It's absolutely insulting, to the intelligence and integrity of BC voters, to suggest that we have to support the Liberals

The political landscape of BC continues to be the focus of those in the mainstream media, following the defection Liberal Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, to the BC Conservative Party.

It also has, I believe, given even greater cause for the BC Liberal Party to wonder on their future with the voters of BC – and their chances in the up-coming by-elections – especially Chilliwack Hope.

For weeks, prior to the writ being dropped, the BC Liberal Party was pouring funding announcements into the riding, spending a lot of advertising dollars, and also putting up campaign signs (in direct contravention of a municipal by-law in Chilliwack).

The campaign was on, and their team was in place.  John van Dongen’s decision to join John Cummin’s BC Conservative Party has dramatically changed that however, and it has caused them to add a new face to the team. 

This morning, Keith Baldrey of Global News posted the following on Twitter:
“Long-time MP Chuck Strahl to chair BC Lib campaign in Chilliwack-Hope byelection. Definite boost to the party, but will it be enuf?”

I replied:

“@keithbaldrey if waited till now 2 become part of campaign,just shows very shaky chances of win”

Here’s another comment that was posted earlier today on Twitter, from Dean Skoreyko‏@bcbluecon, to which I also posted a response:

“Strahl, Day, Hill and Manning support of Christy Clark helped her become 2nd last in Canadian premier ratings”

Alan Forseth‏@AlanForseth

“hope she keeps that up, just wallpapering rotting walls & foundation of #bclibs”

Can the BC Liberal Party save itself from a wipe-out in the next BC general election?

History, both national and provincially, shows that when a government is down that far in voter confidence, they will often suffer a humiliating defeat.  That may be the reason why, in the past few days, several members of the BC Liberal caucus have openly indicated they are considering whether they will run again in 2013.

The National Post had a story yesterday ( Political stabs draw blood in BC) which in part said:

… he (John Cummins) has more jump in his stride these days, a spring in his step. His party seems on its way up.  On Monday, it received a lift.

Long-time Liberal MLA John van Dongen announced his defection to the BC Conservatives, becoming its first member in the provincial legislature - although he'll officially be recognized as an Independent member, thanks to house rules that limit official status to parties with at least four seats.

The announcement came at a critical time in B.C. politics. Two byelections are to be held April 19; the B.C. Tories have a good chance of winning one, in Chilliwack-Hope, and placing well in Port Moody-Coquitlam. The Liberals, meanwhile, stand to lose both.

My friend Sandy, made the following comment to me today; a comment that I believe echoes the thoughts of many across the province:

It's absolutely insulting to the intelligence and integrity of B.C. voters to suggest that we have to support the Liberals because to do otherwise would only help elect the NDP. If the Liberals had conducted themselves with any degree of honesty and competence, Christy wouldn't be facing the current state of decline in her party's popularity.

I have said it before, and I’ll say it again; if the BC Liberals lose the by-elections (Port Moody – Coquitlam … and Chilliwack – Hope) … and especially if their candidates come in third (behind the New Democrats and the BC Conservatives), the writing will be on the wall.  We’ll hear from even more sitting MLA’s who will be publicly discussing their intention of stepping down and returning to public life.

In Kamloops, I’m Alan Forseth, with the thoughts of one conservative.