For patients to expect the best care possible, is now considered ‘combative’?

Today in the Kamloops Daily News (03/30/12), I was deeply disturbed to read a letter from a husband whose wife has been a patient at Royal Inland Hospital.  He stated:

Instead of being able to recoup and recover she was kept awake all night by patient buzzers in the hall, for three days made to use a public unisex washroom that had a sign put on it that the public was not to use it as it was for the patients in the hallway...of which there were three at that time.

I ask, and have asked before, what kind of care and recovery will a patient have when they are put in hallways to recover?  But that is not the only issue or problem people are experiencing with stays in the hospital.  With limited space available, we now have medical staff who are discussing patient care, and needs, amongst other people who should have NO part in these discussions – they however have no choice.

The letter writer went on to say:

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?

Need / want to know more on John van Dongen defection?

There has been NO shortage of stories, in the media, regarding John van Dogens, resignation from the BC Liberals -- and coming over to the BC Conservative Party.

Here is a small snapshot of what has been written since yesterdays announcement:

Brian Hutchinson: Politics gets viciously personal as BC Liberal crosses the floor

If long-time BC Liberal John van Dongen had second thoughts Monday before ditching his party and announcing he had joined forces with the provincial Conservatives, they must have dissolved after former colleague Rich Coleman opened his mouth and ...

Defector MLA hires lawyer to probe BC Rail case

Veteran MLA John van Dongen arrived at the legislature Monday prepared for battle, and his paired public defection and attack on Premier Christy Clark's leadership weren't the only weapons in his arsenal. While standing to announce his new allegiance ...

Mud-splattered Liberals face byelection war

John van Dongen's shocking defection from the governing Liberals to the upstart Conservatives on Monday triggered enough mudslinging to stage a monster truck rally at the legislature.

Van Dongen leaves BC Liberal caucus to join upstart Conservatives

… resigned his party membership during a bombshell speech in the legislature. An hour later, he appeared at a press conference with Conservative leader John Cummins at a nearby Victoria hotel.

Veteran BC politician John van Dongen leaves Liberals for BC Conservatives

Veteran BC politician John van Dongen stunned his government colleagues Monday by resigning from the Liberal party and joining the upstart BC Conservatives. Van Dongen, the representative for Abbotsford South and former solicitor general, ...

Van Dongen held key cabinet jobs

Before his defection Monday to the BC Conservatives, John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford South, was one of the longest-serving Liberal MLAs. He was first elected to office in a byelection in 1995 and ...

Van Dongen serves notice he is ready to battle old colleagues with defection

As BC Liberal MLA John van Dongen got to his feet in the legislature for a "personal statement" Monday afternoon, his soon-to-be-ex colleagues in the government caucus braced for bad news. Van Dongen had given them advance notice of his intentions.

Van Dongen ditches BC Liberals, joins Conservatives

A longtime BC Liberal has left the ruling party to join the Conservatives, citing concerns with the party's leadership. Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen announced his decision in a speech in the legislature Monday. "I can no longer carry on with my ...

Van Dongen crosses the floor over Clark's leadership

Former BC Liberal cabinet minister John van Dongen has defected to the BC Conservatives, exposing a significant fracture in the BC Liberal coalition under Premier Christy Clark's leadership. Mr. van Dongen stood in the legislature on Monday and said he ...

BC MLA rips Christy Clark in jump to Conservatives

Former BC Liberal cabinet minister John van Dongen, who quit the party to join the BC Conservatives on Monday, says there are still questions about possible behind-the-scenes involvement of now-Premier Christy Clark in the scandal-plagued sale of BC ...

Voters not surprised MLA jumps ship to BC Conservatives

The dust is settling on a dramatic defection in provincial politics. But John van Dongen may not be the only Liberal MLA you'll see cross the floor to join the BC Conservatives. While party leader John Cummins isn't saying much ...

Another recent BC Liberal defector is making a bid to be a BC Conservative ...

Fresh off of John Van Dongen changing sides, another former BC Liberal will launch his bid to be a BC Conservative party candidate. Rick Peterson was among a handful of people who backed Kevin Falcon in his leadership bid, who recently also jumped to ...

Saying Libs 'Headed for Failure,' van Dongen Defects to Cons

Abbotsford MLA startles legislature with attack on Clark. 'He'll lose to us,' Coleman fires back. By Andrew MacLeod, Yesterday, TheTyee.ca Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, no longer a BC Liberal. Pair of ridings once 'very safe' for BC Liberals ...

Hopefully the next provincial election will usher in a new era of government accountability

Well anyone that has not heard the latest political news in BC has just woken from a long winters nap.  I speak, of course, about yesterday’s announcement by Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, that he has joined the BC Conservative Party

If you care to have a listen, the following are a couple of news stories from CTV on the defection”:

• Ed Watson (CTV NEWS) comments on John van Dongen’s defection from BC Liberals

• Rob Brown (CTV News) interview with John van Dongen following resignation  

I find, however, that comments of individuals to be of more interest, which is what today’s blog story will be made up of.  Here are just a few examples of comments that have been made to me, and to the media:

John van Dongen joins the BC Conservative Party

John van Dogen -- Abbotsford South
MLA leaves for BC Conservative Party

Sometime back I had made a mental note of several BC Liberal MLA's that I thought may be considering a move to the BC Conservative.

I thought the first might break after the two by-elections; however today Abbotsford South Liberal MLA John van Dogen made political history for the new BC Conservatives.  

Here are the comments of John Van Dongen, with comment as well by BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins:

March 26, 2012 – Victoria –
John Cummins, Leader of British Columbia’s Conservatives, welcomed John van Dongen, MLA for Abbotsford South into the BC Conservative Party.

“John van Dongen is a man of principle and integrity, and I am delighted that he has joined BC’s fastest growing party,” said Cummins. “I am excited to work with John as we reach out to British Columbians and share our message of fiscal responsibility, ending the catch-and-release justice system, and reducing the influence of special interests in the political process. John’s experience in the legislature will be invaluable in holding the government to account.”

ELECTIONS BC: Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam By-elections Called for April 19, 2012

The following media release was sent out by Elections BC 0on Thursday March 22, 2012.  While we all know the by-election has been called, and who is running, this release contained more details on the mechanics of the by-elections:

VICTORIA – By-elections will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam electoral districts. The seats became vacant when Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Iain Black resigned on Monday, October 3, 2011 and Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner resigned on January 9, 2012.

“British Columbia offers voters an accessible and flexible voting process, ensuring that all citizens who are eligible to vote are able to do so,” said Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer.

“Elections BC is committed to administering the voting process in British Columbia with the needs of voters in mind.”

Residents of the two electoral districts will be eligible to vote if they are 18 years of age or older on Thursday, April 19, 2012, (General Voting Day), they are a Canadian citizen and they have lived in B.C. for the past six months.