This week in BC Politics

It’s the end of the week and time to take a look back at a few of the political stories that made the news this past week.  Sunday evening we’ll also find out who will be leading the provincial NDP into the next general election, which some people are now speculating may be held this Fall. 

So who will lead the NDP?  My guess is that it will be Mike Farnworth, although not because he is the most traditional of all the candidates.  Farnworth will be elected by members of the NDP because he is the most middle of the road candidate, and the one most likely to lead the party closer to Liberal policies. 

That being the case, again I ask the question – why do we need to have an NDP party when they could merge with the BC Liberals to become Liberal Democrats?

Anyway … enough of that … as mentioned, here are a few of the stories that made the news this week … along with a quick flashback to the past.

BC politics ... for the week of April 4th

And so another week drifts by in the world of BC politics.  I though I’d start of with a look back in history first with the following, before continuing my usual wrap-up of some of this weeks political stories …

Flashbacks: This week in B.C. political history … “MLAs slam cushy WCB severance package” from 1996 … and from 1986 we have … “Noyes a pedophile but not a psychopath”

 

BC NDP's past gives clues on current crop of candidates

Voting is about to begin, and the choice for New Democrats looks like this: Do they want a leader in the style of Mike Harcourt, who led the party to victory in 1991? Or another Glen Clark, who five years later kept the party in power for a second term …

Sorry Dix but I call BS on that

In two weeks (April 17^th), the BC NDP will be holding a leadership vote at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

In a media release NDP Provincial Secretary Jan O'Brien said that, "British Columbian's are ready for a change from the reckless policies of the BC Liberals... and we're looking forward to a competitive leadership election ... we will ensure that this leadership election is run in a fair, transparent, and accessible manner."

To that end, the NDP have appointed former BC Chief Electoral Officer Harry Neufeld as an independent third party auditor. Neufeld is BC's former Chief Electoral Officer and head of Elections BC.

About the NDP themselves, political scientist Norman Ruff says, "They have to get British Columbian's to trust them with the reins of power ... but they realize the Liberals are once again trying to continue that branding (trust) and the three major contenders (Dix, Farnworth, and Horgan) realize to some extent they are vulnerable if that branding continues to be successful."

Liberal Leadership Debates, and soon the NDP

What if one of the provinces largest political parties held leadership debates and the majority of British Columbian's said, “Who Cares”? 

So far there have been three opportunities for Liberal leadership candidates to have a ‘real’ debate (Vancouver, Kamloops, Prince George), and to show us why they should replace Gordon Campbell as leader of the BC Liberal Party, and by extension premier of the province.  The result unfortunately has indeed been a chorus of “who cares”.  

With the top political job on the line, one would think British Columbian's would be far more interested in these debates; however they have become largely non-events.  Non-events because none of the candidates has presented any ideas to electrify us – it’s been one boring pillow fight actually. 

It’s not just the candidates who are to blame though as the Liberal party has ensured that any real discussion of ideas is stifled, so as to avoid controversy.  That leaves voters desperately looking for a leader that will step forward with ideas to show they are actually committed to representing us -- and being accountable to us.

And now it’s a race …

“Welcome to a future – a New Democrat future – where everyone can contribute and no one is left out” --- NDP MLA Adrian Dix during his leadership announcement Monday January 17^th in East Vancouver

It hasn’t be a very well kept secret, and now Adrian Dix, alleged to be one of the toughest New Democratic MLA’s, has announced he is running to lead the party.  Dix, who was elected to the BC legislature in 2005, is a former room mate of Premier Glenn Clark.  He worked with Clark helping him become premier in 1996 when the NDP last won a provincial election, and then went on to serve as Clark’s Chief of Staff.

Justine Hunt from the Globe and Mail has stated that, “Mr. Dix has been one of the strongest critics on the opposition benches since winning election in 2005, tackling both the children and families file and, more recently, health. He takes credit for pushing the government into the creation of an independent watchdog for children and youth, as well as for winning better security for women using public transit.”




Royal Inland Hospital --  Kamloops, BC

For those living in the Kamloops, Thompson Nicola region, Adrian Dix, who is currently the NDP’s Health critic has often been on the attack with regards services at Royal Inland Hospital, most recently with regards to the cleaning of hospital surgical equipment.  This caused him to be a burr under the saddle of Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger, who as you know just a few days ago had to retract and appologize for the following comments he made in an interview with a Kamloops radio station: