Can you please tell me the differences between the Conservatives and the Liberals?

Differences?  Yes there certainly are differences, and not just
minor ones, between the BC Liberals and BC Conservatives

On Saturday I received an email from a resident of the North Thompson; they asked, “Can you please tell me the differences between the Conservatives and the Liberals?” 

I think if a number of BC Conservative supporters were asked that question, they likely would have a number of different answers. 

It is a good question, one the party should be considering, and I hope you will take a moment to see what I had the say in response to it: 

Hello Alan,


This is Robert S---, I am in the North Thompson riding. I emailed Peter Sharp before the election because his was the only email I found. I don't imagine it makes much difference at this time though.

I only started getting interested in politics this year because I am tired of voting a party out, not voting a party in, so I figured to try a third party, the Conservatives.

Can you please tell me the differences between the Conservatives and the Liberals, both being free enterprise parties.

Thank you,
Robert S.  


Good afternoon Robert ... thanks for getting in touch ...

WOW -- you have asked a big question; one that deserves a thoughtful response, and not necessarily one that all members would not be unified in stating. 

First I believe there are two distinct area where we differ from the BC Liberals; one we believe that political parties should be sponsored by individuals, not big business and big labour.  The BC Liberal Party has be steadfast in not supporting this, which is not hard to understand as they are supported to the tune of millions of dollars by big business.  Our position has now also been taken up by the NDP and Green Party, and is being pushed by Integrity BC. 

Two, our party is firmly behind the concept of accountability to the voters … especially at the local level. The principles and policies of the BC Conservative Party clearly state that our MLA's are first and foremost to represent the wishes of the people in their own constituency -- even if that means voting against party. 

In many areas, BC Conservatives and BC Liberals have similar policies, however not having MLAs who are accountable to their constituents, negates the fact that they are to be elected "Representatives".

The BC Liberal Party has also failed miserably in keeping government expenses under control. Just as the NDP did in the 90s -- the BC Liberal Party also doubled the province debt (the NDP from approx. $17 billion to just over $30 billion -- the Liberals doubling that again to over $60 billion. 


Despite the claims of Christy Clark - NOT ONE SINGLE financial rating agency verified that the BC Liberal budget 'would be' balanced -- they simply agreed that the figures, as produced by the Liberals, "showed" a balanced budget. Very few British Columbians actually believed it would be, and only time will tell. 

The bottom line, at least in my opinion, is that the BC Liberals have talked the talk of being accountable and fiscally responsible, but they have not done so.  AND ... despite their claims we pay some of the lowest personal taxes, they more than made up for it by bringing in, and allowing for, increased the lowest taxes and fees (the biggest grab being the carbon tax).

BC Conservatives have 4 years now to build a strong and unified party -- create solid constituency associations -- and to truly show that neither the BC Liberals -- OR the NDP -- deserve the support of BC voters.  Through the platform of the NDP ... and through the actions of the BC Liberals ... we have already seen how they govern. BC deserves better! 

In large part only fear, in my opinion, sent voters to the vote Liberal this time - we as Conservatives will now have 4 years to show we can be an option to have the support of the greatest number of BC voters. 

I hope you will help us in achieving that goal!

Sincerely ...
Alan Forseth  

That was the answer I gave, would you have responded the same, differently?  I’m interested in hearing what you have to think, so please feel free to share your opinion. 

To conclude ... If you would like to read the policies, brought forward, and approved by the general membership, of the BC Conservative Party, click on the following link: http://www.bcconservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/2012-Policy-adopted-Sept-22-2012-final.pdf

If you care to do the same for the BC Liberal Party, you will be UNABLE to do so -- they do not have their member approved policies anywhere to be found on their website.  They do have a couple of nebulous statements on what they believe.  There is also their party platform, put together by the campaign team, which of course can changed and modified during the course of a campaign -- and NOT approved, or voted on, by the membership.

BC Conservatives are a grassroots bottom up membership driven party -- the BC Liberals -- in my honest opinion -- are a top down administrative driven party.

There in a nutshell, is the real difference between the two party's.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.