BC Politics … the week that began February 5th

It’s the end of the week … and during it; we have of course had a number of stories on BC politics.   

No surprise, BC Hydro was again in the news … as was news on another poll showing declining support for the governing BC Liberals … and the appointment of nine new judges in BC.

Here’s a quick recap of some the stories in case you missed a few:

Poll in line with B.C.'s history

This is the province that threw out the old Liberals and Conservatives in the mid-20th century and replaced them with Social Credit and the NDP … then turned on the Socreds and exterminated them as a party … then, a decade after that, reduced the NDP to a rump of two members … we are not kind to those who have disappointed us, failed us, led us into hard economic times, or lied to us …

B.C. Liberals expecting tight Chilliwack-Hope byelection

John Martin, BC Conservative party candidate said he's going to put up a good political fight … "I don't buy into this Liberal line that somehow anyone who is not an NDP voter should get their vote, owes them their vote, that they should get their vote by default" …

BC Hydro Withdraws Massive Effort to Build a Spin Arsenal
… the Times Colonist and Global TV reported that BC Hydro was pre-approving 25 marketing firms to have ready to go to spin various initiatives … Thursday, BC Hydro announced that they had withdrawn their call for companies … a win for taxpayers who are sick and tired of government agencies using our money to sell us their ideas …

That is NOT fiscal restraint … or financial accountability

BC Finance Minister Kevin Falcon

A story yesterday in the Vancouver Sun (Monday February 6, 2012) said that “Kevin Falcon reaffirms promise of balanced budget by 2013”

In it, Falcon stated that, "We are focused on controlling our spending and protecting our revenues to ensure we can continue to deliver the priority programs taxpayers want."

Well here’s what I think after seeing another story in the news … this one on the new prison, to be built in an industrial park on Osoyoos First Nations land, that was of such urgent importance it demanded the personal appearance of Christy Clark

It seems the somewhat obvious wasteful spending of Christy Clark's photo op, doesn't come under the controlled spending Kevin Falcon was referring to.

Wardens, Deputy Wardens, and heavy equipment on
hand for Premier Clark's announcement in Osoyoos

You’ll note from the photo that appeared with the story (it was much larger in a story released earlier in the day) that not only did BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark decide she had to personally be there to make the announcement … she also required a large contingent of BC Wardens and Deputy Wardens to be on hand.  PLUS … she also hauled in expensive heavy duty equipment that won't be needed, or put to work, for goodness knows how many months from now.

So much for controlling spending Kevin!