There's a new BC Conservative Party Executive and Board

Members of the BC Conservative Party had the opportunity to elect a new executive today at the AGM in Nanaimo.

Two candidates had declared they wished to take on the role of president of the party ... Reed Elly, and Joan Robinson. Following the vote count, the reins have been taken over by former Reform / Conservative MP Reed Elly. In the position of Vice President, Ben Besler was elected.

The party will also have new people in the positions of Secretary and Treasurer ... Carollyn Evans will be the new secretary, and Treasurer is Lambert Leung.

A great number of people, 21 in all, with wide and varied backgrounds, stepped forward to work on the board as Open Directors. Only 9 however could be elected and they are ... Linda Bellamy, Jeff Bridge, John Crocock, Hamish Marshall, John Martin, Ian Pyper, Al Seibring, Andrea Smith, and Ryan Warawa.

Still to come in coming weeks will be specific regional directors but right now, Im back to paying attention because we are still in the middle of the policy discussion.

I'm Alan Forseth ... and I'm still in Nanaimo at the BC Conservative AGM.

“I Want a Stable British Columbia That Looks Forward to the Future” ... John Cummins

So do I, and so I believe do all people in BC --- but how do we get there???

In his speech to members of the BC Conservative Party, he invited people to imagine what the province could look like with a government that ... worked for all interests, not just special interests ... that managed resources for the good of all British Columbian's ... where parents and students were the focus and concern of the education system, not the BCTF ... where the courts and judicial system have the resources they need so that criminals do not go free ... where BC Ferries are part of the Highways systems, not some semi-quasi private business with luxurious offices and million dollar salaries ... where we have the lowest unemployment and the lowest taxes ... and where politicians do not feel they have to be politically correct.

Today John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservative Party, reminded us there was a time when our province was the envy of all of Canada ... and that it can be again ... and that BC Conservatives will fight for our positive vision for BC.

IT'S SATURDAY --- “Hello Nanaimo”

People have been streaming into the conference centre for the BC Conservative AGM for the past hour and looks like there will be a good turnout.

Anyone get today’s Globe and Mail? The BC section today has to interesting columns that I had a chance to read between visits with people here at the AGM.

Gary Mason's op /ed was on the front page enttled, “Little to digest with B.C. Premier’s mundane recipe for job creation”.  He started off by saying, “If Premier Christy Clark’s much-hyped jobs strategy announced this week demonstrated anything, it’s how few tools governments now appear to have at their disposal to fire up an economy.”

Headed to the BC Conservative Party AGM

It's Friday ... and this afternoon I will be headed to Nanaimo for the BC Conservative Party AGM.  In addition to electing a new board and executive for the party, we will also be discussing and adopting the DRAFT policy document of the party.

This has been an exciting time over the past year as 100's of members of the BC Conservatives party have worked hard to put this document together ... including many of us here in the Kamloops, Thompson, Nicola region.  

It represents the common sense ideas of people from all walks of life -- and it will be great to remove the word "DRAFT" from it.

I'll have more to say as the weekend progresses so let's keep in touch!

This is a “taxpayer funded” commercial message for Christy Clark and the BC Liberal Party

Is Christy Clark and the BC Liberal governments new Job Strategy program really going to take credit for new mining jobs, for projects that were already in planning … development … or ready to start up?

A story by Cam Fortems, in the Kamloops Daily News says that, “Kamloops will play a major role if Premier Christy Clark’s jobs plan is to produce results within four years.  The city could be home to two of eight new mines Clark pledged will open by 2015. New Gold Inc. is scheduled to start production at New Afton next year, while KGHM-Ajax is hoping to start production in 2015”

That's a pretty sweet deal considering she is looking at just 3,000 jobs total created from all of her announcements. 

This tour, of questionable value to the people of BC, is indeed a mystery.

I have to say I am looking forward to approval of BC Conservative policy platform, this weekend, at the parties AGM being held in Nanaimo.  This is a document that has substance and common sense, and one the party can feel good about taking to the people of BC!!

Why do I say that?  Well it was tongue in cheek I know, but I started off on Monday calling this week’s jobs strategy blitz, by Christy Clark, the "Can You See My Now Tour".  Given we are now on day number four of the tour … and given the lack of substance so far … I think I am going to have to come up with a new name. 

Can’t we just have less talk, and more action?

It’s day number three of the Christy Clark “Can You See Me Now”, province-wide, media extravaganza.  Today it touched down in Surrey with the promise of an additional $3 million dollars to be invested in the Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit program.

It’s not a lot of money, but apparently that $3 million infusion to the Small Business Venture Capital Tax Credit program can eventually end up creating up to $10 million in additional equity capital for eligible new small businesses.

Here’s the question though, and please forgive me if it seem rather obvious, but is the current $30-million annual tax credit budget, for venture capital programs for small business, being tapped out?  Like I say it might seem obvious that it would be; however there has been no mention of it in today’s announcement, which causes me to wonder.  After all, this is a government prone to blowing their own horn.

"Can you See Me Now" tour --- Christy Clark touches down in Kamloops

Christy Clark's, "Can you See Me Now" tour dropped into Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops today.  The purpose???  To announce the government has, "... a goal of increasing the number of international students by 50 per cent over four years.”

She stated that the province will bring this about through: 

• an international education council to help build strong relationships in both existing and emerging economies, like China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. 
• by leveraging B.C.’s trade offices to help connect international students to B.C.’s educational opportunities. 
• by working with communities to prepare them to welcome students from abroad.
• by strengthening the Province’s Education Quality Assurance.
• and by sending more B.C. students overseas to prepare them to work in a global economy.

She also stated that, “International students who study in B.C. create thousands of jobs and bring millions of dollars into local economies.  Our universities are job creators. We are setting clear targets to dramatically increase the number of international students coming to B.C. These students will also help build strong relationships between B.C., Canada and the rest of the world.”

SHE … her government … plans to increase international student enrollment by 50%  -- I find that interesting.

John Cummins … thoughts on Jobs … and ‘common sense’

Today I thought before I posted a media release from John Cummins and the BC Conservatives, I would take an edited (only to shorten) quote from John Cummins “About Me” web page

Throughout my career I have always stood for common sense. Too often political decisions are driven by special interest groups or political correctness.  Join me in building a … new government based on common sense … do politics differently … listen to the people … build a new choice for British Columbia. Help us return common sense to the Legislature.

Given the government we have been getting under Christy Clark and the BC Liberals, BC Conservative Leader John Cummins is right when he says … “the cries for common sense change from everyday B.C. families will only grow louder”

Wondering about local elections ???

Will you be voting in the Kamloops region this Fall??

You can find out pretty much anything you need, or want, to know about local election in the Kamloops area by going online.  Here are websites you will find helpful:

• Click HERE for local voting information for the City of Kamloops
• For the Thompson Nicola Regional District you can click HERE
• Click HERE for election information from School District 73

The Government of BC also has a brief information guide of voter information which you can also access online 

Jobs and Politics ... thoughts from John Cummins and Christy Clark

I like day #1 so far, in so much as development of the North has always been a great wealth and job creator for the province.

WAC Bennett and Flying Phil started this province on the road to growth and development with roads, highways, and a northern railway.   That said, I am still having an issue and problem with all the fanfare -- that is just razzle dazzle 'look at me' staff that Christy loves and that we can do without.

Also, as John Cummins (BC Conservative Party leader) indicated in a statement this morning following Christy’s job creation announcement:
"The $15 million is not being advanced in the interest of jobs, it is to sweeten the pot for Canpotex to cut a deal with the natives regarding the export terminal. Why else would Premier Clark contribute millions of taxpayers' dollars to a project that has not yet been approved?".