I always wondered how former premier W.A.C. Bennett managed to name the legendary dam on the Peace River after himself more than a half-century ago.

It seems a bit much.

Bennett deserved to have it christened with his name, no doubt.

But that’s the kind of decision that should be engineered so that it looks like somebody else’s idea. Then you as premier bashfully accede and gracefully go along with it.

Or better yet, wait until you’re dead for it to develop.

But Bennett, who used to criticize such ego-tripping, named it after himself in front of 2,000 guests. No other premier in modern times has stepped up to the cameras at a ribbon-cutting and proudly proclaimed the highway/hospital/sewage pumping station will be named in their own honour.

It just doesn’t happen.

On Monday, though, Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad refreshed the concept. He unveiled a big new promise for a tax break for nearly everyone, and called it “the Rustad Rebate.”

No focus groups or public engagement. No contest in schools to get the kiddies........

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