THIS WEEKS NEWS ROUND-UP

It’s Friday, the weekend is upon us, and here are some of the political stories that made the news this week:

BC Hydro caught in crosshairs of Clark’s populist push
Current Premier Christy Clark has put short-term politics first, ordering the Crown corporation to scale back its plans to the bare minimum to keep rate increases in check.  Trouble is, B.C. is looking at attracting massive investments – billions upon billions of dollars – in mining, shale gas and liquefied natural gas facilities. All are huge consumers in power. 

The decisions made now at BC Hydro will decide if those industries are going to be developed with renewable energy, or if they will burn natural gas, spewing millions of tonnes of greenhouse-gas emissions into the atmosphere.

Penny-pinching B.C. Liberals bank on Clark appeal
The latest polls show Clark is way more popular than her own party, so the Liberals want to capitalize on her personal appeal … her government is broke, and Clark can't go on a spending spree unless she does one of two things: go into debt or raise taxes … here's an even bigger concern for Clark: Going into debt or raising taxes could anger right-wing supporters in her own party, and drive them over to John Cummins and the B.C. Conservatives.

BC Conservative leader talks lower taxes, less government in Dawson Creek
“We’re going to stick to principles. We’re going to emphasize the fact that government in British Columbia has to get smaller and we have to use the tax dollars we have more efficiently and effectively,” he said.

He said his party has seen its support grow since the last election when it captured only two per cent of the total popular vote and did not elect a single MLA. He said the Liberal Party’s own polling shows the BC Conservatives with as much as 22 per cent support in the province as of this summer, and he believes that was a factor in why Premier Christy Clark did not call an election for this fall.

B.C. first nations to set own health policy

Once the new authority is up and running, Ottawa will transfer what it typically spends on first nations health care in B.C. – $380-million a year to start, rising over time to reflect population growth and cost increases … it will put the aboriginal authority on roughly equal footing with the province in the provision of health services to first nations in B.C. The province spends an estimated $280-million a year on physician services and Pharmacare for aboriginal citizens

Breaking News - BC Conservatives Surge Forward in ROBBINS poll
The big winners in this ROBBINS poll - are John Cummins and his BC Conservatives – beneficiaries of a growing sense of discontent among BC voters with one in five (20%) of 2009 voters –Now- supporting – the Grand ‘New’ BC Conservative Party.

Age and gender reveal a lot about the new configuration in public support of political parties in the Province of British Columbia. The average age supporting the BC Conservative Party in this ROBBINS poll is 55. The average age supporting Christy Clark’s BC Liberals is 46. BC Conservative support is comprised of (64%) male and (36%) female. Christy Clark is supported by men (47%) and women (53%). Many Gordon Campbell supporters from 2009 (before the HST) have apparently moved over to John Cummins and his BC Conservative Team …

Abbott: 'Transform education in this province'
B.C. Education Minister George Abbott today announced a "plan to move education forward, hand-in-hand with teachers, parents, students, and all those who share an interest in ensuring our province's bright future."

Getting serious on teacher talks
Both sides should return to the bargaining table to work on the issues in parallel with the current contract talks. Those negotiations are also deadlocked. The government is insisting on a compensation freeze consistent with other public-sector contracts and the union is seeking big wage increases and other contract improvements.

The government's commitment to no wage increase is firm, in part because other unions have contract clauses that would ensure they also receive any increase awarded to the teachers.  That means the best chance for a settlement rests on bundling the two issues.  Forget exposure, Clark may need armour

FACE it, Liberals. Christy Clark's election campaign is bombing. Large

Yes, it's early days on a tough job. Cut the lady some slack. But if Clark doesn't start shaping up soon, the Liberal/ business establishment could get nervous as the election approaches. In which case Clark needn't worry about revealing her cleavage but covering her asterisk - the * in the books followed by: "Brief premier of British Columbia, resigned after party revolt."

Head of BC Treaty Commission suggests shutting it down

The treaty commission will mark its 20th anniversary next year. In that time, the process has led to three settlements – and one of those won’t be implemented until 2013.  Ms. Pierre said that pace is unacceptable. The commission, and the entire treaty process, should be jettisoned if both the provincial and federal governments won’t commit to firm targets.  “We’d never shut down the commission without having to shut down the whole process,” she said in an interview. “If we can’t accomplish what we’ve set out to do, then it’s time to set it aside and do something different.”

Tough talk on pathetic treaty process

The latest development to spur optimism is the coming 20th anniversary. There is an ill-defined hope that the date will spur some kind of breakthrough.  Pierre also wants personal commitments from the prime minister and the premier, giving the bureaucrats clear directions to get something done. 

But there have been five prime ministers and six premiers since it started. The process has outlived them all, and will probably out last the current incumbents as well.

Stayed tuned … I’ll try and have a short comment later in the day …