Every British Columbian deserves a real choice

This morning when I opened the email account, where most of my political stuff comes and goes from, I discovered a message about yesterday’s blog.  The story, as you will recall, was on BC Rail and the Basi / Virk trial.  This is what the writer had to say:

You know, for me, the agreement to pay $6 million in legal costs in exchange for a guilty plea was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Until then, I was like most federal Conservatives, not completely thrilled with the BC Liberals, but willing to hold my nose to avoid splitting the vote and having the NDP get in power (the enemy of my enemy is my friend).

I remember the day the news broke last fall, I was attending a professional development seminar in Kelowna (yes, even __ x y z __ have Pro-D days), and the seminar leader was discussing investing.  He mentioned a term called the "puke point", which is basically the point at which you can't stand to see your portfolio losing value anymore so you "puke" it all up and sell everything.

During the coffee break for that seminar, I grabbed a copy of the Globe & Mail and read the article about the deal which had just been announced.  That was my "puke point" with the BC Liberals - the deal just reeked of hush money.  That's where I said, vote-splitting or no vote-splitting; I can't in good conscience vote for a government like this anymore.

I don’t know about you, but the words of this writer really resonated in me … especially two of them … “Puke Point”.

How arrogant and out of touch with voters would a party, it’s executive, cabinet ministers, and leader have to be for people to reach their “Puke Point”?  

Why would their MLA’s continue to sit at the caucus table of a party that people can no longer support because they have reached their “Puke Point”?

There are several MLA’s in the BC Liberal Party that I have a degree of respect for, as it seems to me anyways that they speak their mind based on what they believe is best for their constituents.  One has to wonder how much longer will it be however before they too reach their “Puke Point”.

British Columbians deserve to have MLA’s, and a government, they can respect.  That however will not happen unless our MLA's are accountable to the people who have elected them. 

Fifteen years ago another political party tried to raise the issue of being accountable and responsible to the people … and to being fiscally responsible while having a social conscience.  The time wasn’t right then … but maybe it is now.

In a year and a half the people of BC will go to the polls to elect a new government.  So far only one party, the BC Conservatives led by John Cummins, has declared a commitment to that accountability issue. 

Only one party, the BC Conservatives has declared that MLA’s will be responsive and responsible first and foremost to the people who have elected them.

BC Conservative members, from one end of the province to the other, brought forward common sense policy ideas that that were approved at a convention in Nanaimo a few months back.  These were grassroots policy ideas from the membership of the party -- not from party brass or from special interests. 

These people represented a slice of all who live and work in this province … from new-comers to our land … to those who have been here for generations. 

They were people who work in the forests, as professionals in offices, in mines, as retail clerks, as fishermen, as ranchers and those who grow our food, as teachers, as doctors, and mothers, fathers and grandparents.

Many of these people have never had any involvement in politics … but many, like the writer of the email sent to me this morning have also said; “… vote-splitting or no vote-splitting; I can't in good conscience vote for a government like this anymore”

In 18 months we will go to the polls to elect a new government.  Each of us will have to decide who to support and why.  The party leaders will all be clamoring for our attention … but here are a few of the things John Cummins has said, in recent weeks, which will stay with me as I look at my ballot and mark my choice.

“The hallmark of a compassionate society is the manner in which it treats those who, through no fault of their own, cannot look after themselves. Under the Liberal government the most vulnerable in our province are treated as an afterthought.”

”This is a typical Liberal big government policy: forcing British Columbians to replace cost-efficient, warm and safe incandescent light bulbs which have worked for more than a century with an expensive new technology that produces a lower quality of light and requires careful disposal.  This Liberal initiative is neither green nor common sense.”

“While average families pay the highest taxes west of Quebec it seems the only people getting ahead in BC are crown corporation bigwigs, senior civil servants, Liberal insiders and lobbyists.”

“At what point does she think that protecting our children from sexual predators is too expensive?  The Liberals don’t seem to understand that it’s the province’s job to protect children from sexual predators, to promote safety in our streets and to prevent crime. This is a constitutional obligation. This is an important responsibility, and the Liberal government continues to ignore it.”

“The only party that sees criminal justice as a priority are the BC Conservatives – it is getting harder and harder to tell the Liberals and the NDP apart on this vital issue.”

“It is becoming abundantly clear that ‘families first’ is simply a slogan to buy votes for Premier Clark. Otherwise, why would her government continue with such irresponsible policies that will leave future generations paying for the Liberal government’s inability to act with prudence?”

“Every British Columbian deserves a real choice in the next provincial election. As you can see, Premier Clark and the NDP share the same vision for British Columbia. I am here with the new BC Conservatives to provide a common sense, mainstream choice, for all British Columbians.”

”At a time of economic difficulty people not only want to hear there is hope, they need a plan that gives them real solutions. This week the Liberal government has fallen far short on providing leadership in these tough economic times.”

“Our ability to protect the public must not be compromised by underfunding.  Public safety should be the primary concern of this government. The citizens of Prince George, and all of BC, deserve to feel safe. Letting a known cocaine trafficker back onto the streets due to an underfunding of the court system, is a travesty that this Liberal government must not allow being repeated.”

Brian Peckford (L) with BC Conservative leader John Cummins

These are just some of the comments made by BC Conservative leader John Cummins, over the past several weeks.  They are why my vote will be going to them.   

In the last provincial election BC Conservatives had the support of 2% of the population --- a year ago that support stood at 10% --- and now, just 12 months later, BC Conservatives have ‘earned’ the support of nearly 20% of BC residents.

People are getting tired of holding their noses…

They want something they can support …
 

… and, in ever increasing numbers, I believe their choice will be to support the BC Conservative Party.

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