BC politics ... for the week of April 4th

And so another week drifts by in the world of BC politics.  I though I’d start of with a look back in history first with the following, before continuing my usual wrap-up of some of this weeks political stories …

Flashbacks: This week in B.C. political history … “MLAs slam cushy WCB severance package” from 1996 … and from 1986 we have … “Noyes a pedophile but not a psychopath”

 

BC NDP's past gives clues on current crop of candidates

Voting is about to begin, and the choice for New Democrats looks like this: Do they want a leader in the style of Mike Harcourt, who led the party to victory in 1991? Or another Glen Clark, who five years later kept the party in power for a second term …

Ex-whip continues whipping right-wing into line

http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/005982.html

… that criticism shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who was at the swearing-in ceremony for Ms. Clark and her cabinet….

Cummins has Clark looking at snap election

an early election call would be the best bet to frustrate Cummins, and circumvent any plans he might have to be included in a televised leaders' debate. The polls will tell: If she's in a winning position, she'll go for it

Kwan endorses Farnworth for B.C. NDP leadership

New Democrat MLA Jenny Kwan has endorsed leadership hopeful Mike Farnworth, saying he is the candidate most committed to addressing social needs in B.C.

Ex-Harper adviser backs B.C.'s conservative alternative - Public Eye Online

… during the leadership race, Mr. Marshall was the spokesperson and pollster for a business coalition that backed competing leadership candidate Kevin Falcon … Public Eye has learned Mr. Marshall is now a senior member of the team advising federal parliamentarian John Cummins - who is looking to build a right-wing alternative to the Liberals …

Times Colonist editorial: Hold off provincial election

... the possibility of a snap provincial election. There are good political reasons for Premier Christy Clark to head to the polls this year -even within the next few months …

NDP has a difficult choice when it comes to leadership

Will NDP members choose a leader based on who is best suited to get the party elected to government, or who best represents their political philosophy or ideology? If the former is the basis for …

While this story is from Ontario, but with BC Teachers negotiating a new contract, and talk of an early general election, this story may be of interest:

Martinuk: Teachers’ union hopes to choose political winner

… survey showed that 79 per cent of unionized workers disagreed with the use of their dues to fund political parties. Further, 78 per cent of unionized workers were against the use of dues to fund advertising campaigns that oppose political parties …

HST referendum dates finalized

… begin mailing out the ballots on June 13 to all registered voters, the attorney general’s ministry said in a statement. By June 24, most British Columbians will have received their ballot, and will have until July 22 to submit their ballots by mail …

That’s all for now … take care, and have a great weekend.