This Week in BC Politics (Mar 27 - Apr 2)

Leadership races … federal election … April Fools jokes and gags (federal election) … Ferry rates go up -- and Hydro rates go down.  All this and more took place this week in the world of BC politics. 

If you care for a fresher, or to catch up on stories you missed read on … this full stories can be read by clicking the headline link.

Is former BC Liberal energy minister Bennett eyeing jump to the Tories?

Bill Bennett, the independent member of the BC legislature seeking to return to the BC Liberal caucus, is not ruling out a move to the BC Conservative Party. The Kootenay East MLA was infamously fired as energy minister by his cabinet colleagues for

Cummins set to lead B.C. Conservatives
… bid to lead the BC Conservatives has morphed from a leadership race into a likely coronation that party officials say will allow him to focus on preparing the party for a possible provincial …

 

Is getting 70% of your campaign funds from one source is a good idea or not

“A new BC Conservative government would take big money out of politics by banning provincial political donations from corporations and unions.”
John Cummins, announcing his candidacy for leadership of the BC Conservative Party.

A story two days ago, in the Globe and Mail, included comments from University of Calgary Political Scientist Lisa Young, who said that a ban on corporate donations to federal political parties has improved public confidence in the system. “There isn’t that sense that corporations or unions are unduly influencing the process,” she says.

So is the BC Liberal Party thinking perhaps this is an idea they should now jump on – or do they disapprove of this suggestion from BC Conservative leadership candidate John Cummins?

A buzz about the future of the BC Conservatives

Over the past week or so, and indeed in the past couple of days since former Conservative MP John Cummins announced his intention to lead the BC Conservative Party, there have been lots of comments, stories, and editorials in the news.

What I like to hear however, are the comments from people are people that have expressed an interest in the party and what it believes in … and the comments of members of the party. What have they had to say … well here is a snapshot that has come to me in recent days:

• What a crazy day! Very exciting for the BC Conservatives in this province! 

BC Conservatives; a chance to “give BC a common sense choice” ... and a “principled choice”



Former Conservative MP John Cummins announces
leadership bid for the BC Conservative Party



I like what the Globe and Mail had to say this afternoon, following John Cummins announcement that he plans to seek the leadership of the BC Conservative Party. They said;

Freshly resigned former Tory MP John Cummins has announced his candidacy for the leadership of the B.C. Conservatives … the veteran politician … told dozens of cheering supporters in Vancouver he wants to give B.C. voters a real choice between the governing BC Liberals and the Opposition New Democrats.

Personally, I too am glad that he has chosen to seek the leadership for a number of reasons. First he brings a wealth of political knowledge with him to the job, something that has been missing from the leadership of most political parties trying to break the Liberal / NDP swing.

John Cummins to lead the BC Conservatives -- deals a blow to Christy Clark's Liberals

Former MP
John Cummins

This morning at a news conference in Vancouver, former Conservative MP John Cummins announced his intentions to lead the BC Conservatives. Cummins is the first to announce his intentions to seek the leadership, and will give the party a real boost in public – and in the media.

John Cummins first ran federally as a Reform Party candidate in 1988, but was not elected until 1993 when he went to Ottawa as the MP for Delta. He won re-election each time since then through the transition of the Reform Party to the Canadian Alliance – and then the Conservative Party.

A look at his biography shows a man that in 1988 earned an M.A. from University of British Columbia ... and who received a B.A. from University of Western Ontario in 1966.

John Cummins poised to run for BC Conservatives

Former Conservative MP John Cummins appears poised to enter the race to lead the BC Conservatives with an announcement scheduled for Tuesday. Mr. Cummins, 69, has long been seen as a possible contender for the leadership of the party, which has no official links to the federal Tories and no seats in the BC legislature. Click HERE for Globe and Mail story

Government workers, just like any one else, need to be treated with respect – but so do we the taxpayer

Have you every noticed that those posted signs, that say you must be polite or you will not get service, or / and security will be called, are ONLY in government offices in BC (or government funded offices)??  

You would never see a sign like this at a building supply store ... department store ... restaurant ... car dealer etc. These kinds of signs only appear at places like offices for government services, and say hospital. ONLY at places you would be because there is something you really need.

So why are those signs there??