Politics This Week (Jan 2nd - 8th, 2010)

Again this week there were a lot of interesting stories around politics in Victoria … and around the province with the BC Conservatives, the Liberals, and the NDP.  Here’s just a snapshot of some of the stories that made the news this past week …

Gender quota makes BC NDP seem ridiculous -- National Post

Predictably, this affirmative-action provision has come back to bite the NDP in its political buttocks. The resulting publicity has made the party appear …

Valley Conservatives to pick MLA candidate after March -- Canada.com

By Spencer Anderson, Comox Valley Echo January 7, 2011 The BC Conservatives are set to face off against Comox Valley MLA Don McRae in the next election …

NDP’s ‘renewal’ is going nowhere in this leadership race -- Globe and Mail

When 13 members of the BC New Democratic Party caucus decided to take out leader Carole James in a holiday-season coup, they insisted it was nothing

Harry Lali ... 'the establishment' ... and 'Older White Males'

Since news broke of the ridiculous situation the NDP find themselves in (at least 1 of the 3 main party positions must be filed by a woman), many have been outspoken about how “un-democratic” the New Democratic Party is.

Again, one of the following 3 positions must be filled by a woman … the Treasurer, President, or Party Leader, and since Carole James resignation, that leaves only the leaders position available – and no woman stepping forward to date declaring they are in the running.

So what do we have?  Equity Quotas … Gender Rules … Reverse Discrimination

Joining the chorus in the past several days, and again yesterday in announcing his candidacy to the leadership of the NDP, longtime member Harry Lali has all of a sudden discovered this clause in their constitution.  As he has been an MLA now for 20 years, I have to wonder how he missed this important point.

BC Conservatives -- leadership race

FLASH ... at a board meeting of the BC Conservative Party this evening, it was decided that a leadership race for the party will be taking place this Spring.  Members are expected to vote on a leader at a convention to be held on Saturday May 28th.  The leadership convention will likely be held in the Fraser Valley.  MORE TO FOLLOW .....

... only the first step … then they need to implement those ideas

I am sure that many of you who are reading this, are not aware of the vast distance and geography of the 3 ridings that make up Kamloops South Thompson, Kamloops North Thompson, and the Fraser Nicola. I certainly wasn't until a short time ago.

Kamloops of course is the largest city in the 3 ridings however there are dozens of smaller communities stretching from Manning Park near Hope in the South … over towards Pemberton in the West … up and over to Clinton and then to Blue River in the North ... and east out to Chase.

The greatest revenue driver to BC’s economy is the heartland where forestry and logging … ranching and agriculture … mining, gas, and other natural resources all rein supreme.  While some of them are in a downturn at the moment, we all know there are cycles that industry goes through and over the long haul our BC economy benefits from all of them. 

These are not the minimum paying jobs that seem to be the majority of what’s being created these days – they are the kinds of jobs that allow men and woman to renovate or build new homes, purchase new vehicles, create new businesses, send children to colleges and university, and more.

'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.

The Taxman -- Lennon and McCartney

Let me tell you how it will be; there’s one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small, be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman ......

As you know, BC Hydro hiked rates on electricity last year by nearly 7 ½ percent … and this year we’ll see another 10% hike.  BUT, our friendly Taxman isn’t finished yet; costs to Medical Services are increasing by another 6% as well.

Then there’s the Carbon Tax – that’s the one brought about (so we’re told) to help us to be more environmentally responsible by reducing our use of fossils fuels. Last summer the carbon tax rate on a litre of gasoline increased to nearly 4 ½ cents, and by next summer it will be sitting at 7 cents a litre.  By the way, are you being more “environmentally responsible” in your home?  Natural gas and other fuels like propane, kerosene and home heating oil are also subject to the carbon tax.

What have we been offered by those who want to be the leader of the BC Liberal party

On November 9^th, 2010, just days after the announced resignation of Premier Gordon Campbell, Jeff Jedras of the National Post wrote an article entitled, “BC Liberal Leadership still a prize worth winning” (http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2010/11/09/jeff-jedras-b-c-liberal-leadership-still-a-prize-worth-winning/#ixzz1A5LdypS0).  His article began with the following:

It’s hard to know where to start in appreciating the wacky state of B.C. politics. It has arguably the most electorally successful premier in B.C. history in Gordon Campbell, who survived a drunk-driving charge while in office, only to be felled by a caucus and taxpayer revolt. A taxpayer rebellion led by Bill Vander Zalm, a former premier who presided over the destruction of the once-mighty Social Credit brand and left office in disgrace and mockery. And an opposition party in the BC NDP that, with the government at historic lows in the polls, seemed more interested in knifing its own leader, Carole James.

The latest development, Campbell’s resignation as Premier, was both inevitable and surprising. He tried to save himself with a televised infomercial a few weeks ago, offering large personal tax cuts, but the damage was done. With a caucus revolt brewing, Campbell recognized the writing was on the wall and decided to go as gracefully as possible …

That was nearly two months ago, and since then what have we been offered by those who want to be the leader of the BC Liberal party -- and premier of the province? … here’s a quick reminder:

Health Care???

First let me say that I DO NOT fault Emergency Room staff for waits that to each of us seem to be exceedingly long … doctors and nurses for long waits to have surgery … custodial staff for facilities that are not as clean as they once were … and workers that serve unappetizing meals shipped in from elsewhere and simply re-heated.  We seem to be able to pump an awful lot of money into the health care system but to the general public, it does not seem like we get the value we once did.  Why is that?

I am not one of those people that say the private sector should be doing more and more in the way of delivering public sector services, but with that happening, why does it appear we are we getting less instead of more?  Why does it appear our health care system is failing us? 

Last October the Canadian Institute for Health Research released some interesting figures that bear looking into.  It showed that in 2001 our public sector spending on health care was in the top third of Canada’s provinces – by last year we had slipped to ninth place ahead of only Quebec.  Ten years ago we spent ahead of the average – now we spend substantially lower than the average.

The investment in health care spending however is increasing, so are we getting more bang for our dollar; I believe most if not all of us would say “NO”. 

Gender, physical attributes, race or colour?

Whichever side if the gender field you are, male or female, how would you feel knowing there was a good chance you had your job or position because of your gender, physical attributes, race or colour?

Inside each of us, I believe, is an innate desire to know we are in our position in the workplace or in organizations because of our capabilities. That can be born out through history when people and races have rebelled to be accepted and valued for who they are. Whenever that is denied to a people they rise up against that injustice – whether they are being denied because they are a minority – or a majority.

That is why this week I find it sad and unfortunate that the next leader of the NDP will never know whether they have been chosen in large part due to gender or because they are indeed the best person for the job.