead _a heart-felt apology the incident was basically dismissed.

fixed election dates which means
B.C. might have an unelected
Premier for two years.

Nevertheless, Campbell remains one of
the longest running B.C. premiers with a
bold legacy including advocating for the
Olympic bid, introducing the carbon-tax,
and a referendum on electoral reform.

J
—_

The next Premier will be elected
by the B.C. Liberals to replace
Campbell. The decision is then in
the hands of the party members.
The next leader will have several
months to address the HST
referendum which Campbell had
promised to hold in September
2011. It was controversy over the
new tax which plummeted Gordon
Campbell's approval rating after
the end of the Olympic media
frenzy. The success of the anti-
HST movement forced support for
the party and caused Campbell’s
approval rating to decrease.
Reports indicate that Liberal party
members were growing increasingly
unhappy with the party’s diffusing
political popularity and were ready
to take action. By resigning in early
November, Campbell managed

to avoid future party conventions
where his leadership could be tested
in a secret ballot.

Before resigning Gordon Campbell L
announced a major income tax cut.

The resignation of the Premier also
means a level of uncertainty for the official
_ opposition, the NDP. The opposition will
no longer be able to rely on the general
dissatisfaction with Campbell, however,
leader Carol James asserts that any new
candidate for Premier will be tagged with
the mistakes of the previous leader. “The
slate doesn’t get wiped clean with a new
person coming in,” said James. Reports
of leadership turmoil in the NDP caucus
are also prevalent, and the opposition
party faces an upcoming party convention
in which leadership will be addressed.

“When public debate becomes focused

on one person, instead of what is in the
best interest for British Columbians, we
have lost sight of what is important,” said
Campbell regarding his resignation. “When
that happens it’s time for a change.”
Gordon Campbell also asserted that the
government will continue to move forward
with the creation of jobs and building a
stronger economy. However, much of the

ONLINE SOURCE province’s political future will be up in the

It is believed Campbell announced . air until the party organizes and executes
this to increase his approval rating Campbell is no more. a leadership convention in which they will
in a final attempt to stay in power; elect a new Premier. Once a new Premier
however, he resigned a few days later. Even though with the planned referendum in a year’s time even though has been elected the future of the province will be much
Campbell has resigned over the controversial tax, itis an much of the public opinion already seems to indicate the tax —_ easier to gage.

issue that will still figure prominently in B.C. politics. The tax __ will most likely be defeated.

Canadian Researchers Turn Human Skin into Blood
A Groundbreaking experiment was successful in transforming skin vells directly into blood

HANNA PETERSEN
NEWS EDITOR

At McMaster University in Hamilton, researchers successfully created blood
cells from a patch of human skin. The experiment spanned over two years
of testing and utilized skin cells from people of various ages. The study

did not focus on turning the skin cell into an induced stem cell, but found a
more direct route using a combination of proteins that would convert the cell
in about a month.

Researchers had preformed skin to blood conversions in the past but the
process was much more complicated and took a significantly longer amount
of time to complete. The researchers at McMaster have basically found a
scientific shortcut in which they can decrease this process, making it more
efficient. Researchers also found they could convert the cells into various
types of blood cells as well. Once the process was shortened, practical
implementation in patient treatment could be realistically envisioned for the
future. The study was published in the journal Nature, and was funded by
the Canadian Institute of Health Research, the Canadian Cancer Society,
the Stem Cell Network, and the Ontario Ministry of Research Innovation.

The study was only recently published and has yet to undergo safety

tests, but researchers hope clinical trials will begin as early as 2012. The
findings could mean big things for cancer patients, especially those suffering
from leukemia . Since blood cells can be created from a person’s own

skin, cancer patients will not have to wait for a donor match to get a bone
marrow transplant. The risk of rejection after a transplant will also be erased
because the blood cells will not be recognized as foreign. The impact of

this study on the lives of patients could be quite substantial as many people
currently die waiting for the right bone marrow match to become available.

Of course the research is still in its infancy, but many people in the scientific
and medical communities have high hopes for this exciting medical find.
One of the researchers, Dr. Bhatia asserted that there is still a lot of work for
researchers to do. He also admitted, however, that in terms of patients with
cancer, genetic disorders, leukaemia, and anaemia it is the best possible
alternative.

Researchers also hope to refine and improve upon the process. They plan

to attempt to derive other types of cells from human skin, as this study

was very promising. The initial research once completed may also help to
“ alleviate blood shortages, which are a reoccurring problem in the health

ONLINE SOURCE care system.

From skin to blood