Who’s out for the BC Liberals? The question should be, “Who isn’t”?

The clock is ticking on Christy
Clark and the BC Liberals

Well, as of late Thursday morning (August 30th), here's the list of BC Liberal MLAs that have announced they will not be running in the next election:

• Harry Bloy – the ONLY Liberal MLA that supported Christy Clark
• Kash Heed – former Solicitor General
• Kevin Krueger – former Minister of Social Development … Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts … Minister of Community Development … and former Minister of State for Mining
• Dave Hayer
• Murray Coell
• John Les - Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier
• Bill Barisoff – House Speaker
• George Abbott - Education Minister
• Mary McNeil - Children & Family Development Minister
• Kevin Falcon - BC Finance Minister and Deputy Premier

... and Randy Hawes, as of Tuesday (Aug 28^th) says, “… he is still weighing his options.”

Would you not agree with me in saying that's a very substantial list given the names on it?

Other than two backbenchers (Hayer and Coell) these are all BC Liberal MLA's that have played a major role in the Cabinets of both Gordon Campbell, and Christy Clark. 

For Christy Clark to say this is simply nothing more than a rejuvenation of the party is absurd. 

Who’s out for the BC Liberals? The question should be, “Who isn’t”?  Stay tuned … there will definitely be more to come.

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

POLITICS 101 … the wacky world of British Columbia

In British Columbia we do things differently when it comes to politics.  Anywhere else, the topic of politics and politicians can come up, and a civil, even occasionally heated, discussion can take place.

NOT in British Columbia.

Mention the words ‘politics’, and / or ‘politicians’ and the fight is on.  Either that, or folks tune out entirely.

Thoughts that come to mind for many are money grubbing … power seekers … looking out for number one … unaccountable … unresponsive … and a host of other things that can’t be repeated.

That’s because, as I mentioned, we do things differently here in BC.

W.A.C. Bennett

We generally have one party that’s in power for a long period of time, with one sitting on the wings … waiting to take over when voters get sick and tired of the governing party.  We’ll say, “Well at least these guys can’t do any worse than those jerks”.

This really began in 1951 when W.A.C.  Bennett, “Wacky” as most people called him, took over what was then called the Social Credit League, and renamed it the Social Credit Party.  Social Credit really was a big tent party that keep both small ‘c’ Conservatives, and small ‘L” Liberals, all under one roof. 

Bennett reviled the NDP with a passion, calling them the Socialist Hordes, and so it must have been with a great deal of anguish and upset that he turned the reins of government over to Dave Barrett and the NDP following the election of 1972.

That government was short lived however, only staying in power for one term.  The ‘socialist hordes’ as Wacky called them, tried their social engineering much to fast -- overtaxed industry – raised debt dramatically -- and scared the hell out of the majority of people in BC once they realized what they had voted for.

Then Wacky’s son Bill Bennett took over the leadership of the Socred’s, winning the next election, and became Premier in in 1975.  The Socreds then remained in power again, for another 15 years.

What led to their downfall, and demise, after those 15 years? 

Most people would say it was due to a disconnect with the people … and an arrogance where they believed themselves to be the natural ruling party (much like the federal Liberals used to be).  Another issue was Bill Vander Zalm, who took over leadership of the party once Bill Bennett resigned.   With Bill Vander Zalm as leader, many also objected to what they considered to be his right wing, socially conservative, policies.

Bill Vander Zalm

Vander Zalm was ridiculed in the media … and he took a tongue lashing from voters in Letters to the Editor, and phone in talk shows.  He too was forced to resign, and Rita Johnson then took over the reins – not for long however.

Does any of this sound familiar?

In 1991 voters returned the NDP to office.  This time they governed a little more slowly with their social policies, and taxation, and managed to be re-elected several times.  Again however, a disconnect with voters, and a number of scandals (the financial debacle of the Fast Ferry’s, and Bingo-Gate, spring to mind) which saw the leadership of the party switch from Mike Harcourt, to Glen Clark, and finally to Ujjal  Dosanjh.  Changing leaders was no help however, and they were soundly trashed at the polls in 2001; retaining just 2 seats in the legislature.

Again, the ruling party was tossed from office by the voters who no longer believed anything they said, and who were tired with the scandals that surrounded them.

What also happened, in the time between 1991 and 1996, was the growth of a third party following the decline of the Socreds.  Just prior to the 1996 election, four Socred members, led by Jack Weisgerber, moved to the populist BC Reform Party.  In 1996 Reform duked it out with the BC Liberals, who had a much better organized and better financed machine, for dominance as the center right party.

As history shows, the Liberals won for dominance as BC Reform was reduced to just 2 seats, and British Columbia was once again back to a two party system; one big tent center right party (the Liberals) … and a center left party (the NDP).

BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger should read these words; “Vitriol” … extreme bitterness and hatred toward somebody or something

Kamloops South Thompson Liberal
MLA Kevin Krueger

Today in the BC Legislature, BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger decided to show once again that he simply does not know when to muzzle his comments. 

Given the fireworks during media scrums with Krueger, it sounds like perhaps the impact of revelations, coming from BC Conservative MLA John van Dongen, are hitting a little too close to the target … which led news media people to set Twitter ablaze with some of it.

Here is just one exchange that took place earlier this afternoon on Twitter … however there were plenty more comments from those in the news media:

Comment from Keith Baldrey‏@keithbaldrey

Stream of consciousness rant from Krueger attacks integrity of Van Dongen, Dix, and Cummins. Takes a shot at media for good measure. #bcpoli

Response from David Schreck‏@StrategicThghts

@keithbaldrey Is the Krueger rant on record; couldn't he have saved it 4 Hansard recording? :)

Rep;ly from Keith Baldrey‏@keithbaldrey

@StrategicThghts   two scrums.

Response again from David Schreck‏@StrategicThghts

@keithbaldrey    Two! Wasn't he able to get it all off his chest in the first one? :) Verifies what Justine wrote about dumping Campbell.

Sean Leslie, from CKNW also ran the following news story;  “Liberal MLA blasts political opponents”

A frustrated Liberal MLA felt the need to vent today.  Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger approached reporters to rant about former colleauge John van Dongen and NDP leader Adrian Dix saying both are getting far too much positive coverage in the media.

Dix-onomics? Sounds like the pot calling the kettle black to me

British Columbian taxpayers will continue
to be flattened by rising government debt

Today is budget day for Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, and the BC Liberal government.  Yesterday (February 20, 2012) Bloomberg had the following story, “British Columbia to Beat Deficit Targets, Finance Minister Falcon Says”.   

In this story they stated:

Falcon, who is scheduled to unveil his first budget tomorrow, said that as recently as November he was concerned a deepening of Europe’s sovereign debt crisis would further delay the U.S. recovery, undermining the western Canadian province’s effort to restore fiscal balance.

The government forecast in a November update that it would have a shortfall of C$3.1 billion ($3.12 billion) in the year ending March 31; C$805 million in 2012-2013 and a surplus the following year.

The current fiscal year’s deficit had originally been forecast at C$925 million. That figure widened to cover the cost of reversing a value-added tax that was rejected by voters in a referendum in August.

Debt is debt --- and deficits are deficits.  Simply put, this government continues to spend more money than it takes in. 

BC Liberals might even be saying to themselves … “Dang, we were better off with Gordon Campbell and the baggage of the HST and BC Rail scandals”

Angus Reid polling from 2009 to 2012

Anyone that says it’s the BC Conservative that will cause the Liberals to lose the next election --- think again --- they are causing this loss all on their own, and it has nothing to do with the BC Conservatives.

Just look at the numbers during the past couple of years.

When the last provincial election was held in May 2009 the BC Liberals had 46% of the votes … the NDP had 42%.  The BC Conservatives?, well they had … wait for it … 2% of the vote.

Just one year later (June 2010) an Angus Reid had the NDP polling at 47% compared to just 29% support for the Liberals.  Even adding BC Conservative supporters to their numbers would not have made up the support they had lost at that point in time. (BCCP was at 5% … adding that to the Liberal numbers would have given them 34%).  The New democrats would have won an election in a landslide if one had been called at that point in time --- and the BC Conservative Party would have had nothing to do with it.

Fast forward ahead.  If you look at the three poll samples taken between September 2010 and November 2010, you can see the NDP would have again won an election, had one been called.  The New Democrats at that time were sitting at a commanding 48%, while the BC Liberals had now dropped to just 25.3% voter support.

Again, if you add the numbers supporting the then leaderless BC Conservative Party, the BC Liberals still would have had just 32.6% of that vote … not enough to save them.

Now don’t forget --- those were the days of despair for the BC Liberals.  Gordon Campbell had tanked the party, and Christy Clark had yet to trade her radio broadcast studio for the Premiers Office.

So … between November 2010 and January 2012 what has happened??  

Some would say that the BC Liberals rejected a small ‘c’ conservative leadership candidate in Kevin Falcon, and instead elected a large “L” federal leaning liberal in Christy Clark.

What cannot be missed is the fact the BC Liberals went from the mid-30s in voter preference under Gordon Campbell … to the mid-40s following Christy Clark’s election as party leader … to a point where Christy Clark has taken the party to voter support that is less than what Gordon Campbell had before he resigned

What I see in those headlines is shifting values, shifting beliefs, and shifting principles.

“bc liberals, christy clark, shift to right”

Type those words into your nearest Google Search Engine, and immediately you will get a number of media releases and story titles pop up. 

If you weren’t already aware, here’s one thing you should know.  With the search engines -- like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc -- things don’t just ‘pop up’ without there being the written word.  And for there to be the written word, there has to be change, or a spark of something different, being talked about and discussed.

BC Premier Clark, with Prime Minister Stephen Harper

For example, the Globe and Mail on January 15th had a story headlined, “Clark flirtation with the right predictable, dangerous”.

A couple days earlier a story came out in the Vancouver Sun; “Hockey game helps Clark punctuate a right-wing shift”

Three days ago the Globe and Mail had another story that came up using the same search ingredients … “For BC's Liberal Premier, Harper conservatism the key to success”

‎

‎

Here’s another one, this time from Yahoo News Canada … “Stephen Harper helps BC's Christy Clark appear more conservative”

What I see in those headlines is shifting values, shifting beliefs, and shifting principles.  I have to say, given that; I would find it a bit disconcerting to be a member of the BC Liberal Party right now.  After all how would you know, from one week to the next, what direction the party is taking?

When the BC Liberals emerged from the political desert, led by Gordon Wilson, they seemed to have a tilt to the lift of the political spectrum.  When Gordon Campbell ousted Wilson from the leadership of the party, the Liberals took a swing in the other direction, and for several years became what many would consider to be a fiscally conservative party and government.

Bill Tieleman shows us how, "How BC Rail Was Made to Disappear"

Bill Tieleman continues to ask questions the Gordon Campbell, and now Christy Clark, BC Liberals refuse to answer. Despite what she thinks, the stench of BC Rail WILL NOT go away.

Today Bill presents an update on the "Basi-Virk 8th Anniversary" 


Click HERE to read, " ... a different view of BC Legislature Raid - how to hide the obvious in making BC Rail disappear ..."

Looking back at the year – Conservative Thoughts from 2011

I began this blog in late November of 2010 – so Conservative Thoughts has been online line for nearly 14^th months.  In that time I have written and posted just under three hundred and fifty (347) stories and opinion pieces.  My hope is during that time there have been many, or even just a few, that have made you stop and think about where our political process has been … where it is now … and where it can and should be in the future.

I consider myself to be a small ‘c’ conservative, and as I have always be clear about, I am a member of the BC Conservative Party.  What I write and think comes from that background, but the thoughts, ideas, and questions I post are my own.

So, back to those 347 opinion pieces I have written and posted … I wondered which ones struck the biggest note with those who read them. 

Today I will post the most read ones from 11 to 20 … and then tomorrow will be the ones counting down from ten to #1.  Following each of the headings, which have links to the full story, I will include a brief paragraph or two on what the story was about.

Let’s begin …

Support the party you believe in; but do it because you believe it’s the best choice -- NOT because it's the lesser of two (3) evils!

Today, the Toronto Star, featured an editorial opinion by Chantal Hebert* entitled, “For Harper, Liberal Clark might be preferable to NDP alternative”.  It starts off by saying,

In a strictly black-and-white world, Prime Minister Stephen Harper might not be predisposed to give B.C. Premier Christy Clark, who was on a goodwill mission to Parliament Hill last week, much of a leg up in her upcoming bid for a fourth Liberal mandate in British Columbia.

In federal Conservative circles, Clark’s past ties to the clan of former Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin remain a source of widespread suspicion. Also, it is no secret that she is no friend of her former boss and predecessor, Gordon Campbell.

Until he resigned last year, Campbell was probably the premier closest to Harper. He has since landed a plum diplomatic posting in London, courtesy of the prime minister.

And then British Columbia is in the federal finance department’s bad books these days for repealing its recently introduced harmonized sales tax.  The two governments are currently negotiating the repayment to the federal treasury of a $1.6 billion HST-related transition package.

Those talks were at the centre of Clark’s trek to Parliament Hill this week. The premier is lobbying to have her province keep a portion of the cash and be granted considerable time to repay the remainder.

Clark will face her first election test as premier within the next 18 months.  Polls suggest she needs all the help she can get from a friendly federal government if she is not to lose power to the NDP….

The story then goes on to explain the difficulties Stephen Harper might have if the NDP were to have a stronger handle on politics across Canada with a win in BC … that it would give a boost to the federal New Democrats … that other election provincial elections could hand further problems to Harper … etc etc.

Stephen Harper, and many of the federal Conservatives rode into town (Ottawa), on a promise of reform of the political system … that things needed to change … and that political parties and MP's needed to be accountable and responsible to voters.

The very things which are polar opposite to the thoughts of Chantal Hebert.

Many British Columbians lack confidence

BC Legislature in Victoria

Here’s an excerpt from the February 14^th, 2011, BC Government Speech from the Throne:

We now gather together on the eve of transition to new leadership. Both the government and the opposition will select new leaders in the days ahead. With change there is always excitement and opportunity to discover new paths ahead and new means of achieving our shared goal of a better future for all.

This is a time when British Columbians are encouraged to discuss new ideas about making our province an even better place. Through this period, government will ensure a smooth and orderly transition while continuing to deliver the quality services that are important to all British Columbians.

Tomorrow's budget will meet statutory requirements while providing maximum flexibility for future decisions by the new executive council and this legislature. As laid out in government's three-year plan, spending priorities will continue to be focused on health and education.

Okay, so the Speech from the Throne said that, "… government will ensure a smooth and orderly transition while continuing to deliver the quality services that are important to all British Columbians." 

What happened instead??

This is a government that, after the next provincial election, will be replaced by John Cummins and the BC Conservatives.

It’s back to work today at the legislature in Victoria; today begins the 4th session of the 39th Parliament.  The first session of the 39^th Parliament began on August 25^th, 2009 , over two years ago, with a Speech from the Throne by Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Stephen L. Point.  Here are a few points from that throne speech:

Former BC Premier
Gordon Campbell

As British Columbia endures its worst recession in 27 years, many are worried about their economic future. Families worry about their prospects. Government shares their concerns. It will dedicate its efforts to improving B.C. families' prospects and economic circumstances. It will not happen overnight and it will not be easy, but government will work tirelessly, so B.C. comes out of this economic maelstrom stronger.  The pace, depth and scope of the economic crisis surpassed expectations.

The BC Liberal government of the day, led by then Premier Gordon Campbell, knew full well the economy of the province was not on its best footing, still the BC Liberals have continued to increase debt and deficit --- WHY???

The government committed to work to make B.C. more competitive, reduce barriers to the economy and protect core public services.

Remember now, this is from a speech given two years ago.  But, does anyone recall part of Christy Clarks big job growth announcement from a couple weeks ago??   I’m pretty sure I recall that she just re-announced the very same thing --- WHY???

Whew ... that stirred up a bit of noise!!

Okay --- I admit I started yesterdays blog in a way that may have surprised a few people, but it was a conscious decision to do it that way -- I wanted people to react -- and I wanted to see what they would react to.

Firstly I should say that on the blog story itself, Enough is enough ... I'm not going to take this anymore, five people checked that they agreed with what had been written, and there were no comments to the negative.

I did however get a couple of emails ...one of which simply said ... "Here here".

The other however, from someone whom I respect, said "Gordon Campbell has done more for this Province than you will ever do, and furthermore, your language is disgusting."

There are actually at least 3 camps regarding the HST ... and the PST / GST

Many people … including those in the media … have NOT realized there are actually at least 3 camps (or schools of thought) regarding the HST ... and the PST / GST.

There are those who, no matter what, hate the government -- and the HST --- and will vote to end its existence.

There are those who go, "Whoopee … it goes down 2% and the government will be mailing me a FREE cheque to bribe me into keeping it.”

Then there were those who like me who said, “I do not like how it was initiated but I will vote to retain it.”

That was until Christy Clark tinkered with it … a “FIX” she called it.

Government must remove its shackles on BC Hydro

Government must remove its shackles on BC Hydro

Funny thing about this --- everyone knows the BC Liberal government has been syphoning money away from Hydro --- and paying too much for independent power.

This government is out of control and has no concept of what it means to be accountable to voters. They can say anything they want as far as I am concerned, but the actions of the former Gordon Campbell led government -- and now the Christy Clark led government tell the real story.

Here’s a thought ... maybe the BC government can have a bottle drive!

How does Wikipedia define a “Balanced Budget”??

The public perception of balanced budget is when there is neither a budget deficit nor a budget surplus – when revenues equal expenditure ("the accounts balance") – particularly by a government. More generally, it refers to when there is no deficit, but possibly a surplus.

The private definition used by government is often setting the tax so high that if it were any higher a tax revenue shortfall, rather than gain, would be predicted.  Thus "maximum tax rate" would be a better way for the public to perceive it.

Meantime ... what does the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) say about deficit and debt in BC?

When you run your credit card to the limit, you soon get a bill in the mail, and B.C. is beginning to experience the hangover from this borrowing binge of Olympic proportions … the sooner we balance the budget, the sooner we can start paying down debt.

I hope Christy Clark doesn't think the drop has anything to do with her!

In a story today (May 21st) in the Vancouver Sun, Vaughn Palmer wrote about the upcoming HST referendum.  In the story he mentioned that Ipsos-Reid had just completed a study where a little over one third (36%) of taxpayers plan to vote yes to retaining the tax … while just over half the people (52%) will be voting to return to the old GST / PST combination.  That vote will be taking place next month in a mail in referendum.

Now given how the hated tax was conceived in secrecy prior to being announced ... and that only a mere year and a half ago there was near unanimous disapproval of the tax (including thousands upon thousands of Liberal voters) ... the fact they have the disapproval rating down to just over 50% now is pretty remarkable.

I hope that Christy Clark doesn't think the drop has anything to do with her however! 

The HST makes for great news if nothing else

It's election day in Vancouver Point Grey, and BC Premier Christy Clark is hoping to have success in the polls with a by-election victory.

We'll be having another vote soon with the HST, which has been in the news now for two years.  With that in mind, here are the words of Christy Clark regarding the HST ... along with many others well know in BC politics. 

Christy Clark (Leadership bid announcement – December 2010) … describing the HST as "fatally flawed from the outset" and saying the Liberals could "put the HST behind us" with a free vote on the floor of the legislature by the March 31 end of the current financial year.

Christy Clark (CBC News  - August 2009) … it was "sneaky" of the Campbell government to announce the HST after the May provincial election … it seems impossible the tax wasn't contemplated before the spring ballot.  "I just don't think it's possible that that could be the case"

Much more is at stake in the by-election than simply filling a seat

Tomorrow, Wednesday May 11^th, voters in Vancouver Point Grey go to the polls in a by-election ... a by-election to replace former premier Gordon Campbell, who resigned the seat just two short months ago.

But ... much more is at stake in the by-election than simply filling a seat. The reality is that the 41,181 voters in that riding will be passing judgement, for the rest of us, on the political future of Christy Clark -- and the BC Liberal Party.

Would you call that a fair severance package ... a generous severance package ... or an obscene severance package?

One would have to wonder why, when Christy Clark is seeking every bit of media attention she can get,that she missed the opportunity to let British Columbian's know about her latest bit of financial largesse. I am not sure however that you and I would find it in keeping of what we would think is of benefit or help to BC families.

Many of you are likely aware that if you are not part of a union, with a collective agreement in place, that if you are let go, the Employment and Standards Act mandates employers to provide employees with a small amount of money (severance) to transition them to their next job.

Here's how it works ...

• After three months - one week's severance
• After 12 months - two weeks severance pay
• After three years - one week of severance pay for each completed year of employment, to a maximum of eight weeks

Note ... one week of pay is calculated by totaling the employee’s wages, excluding overtime, earned in the last eight weeks in which the employee worked normal or average hours; and the dividing that total by eight.

Given this information, I am sure that you would very quickly be able to determine the amount of severance you would receive if you were to be let go today.

Fringe politics are for fringe parties – not a movement for the majority



- Jack Wiesgerber -
Former BC Reform
Party Leader & MLA



Anyone remember who spoke those words – and when?? 

They were spoken by Jack Wiesgerber on June 10^th, 1995 in Kamloops, and I was there.  He was then leader of the BC Reform Party, and those words are just as true today, as they were back then.

Not much later (1996) another BC politician, Gordon Campbell, spoke for the BC Liberal Party uttering the words “We must have the courage to change the way government is run”.

He spoke of having a, ‘common sense government’, but after a decade of government by the BC Liberal Party are we any closer to having common sense government?