THIS WEEK … in BC Politics

Wow what a week it’s been --- and I’m talking about the weather --- it’s probably been the biggest news story in the past seven days.  That aside, there has been much going in and happening in the world of BC politics.  If you missed some of these stories, or would like a refresher, well read on …

An opportunity to enact real health-care reform

… the 2004 health accord did nothing to improve access to medical services or help governments attain a sustainable level of health spending … may have worsened the health-care landscape in Canada … failed to create any incentives for provinces to introduce meaningful reforms … simply relied on the feds to bail them out with more cash …

BC announces $40-m funding hike for disabled adult services

… following widespread criticism of its operations, the BC governmental organization that provides services for disabled adults will receive a $40 million funding hike … Christy Clark … acknowledged it fell short of the $70-million some critics, including client families, have called for …

• You can read the BC Government media release by clicking HERE

Presto change-o and poof! Christy Clark is practically a Conservative now!

… once national director of the Young Liberals of Canada. Forget her work for a federal Liberal cabinet minister. Disregard how she used to trash Harper on her radio show … all just her caterpillar phase … has emerged from her cocoon as a glorious Conservative butterfly … that’s the message Clark hopes will get through to angry voters flocking to John Cummins and the B.C. Conservative party …

'Recycled' insults ironic, says Martin

"We are presenting the people with a real choice," Martin told the Times. "Both the Liberals and NDP support policies that make life for ordinary British Columbians more expensive; policies such as the carbon tax, increased ICBC premiums, higher MSP rates and increased BC Hydro bills … Strahl's comments are somewhat ironic considering that was precisely how the establishment repeatedly slandered Chuck and his colleagues in the Reform Party when it was becoming a major player … it's really not surprising the same insults are being recycled against the BC Conservatives."

Premier Clark campaigns against new Chief of Staff’s brainchild -- Biggest advocate of per-capita based health care transfer payments was Ken Boessenkool
… Christy Clark is leading the charge against using a per-capita basis for health care transfer payments … but the very idea was advocated by her new Chief of Staff … “Ken Boessenkool championed the idea of transfer payments being allocated on a per-capita basis, the very idea his new boss is campaigning against,” said John Cummins …

$40-million spending hike announced for disabled adults

… Premier Christy Clark proclaimed some things beyond cuts as she announced $40-million in extra spending to help developmentally disabled adults … John Cummins said that he … supported the increased spending for CLBC.  “When it comes to CLBC, there’s a certain obligation to provide for those who can’t provide for themselves. That’s not a discretionary cost … but I must say I haven’t seen any real indication that they are getting serious about restricting spending. That is the biggest concern …”

Tossed-out court cases soar on Vancouver Island (5 in 2009, 10 in 2010, 35 in 2011)

… at the 11th hour, because it's taken too long, the system falls apart.  Court delays and increases in stays of proceedings have been blamed on a shortage of provincial court judges and lack of court time and resources. Despite the appointment of 14 new judges in 2010, the provincial court still has 18 fewer judges than it had in 2005 …

New B.C. Liberal chief of staff is staunch Tory, signed "firewall" letter

... as BC Liberal support plummeted over the government's disastrous introduction of the HST, support for the provincial Conservatives has been on the march ... Clark didn't deny Boessenkool's Conservative roots may help during the next election.  John Cummins … I'm certainly not concerned, if anything, I'd have to say I was relieved because it makes it quite clear that Premier Clark cannot find someone with solid Conservative credentials in British Columbia ...

Harper warns of 'tough' economic choices in 2012

… special committee from Treasury Board has been looking over each department and agency a…  come up with recommendations on what can be cut as part of the budget process. Harper is …  asking for input from entrepreneurs, workers, small businesses and ordinary Canadians … requesting that ministers take time in the coming weeks to travel the country and consult with Canadians …

A conversation with Randy White

… I had some surprising calls over Christmas … can say with some assurance it is very likely the Conservatives will be a party in the legislature before the next election … I think there are enough disgruntled members in their caucus and I don’t know if Christy Clark can hold all that together …

Small businesses wading through the sea of red tape

… Red tape is like death by a thousand paper cuts. It’s a cost that leaves hundreds of thousands of small business owners frustrated,” said Laura Jones, the CFIB’s senior vice-president. “Every hour spent dealing with red tape is an hour not spent serving a customer or training an employee. It has a huge impact on all Canadians…

Pay teachers according to how well they teach

… the BCTF invariably blames lacklustre student performance on lack of government funding and/or poor "socio-economic" conditions … why it so stubbornly opposes standardized tests it thinks will reflect badly on some of its members, especially when featured in the Fraser Institute's controversial annual school rankings …

Clark flirtation with the right predictable, dangerous … nothing wrong with this story, and it is balanced.  I do however strongly object to this statement made by Chuck Strahl: “… the B.C. Conservative Party is riddled with “cranky ... angry” people who have no credible policies to govern the province…”.  I object because nothing could be further from the truth

B.C. has highest national rate of those who can't afford to take drug prescriptions as directed

… one in 10 Canadians cannot afford to take their prescription drugs as directed … highest rate of cost-related non-adherence was in BC, at 17 per cent, compared with a low of 7.2 per cent in Quebec ...

BC has spent $125,000 fighting to keep IBM contract secret

… the British Columbia government has wasted nearly $125,000 on legal bills to keep a contract with IBM secret, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation …

That’s all for this weeks roundup.  Stay warm … and if you’re on BC snowy roads this weekend, stay safe.  I’m Alan Forseth, in Kamloops.