Forseth endorses Brooks for Leader, joins team as Campaign Manager

It's official ... and I am announcing the following today:

 

 

KAMLOOPS:  Dan Brooks, candidate for the leadership of the BC Conservatives, today announced that Al Forseth, a long-time party member, regional director and former constituency-association president, has endorsed him as the best choice for Leader.

Brooks also announced that Forseth has accepted an appointment as Campaign Manager of his leadership team.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have Al Forseth endorse my candidacy and join my campaign team as manager,” said Brooks.

“Al’s passion and dedication are legendary throughout our party and across the province, and his decision to manage my leadership campaign sends a strong signal of our unwavering commitment to building the BC Conservative Party into a vital force that will be reckoned with well into the future.”

Forseth said that Brooks shares his belief that British Columbians deserve a better political option than they have faced in recent years – a choice between the lesser of two evils: the New Democrats or the BC Liberals.

“The BC Conservatives – indeed, British Columbians across our great province – desperately need a Leader with a vision of how to create prosperity through well-paying jobs, a place where businesses can thrive and where we have a solid foundation for health-care, education and more,” said Forseth.

“I am inspired that Dan Brooks has a vision and a plan for our party – one where party members will be fully engaged and asked for their full input.

“I believe that Dan has the drive, passion and openness to listen, which will get us back on a path to gain the support of British Columbians and to governing British Columbia.”

Brooks concluded by saying that he will make additional, important announcements in the days leading up to the BC Conservatives annual general meeting, to be held in Vernon on October 19.

With this announcement, I will no longer be be considered neutral in commenting on the BC Conservative Party leadership campaign.  That said, I WILL however continue to make comment on social media, and on this blog, on things I beleive are important to our party -- and that includes information on Rick Peterson's campaign, and the vision and direction he also has for the party.

I fact, in conversation with Dan regarding my endorsement, and taking on the role of Campaign Manager, I indicated that it would be a deal-breaker if this was not acceptable.

To quote Dan ... "I wouldn't have it any other way."

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

Tell the BC Liberal's, and the New Democrats, enough is enough!

Today we have a guest commentary from BC Conservative Party member, and Kamloops South nominee candidate, Peter Sharp:

One of the stories in today's edition of the Kamloops Daily News had the following headline; "MLA expense reports lack detail, taxpayers’ federation says -- 'It’s a virtually worthless document'

Expense reports showing how much B.C.’s provincial politicians spend on travel are worthless, a director of the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation says.

“It’s flawed in many ways,” Jordan Bateman said Friday.



BC Conservative Party nominee
candidate Peter Sharp

The reports don’t include a breakdown of ministers’ expenses, doesn’t give context on the number of trips they actually took or where they went, nor does it include who travels with them, although MLAs are allowed to take someone on 12 trips a year.

“It’s a virtually worthless document,” he said.



While the BC Liberal government crows about what a wonderful job they are doing with our economy -- the BC Taxpayers says BC Liberals and NDP MLA's are being completely unaccountable with our tax dollars. 

This is just ONE of the reasons why I have chosen to seek the nomination to run as the BC Conservative candidate in Kamloops South Thompson. Here are the FIRST two things the party I support believes in:

The BC Conservative Party is founded on and will be guided in its policy formation by the following principles:

1) A belief in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable and effective and for which delivery is accountable to all the people of British Columbia.

2) A belief in managing the government to the highest standards of integrity and transparency and British Columbians are entitled to full knowledge of services rendered and their costs.


We have endured two decades of NDP and BC Liberal governments. 

Finally, Christy Clark has said something that I can agree with! It is possible to ... "predict future behaviour based on your previous record.”

Given Premier Christy Clark's comments, I predict
rising taxes and fees ... and ever increasing debt

The following comments are from an opinion piece, in the Victoria Times Colonist, which was written by Les Leyne; "Leaders differ on balancing the budget"

NDP Leader Adrian Dix said ... there’s no way it will be balanced. Premier Christy Clark said it most certainly will ...

Even while continuing the advertising blitz, the government announced it is currently a half-billion dollars off its budget

Clark said ... “We are going to make sure we are the lowest tax jurisdiction in the country for personal income taxes ... that is the most important way government keeps life affordable for people.”

Although the running tally for the current year’s deficit is higher than expected, the plan is to erase it in a new budget next February.

Now ... here's another comment that our BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark made, and now probably wishes she hadn't, back in December of last year.  QUOTE: “It’s possible to predict future behaviour based on your previous record.”

Okay Christy ..., let's do a little research to see if in fact that comment, which YOU made, is indeed correct.

BC Ministry of Finance (Summary of Provincial Debt Report -- page #5)
* total BC debt 2001: $33,385,000,000 ($33.385 BILLION)

BC Ministry of Finance (Fiscal and Debt Summary) 2nd Quarter Report 2012 / 13 dated November 28th, 2012
* total estimated Provincial debt (March 2013): $56,356,000,000 ($56.35 BILLION)

BC Ministry of Finance (Budget & Fiscal Plan: 2012/13 - 2014/15 - page #5) -- government document is dated February 21st, 2012
* total estimated debt by 2014/15: $66,354,000,000 ($66.35 BILLION)

Will you look at that!  Christy Clark has finally said something that I can agree with! It is definitely possible to ... "predict future behaviour based on your previous record.” 

But what a dismal record that is for British Columbians here and now ... and those in the future who will be saddled with the results, and consequences, of that ever increasing debt.

Winning by default is nothing Adrian Dix and the NDP should be happy with; if they are, shame on them. Shame too, on us, if we allow that to happen.

I wonder how many people happen to have seen a Letter to the Editor, “And speaking of politics” written by Lloyd Atkins of Vernon, that was in todays (09/10/12) edition of the Vancouver Sun?

For those who have not, here it is re-printed in its’ entirety:

If any BC Liberals were clinging to the fantasy that British Columbians would refuse to dance with the socialist horde, then the provincial election results in La Belle Province must come as a shock. Quebecers put the Parti Quebecois separatists at the top of their dance card and everyone knows they are much spookier than the NDP. There is a lesson here for Premier Christy Clark and her disintegrating party. Voters are willing to take a calculated risk to repudiate and punish dishonest and incompetent leaders.

The people of Quebec have decided waltzing with Pauline Marois' separatists is worth the gamble if they can rid themselves of Jean Charest and his corrupt gang of Liberals. The people of B.C. seem more than eager to tango with Adrian Dix's socialists if they can rid themselves of Christy Clark and her inept gang of Liberals.

Marois must realize she is only get-ting a chance to be premier of Quebec by default. Dix must already know he will become premier of BC by default. His New Democrats will only win the election next spring because frustrated British Columbians want to kick the Liberals out.

The underlined text was done by me --- and for good reason; if the New Democrats win next year’s election, it will be by default ONLY.  The majority of people in BC do not support the policy and ideals of the NDP, they simply see no other viable choice or option.

There is in fact an option however; but it is one that in the coming months MUST get past internal squabbles, and present a united front, with strong policies, and a quick and easy to understand platform.  That option is the BC Conservative Party.

It will be incumbent on members of the BC Conservatives (of which I am one), to come out of the AGM being held September 22^nd in Langley, united.

Policy is the stuff that pundits, media, and those of us who are political junkies, feed on.  It is not however what most voters take the time to read – never mind understand.

IF BC Conservatives wish to have a chance at forming government following next Springs General Election, we will have to provide voters with the broad strokes of policy in a way that can easily and readily be understood.  

I myself have been guilty of boiling this down to the lowest possible description of what we stand for --- fiscal conservatives with a social conscience.  

CHOICE, OPTIONS, and CHANGE … vs ... SCAREMONGER, FEAR, and PEREMPTORY

Do any of the following words sound dangerous, scary, or unhealthy to you?

CHOICE … OPTIONS … CHANGE

In looking at the definitions ascribed to them by Merriam Webster, ‘CHOICE’, ‘OPTIONS’, and ‘CHANGE’ certainly don’t sound dangerous, scary, or unhealthy, as you will note by the following:

Definition of the word CHOICE

… the act of choosing … power of choosing

… a number and variety to choose among

… care in selecting

Definition of the word OPTIONS

… an act of choosing

… the right to choose (freedom of choice)

Definition of the word CHANGE

… to make different in some particular

… to give a different position, course, or direction

… to replace with another

… to make a shift from one to another

… to undergo a modification

To those who believe in a democratic society the words Choice, Options, or Change should never be considered to be scary … instead I think that most would consider them to be healthy.

Those four things stand out to me, as having clear direction … a vision so to speak … of what government should do, and the role it should play in our society

I woke up on Sunday evening with the word “Vision” going through my mind.  Of course it was attached to something that is often on my mind, which is politics.  I believe that in BC we have suffered from a lack of elected officials, and leaders, that have had a real sense of vision on what our province can be for us, and the future it can hold for our children and grandchildren.

But first … what does the word ‘vision’ actually mean?  Here are just a few descriptions:

• a thought, concept, or object formed by the imagination
• the act or power of imagination
• mode of seeing or conceiving
• unusual discernment or foresight (a person of vision)

Each of the three main political parties in BC has a vision of how they would govern – and if you are interested you can see what they have to say by visiting their websites.  The one that has resonated for me has been the direction, and vision, presented by the BC Conservative Party.

The first four guiding principles of the BC Conservative Party say it will be guided by the following principles:

1. A belief in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable and effective and for which delivery is accountable to all the people of British Columbia.
2. A belief in managing the government to the highest standards of integrity and transparency and British Columbians are entitled to full knowledge of services rendered and their costs.
3. A belief in the rights and responsibilities of all British Columbians and that Governments at all levels are responsible to serve and respect all individuals and their families, including freedom from unnecessary laws and regulations and excessive government.
4. A belief that Members of the Legislative Assembly are primarily responsible to represent the interests of their Constituents.

Those four things stand out to me, as having clear direction … a vision so to speak … of what government should do, and the role it should play in our society.

Their way of making change is through modification and control … social engineering … and social ownership

If the most recent poll by Angus Reid proves anything at all, it is that Christy Clark’s ‘unite the right’ mantra should finally be put to rest and buried.

It also shows that no matter what the BC Liberals decide to call themselves in the future, it will not make one bit of difference.  They will lose the next provincial election in one year from now … as sure as a dark evening sky will follow the sunshine I am enjoying here in Kamloops today.

Here in the Interior of the province, the Angus Reid poll indicates:

“… the New Democrats are first with 48 per cent, while the BC Conservatives are second with 26 per cent. Support for BC Liberals in the Interior has fallen to 18 per cent.”

Details of this survey also show that:

“The BC Liberals are only holding on to roughly half of their voters in the last provincial ballot (48%). Along with the 20 per cent of 2009 BC Liberal voters who are now saying they would vote for the Dix-led NDP, the governing party is losing 30 per cent of its past electors to the BC Conservatives.”

Are you familiar with the phrase, “The King is dead. Long live the King”?  According to Wikipedia, the phrase arose from … the law of le mort saisit le vif—that the transfer of sovereignty occurs instantaneously upon the moment of death of the previous monarch. "The King is dead" is the announcement of a monarch who has just died. "Long live the King!" refers to the heir who immediately succeeds to a throne upon the death of the preceding monarch.

In May 2013, there will be a transfer of power, and at the moment, it appears that this transfer may be going to the BC New Democrats.

BUT … do people know and realize what that transfer of power will mean – or are they simply going back to BC’s age old tradition of kicking out the guys that are in power.

Those swing voters, who are indicating they currently support the NDP, really need to read the following so they are fully aware of what a vote for the NDP will mean.

The “Preamble” in the Constitution of the New Democratic Party of British Columbia states:

The New Democratic Party believes that social, economic and political progress in Canada can only be assured by the application of democratic socialist principles to government and the administration of public affairs.

What is of more interest is the fact the governing BC Liberal Party remains mired at around 25% -- showing a huge lack of support amongst BC voters

The clock is ticking down to the next BC
General Election to be held May 14th, 2013

A Globe and Mail story yesterday was headlined, “B.C. Liberals would face thrashing if election held now, poll shows”

The story was based on a new Forum Research Poll that showed the NDP at 48% … the BC Liberals at 23% … and the BC Conservatives at 19%. 

Okay, so the party I support has dropped a couple of percentage points since their last poll, however that 19% figure is in keeping with other recent polls, by other companies.  Depending on who was polled, and where, it could also simply be ‘just a hick-up’ in the numbers.

Regardless, support for the BC Conservative Party is high, and continues to remain so.

What is of more interest, to me, is the fact the governing BC Liberal Party remains mired at around 25% -- showing a huge lack of support amongst BC voters.   

Oh, and by the way … I am still waiting for a reply from Kevin Krueger on this

Based in Victoria, Tom Fletcher is the legislative reporter, and columnist, for newspapers published across the province by Black Press.

Yesterday (May 2, 2012) he wrote a story, “BC Liberals try election gag law again”, which I posted on my Facebook page.  The story, which follows, was posted by me without comment as information for others:

Should donations to BC's political parties, from
unions and corporations, be banned?   YES!

The B.C. government is attempting to restore limits on third-party election spending that were struck down by a judge before the 2009 vote.

Attorney General Shirley Bond has introduced amendments that would put limits on spending by unions, business groups and other non-party advertisers in the 40 days before the official start of an election campaign. A previous 60-day limit was challenged by seven public sector unions, led by the B.C. Teachers' Federation, and rejected by a B.C. Supreme Court judge as an unjustified restriction on freedom of speech.

Premier Christy Clark said some spending limit on the pre-campaign period is justified, since the province went to scheduled elections in 2005. Current rules restrict party and non-party spending during a formal 28-day election campaign, but contain no limits on spending before that period.

The government intends to submit the proposed 40-day restriction to the B.C. Supreme Court before it takes effect. If a judge approves, the new restrictions would apply for the election set for May of 2013.

NDP justice critic Leonard Krog said the latest effort will likely be challenged again and rejected again. If the B.C. Liberals want to reform election spending, they should ban corporate and union donations to political parties as the NDP and B.C. Conservative parties have advocated, Krog said.

In 2008, the B.C. Liberal government passed amendments to the B.C. Elections Act limiting spending by non-party advocacy groups to no more than $150,000 in the 60 days before the official 28-day election campaign. Registered political parties were restricted to spending $2.2 million during that time.

Interestingly a comment was posted on my Facebook page, regarding this story, by the BC Liberal MLA for Kamloops South, Kevin Krueger; he said:

Do you think that the unions who own the NDP should be free to advertise as much as they'd like in elections, Al?

The BCTF, for example, which is the only union I know that deliberately frightens its members time and again, extracts over $42 million per year from them in union dues. I am told they have 60 full-time political organizers on staff.

You think they should have free rein, no matter what the teachers think?

Remember, the genius Vander Zalm pushed them into the clutches of this weird organization.

Now again remember I posted this story, without comment, just as an interest piece; however I thought, ‘What the heck, I’ll make a quick reply to him', and so I said:

Disappointed? Yes. Optimistic? ABSOLUTELY!

Last night’s by-election results were disappointing but not totally unexpected … especially in Port Moody Coquitlam where BC Conservative candidate, Christine Clarke, was up against 4 time mayor Joe Trasolini for the NDP. 

As a first time candidate however, in a party building an election campaign team from scratch, her results were commendable.

Chilliwack Hope BC Conservative
candidate John Martin

Chilliwack Hope however, was a different story, with BC Conservative candidate John Martin pulling in over a quarter of all votes cast.

That's not the real story though --- the real story is that nearly three quarters of voters cast ballots for parties OTHER THAN the BC Liberals.

The BC Liberals experienced a strong bleed of support, compared to results in the 2009 general election, both to the left and the right.

Looking at the numbers from last night, nearly eighteen percent of Liberal support went to the BC Conservative Party … while seven percent of those casting ballots for the Liberals in 2009, instead cast them from the New Democrats.

Which of course means both candidates for the BC Liberal Party could not be bothered …

BC Liberal candidates mum on issues important to voters in
Chilliwack Hope, and Port Moody Coquitlam by-elections

Several weeks back Integrity BC asked the candidates running in the by-elections for Port Moody – Coquitlam … and Chilliwack – Hope, to answer a short questionnaire.  

It was designed to provide important information on where each candidate, and party, stood on issues important to the people of the riding's.

I am delighted that both candidates for the BC Conservative Party (Christine Clarke in Port Moody – Coquitlam … and John Martin in Chilliwack – Hope), took the time to provide answers to the questionnaire. 

Only one other, Gwen O'Mahony who is running for the NDP in Chilliwack – Hope, also did so.  Which of course means both candidates for the BC Liberal Party could not be bothered.

Here are the questions which were asked in the questionnaire:

Isn’t that the kind of fiscal prudence we would expect of a government led by the New Democrats?

Saturday on CKNW News, they featured a story entitled “Premier says Tuesday's budget will demonstrate prudence -- Don't expect tax increases or big spending announcements.  Here is the story in full (my italicize and bold):

With the province determined to balance its budget by next year, British Columbians shouldn't expect any big spending announcements in Tuesday's budget.

Premier Christy Clark says the government wants to demonstrate it can manage its spending.

"I'm just not interested in dumping piles of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren," she says.

She also says it's wrong to go to the public to ask for raises for public sector unions.

"You know, I think that's pretty sensible. I think that most British Columbians, in these very tough fiscal times, understand it's important to be prudent, and I'm going to make a virtue of being prudent."

The finance minister has already said British Columbians should not expect any tax increases.

That all sound fine and well, but what has the BC Liberal government been doing for the past 10+ years?  While they initially had spending under control, for the past five or six years, they have been running bigger and bigger deficits – and steadily increasing the debt.

Here’s just a quick look back at a few of the instances this has been pointed out by the media, and financial watchdogs:

The Tyee (August 2004)

Nobody seems to want to mention the fast growing $38 billion elephant in our living room. Each of us owes $9,003, sharply up under the Liberals.

Canadian Taxpayers (February 2010)

B.C.’s Liberal government was elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility and started off well. Between 2001 and 2004, government spending hovered around $30 billion per year.

The government commendably reduced the debt from almost $38 billion in 2003 to $33.4 billion in 2006. However in 2005, spending restraint started to fly out the window – a result of that dreaded second-term spending disease that seems to infect governments at re-election time.

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

As Shakespeare stated in Romeo and Juliet … “A plague on both of your houses”

We need less studies,and more action, towards job creation

Today the CBC came out with the story … “BC income gap getting worse”.  In it, they stated:

The first measurement looks at household income and found that BC is second only to Alberta as having the greatest inequality of any province.

In the second measurement, BC ranked dead last, having the biggest gap between the top and bottom 20 per cent of income earners.

The report notes that the gap has increased since the early 1990s and that other provinces have had more success redistributing income through taxes and benefits.

Ouch … redistribution of wealth!!!  Redistribution of wealth is not the answer! 

YES … we do need to have social programs that help those individuals, and families, who are in need and are unable to provide the necessities they require (food and shelter).  Redistribution of wealth however should not be taking from one group to give to another.

To reduce the necessity to provide what is needed for those on low or no incomes, we need a vigorous and aggressive plan to get BC moving forward with good quality high pay jobs in traditional areas that have always provided them … as well as in the new technologies.

Those of us in the middle class are getting squeezed tighter and tighter with higher fees and taxes --- and no resulting / corresponding increases in wages to meet these increased costs.

If you decide to support the forces of constructive change – then the future will be different

Yesterday (01/30/12) the Vancouver Sun had a piece written by Paul Kershaw from the University of British Columbia.  It was entitled “A Canadian sidekick for Colbert”, and it began with the following:

Just 10 per cent of Canadians trust politicians, according to a recent Ipsos poll. Canadians are more likely to trust new-car sales people than elected officials, data from Leger Marketing tell us.

These facts may be good for a laugh. But, really, we shouldn’t be amused. The fact that Canadians are more likely to treat politicians like punch lines rather than people to respect is a fundamental reason why we are tuning out politics. Barely 60 per cent of Canadians voted in the last federal election; in Ontario’s fall provincial election, fewer than 50 per cent of eligible voters showed up at the ballot boxes. Our largest province has not seen such low turnout since Confederation in 1867.

Apathy is not a neutral force in our democracy. Apathy helps to sustain the status quo. And the status quo is not a friend of Canadians under 45.

“POLITICIANS” … have become the punch lines, and punching bags, of municipal, provincial and federal voters – and THEY DESERVE TO BE!  And not just of people under the age of 45.

In 1999 a Canadian political party release a brochure … “This is the Reform Party”.  Here are just some of the things they had as policy objectives in this brochure:

1. the equality of citizens …
2. Responsible government that is accountable to citizens …
3. More and better jobs through balanced budgets and tax relief
4. Safer streets and communities
5. Strong reliable and affordable social services
6. Greater support for Canadian families as the basic building block of Canadian society

In BC we have two political parties that have governed this province over the past two decades … the BC Liberals … and the New Democrats.  Has anything truly been done towards the goals I noted above ... and that apply just as easily to our province?  I think the fact that only 10% of Canadian voters trust politicians provides the answer.

Another day … another poll. What does it mean?

Yesterday saw the release of a new poll that shows the BC Liberals, led by Christy Clark, are in deep trouble and headed for defeat in the next provincial general election in 2013.  That is however nearly 16 months away, and a lot can change between now and then … it does however show a strong trend that has been developing over 6 consecutive polls by 3 different polling companies.

The following is a story by CKWX New Radio 1130, from this morning, which gives a brief overview of the results of that poll:

Yet another poll is showing the BC NDP could form a majority government after the next provincial election. One political analyst feels there's not much the premier can do to buck this trend.

"This isn't just one poll showing them behind the NDP; this is multiple polls showing them behind the NDP," explains Sean Holman.  While he believes any seat predictions at this point are premature, he believes the New Democrats are going to be very well-positioned going into an election.

Holman feels the Christy Clark government is having all sorts of problems associated with an  administration in its third term. "And is currently led by a leader who is new but has not been able to capitalize on that 'newness' in a way in which she probably would have liked."

"She rolled out her jobs plan late last year. That was supposed to give her some kind of traction with British Columbians -- that hasn't seemed to have worked," he adds.

The Forum Research numbers suggest 57 seats for the NDP, 20 for the Liberals, seven for the Conservatives, and Independent Vicki Huntington keeping her seat. Clark’s disapproval rating is at 46 per cent with Adrian Dix at 35.

I have been saying for some time now that the BC Liberals were NOT going to win the next election, and that the only hope to see the NDP NOT win, or at least be held to a minority, was to have the BC Conservatives on the ballot, and elected to the legislature. 

Until now, no poll had shown the BC Conservative electing ANY members, that is now beginning to change however, and I believe that numbers will continue to show the Conservatives gaining in strength, and with the likelihood of electing more members, the closer we get to the next election.

THAT HOWEVER is not based on any of the recent polls.  No ... the reason I say this is because of information that comes from a BC Stats study that was done in January 2010 entitled, “Motivations and Barriers: Exploring Voters Behaviour in British Columbia”

Here are a few things that I noted in this report:

Change doesn’t happen in a vacuum -- it needs people to make it happen.

Often times I wonder what thoughts people have as they read the opinions I post -- which is why I have said, "I welcome your thoughts and opinions"

Occasionally I do get the odd comment, and they are appreciated ... whether you agree with me or not.  I appreciate them as I would like this to be a bit of a sounding board for me, and for you.  The other thing is, it gives me the opportunity to take a fresh look at what I think, and why.

Today, someone took a quick moment to drop me a line with regards to a post I had a couple of days ago ... that was; The argument of last resort … the one of desperation … “Don’t split the vote".

This person posted their comment anonymously, and so I have no idea who they are.  Regardless, in their comments, they made a very valid and important point ... we are not always going to agree 100% with the policies of any political party.  Here is what they had to say:

I'm a libertarian Conservative and am proud of my leader. Not religious at all. In fact, I initially only joined the party for a year in order to determine, whether or not, it was too far social right for me.

My interactions with and the statements from our party leaders led me to signed up for the full 5 year program and get directly involved with the New West CA.

I'm with Alan on this. i.e.  Do I agree with every direction he takes our party? Nope. (The only person I agree 100% with is my wife. Even when I don't, she reminds me I do.)

THIS WEEK … in BC Politics

This week’s wrap up of the political news begins with a story that appeared in Thursday’s Globe and Mail entitled … "Patrick Kinsella is the ultimate Mr. Fixit".    

For those not aware, this is the same man with direct and long ties to the BC Liberal Party ... and the sale of BC Rail.

Other past headlines about Mr. Kinsella included --- "Hiring of Kinsella was bad optics, BC Rail trial hears" --- "Kinsella trumpeted insider status to BC Rail, court hears" --- and --- "Court orders some Kinsella records released, but restricts access to others"

The Mr. Fixit story begins with the following paragraph:

“ … Patrick Kinsella, the quintessential insider in B.C. politics, arranged for representatives of a mining company based in Pemberton to meet on Dec. 1 with Premier Christy Clark and Energy Minister Rich Coleman …”

Now, here are some of the other stories that made political news in BC this past week …

Liberals under heavy pressure in two formerly safe Fraser Valley ridings

… both Adrian Dix’s NDP and John Cummins’ Conservatives have already declared their candidates for the ridings of Port-Moody Coquitlam and Chilliwack-Hope, the Liberals have yet to name their line-up for the contests …

Why I can say this? I'm one of the voters BC Liberals drove away!

BC Premier Christy Clark

Warren Kinsella had an opinion piece in the Winnipeg Sun today entitled, "BC politicking will put New Democrats back in power"

I'm going to let you know what my opinion is of this story ... it is nothing but horse manure!! 

In fact, it is obvious Warren Kinsella has not been spending a lot of time 'listening' to voters in BC who are very much tired of a government that shows no indication of being accountable, responsible, or responsive to BC voters.

John Cummins and his "gang of advisors" has not, as Kinsella has said, "cheerfully set about destroying B.C.’s centre-right coalition, and getting the BC New Democrats back into government."

Christy Clark and her gang of back room hacks and political opportunists have, all on their own, driven BC voters away.

Now there is a credible choice -- what a great Christmas present!

I recent days and weeks, I have written a couple of pieces, regarding recent polls showing the growing strength of the BC Conservative Party.  I for one have been delighted to see the continuing momentum, as more and more people look to see what alternative there is to the BC Liberals and the New Democrats.

A few people have emailed, and sent me a few notes, regarding what is happening politically, and so I thought I would share a few of them with you.  The first is from former Reform MP Jim Hart who said:

The recent pre-Christmas poll has indicated continued growth for the BC Conservative Party. It has also clearly shown declining support for both the Liberals and the NDP.

As indicated by this poll the Liberals use of attack ads against BC Conservative Leader, John Cummins has been a dismal failure. In fact, the strategy has had the opposite effect, boosting the support of the BC Conservative Party and leader John Cummins.

The other major issue exposed in this poll is that support for the NDP is declining.

Both BC Liberals and the NDP policies have proven detrimental to BC’s economy, and this history has buttressed the BC Conservative case that British Columbians have no appetite for either of these parties tax and spend policies.

BC Conservatives are offering tax RELIEF by conducting a complete review of taxes, licenses, fees and permits within 18 months of becoming government this will result in a prioritized list of taxes to be removed, reduced and amended.

It is time to support a party that will bring conservative values to the BC Legislature.

Jim Hart, Former MP 1993-2000

Resident of Vernon, BC