It’s been said the provincial government under the BC Liberals has such a massive communications department that it likely dwarfs just about every newsroom in the province.

The public affairs bureau which, after recent cuts, now numbers just under 200 staff, is in charge of making sure the government’s message gets out and keeping a lid on any potential public-relations disasters.

So what explains the raft of unpopular moves and missteps that have plagued the Liberals since election day less than five months ago?

A quadrupling of the deficit, followed by changes to the Liberals’ much vaunted balanced-budget legislation to allow it to run a deficit in the first place. Cuts to health care and schools.

No more money for school sports, with the education minister suggesting school kids run and play in parks instead. Cuts to libraries leaving the Books for Babies program at death’s door. Cuts to the share of gaming revenues that go to non-profit community organizations.

That’s been balanced by “better news” stories: some non-profits that had their gaming funding cut days ago will have it restored until their three-year agreements run out (after they threatened Victoria with a lawsuit); cuts to services combatting domestic violence were given a reprieve, such as the $11,000, three-month extension granted New Westminster’s Domestic Violence Response Team; no money for school sports but there will be lots of cash for kids to get into the spirit of the Winter Olympics.

Oh, and let’s not forget about the good ol’ Harmonized Sales Tax, which will add another seven per cent to most goods and services previously exempt from the PST.

So where is the spin doctoring expected from a communications staff of 200?

When is Victoria’s message – we’re making the tough decisions in economically difficult times and aren’t we all excited about those Olympics? – going to sink in?

Is this the beginning of the end of the Campbell Liberals in power?

- Burnaby News Leader