THIS WEEK IN BC POLITICS — the final one for 2011

The year end with news we may now be paying
HST, on our bills and purchases, for well into 2013

As we go into the last week of the year, we have one more opportunity to review and look overt the stories that made the news this week.  Next week, on Conservative Thoughts, I will be taking a break so that’s it until 2012 … except for me to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas … and a safe and Happy New Year.

Now … here are the stories that made the news this week -- each headline is linked to the full original story.

When compared with the rest of the country, this province's development pales

… politically embarrassing … the lack-lustre performance can't be excused by noting that Campbell had nasty little (or maybe not so little) recessions at the beginning and the end of his term, because so did all the other provinces that B.C. is being compared to … further such embarrassment is a key factor in why Clark decided not long after she took over from Campbell to pull the plug on the board … it's not just one province's performance that is being measured - it's all the others' as well …

Taxpayers still on the hook months after deputy fired

Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said du Toit's severance deal defies common sense. "This is another ridiculous payout from government to senior staff.  We've seen these over and over again this year."  … living allowance always troubled the federation.  "I mean, it's not like she was a pauper in the first place.  She was pulling down significant amounts of money in salary." …

BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins believes many Liberals are feeling alienated by party shift

"We're not in this to come second," Cummins said. "We are in this to win. I think this is a small 'c' conservative neck of the woods, and I think that given that we really are the only small 'c' conservative party in British Columbia, our platform will certainly resonate with the folks here."

They would have heard plenty of reasons for the ongoing growth of the party

A news story yesterday (Poll sends Clark a sharp warning) in the Times Colonist newspaper stated:

The rise of the Conservatives is a significant factor. But it has more to do with dissatisfaction with the Liberals than with any policy put forward by Conservative leader John Cummins. We have not heard enough from Cummins to judge his party's potential or readiness.

And they were very much right in saying:

A political poll is only a snapshot of voters' opinions at a certain time. And polls taken 17 months before an election should be viewed with skepticism, because much can change in far less time.

That said; this is the fifth straight poll that has shown the BC Conservative Party rising in popularity with British Columbians all across the province.

I think it's a shame that the writer(s) of this editorial must not have attended either / both the gathering of BC Conservatives this Spring in Surrey where John Cummins was elected party leader --- or the AGM this Fall in Nanaimo.

 

Looking back at the year 2011 – Conservative Thoughts – the Top 10

As I mentioned yesterday, since I began the Conservative Thoughts blog I have written and posted just under 350 articles.  I recently looked to see which ones had interested readers the most this year, and yesterday I posted the ones from #20 to #11 that had most interested you.

Today we’re counting down the stories and articles from ten to #1.  Following each of the headings, which have links to the full story, I will include a brief paragraph or two on what the story was about.

Here we go …

#10 Three points made by the BC Liberal Party are a beautiful display of spin-doctoring  … we begin with a story from early Fall … September 15th

… I have a HUGE smile on my face however because if the BC Liberals have already started this, they are obviously scared of what a common sense campaign of people powered policy is going to do to their "Top Down" style of government. Their first three points are a beautiful display of spin-doctoring starting with the pension issue …

#9 BC Conservatives will not be splitting the vote --- the BC Liberals are driving their supporters away … from May 30^th

… today I was puzzled but what appeared to be an acceptance of the Liberal mantra that that BC Conservatives are going to ‘split the vote’ … if you listen to Christy Clark and her Liberal MLA’s, it seems that their only reason for being, and why people should support them, is because ... “We’re not the NDP” … once believed in government reform by the grassroots … and that accountability, honesty, and responsibility to the voters was paramount …

Looking back at the year – Conservative Thoughts from 2011

I began this blog in late November of 2010 – so Conservative Thoughts has been online line for nearly 14^th months.  In that time I have written and posted just under three hundred and fifty (347) stories and opinion pieces.  My hope is during that time there have been many, or even just a few, that have made you stop and think about where our political process has been … where it is now … and where it can and should be in the future.

I consider myself to be a small ‘c’ conservative, and as I have always be clear about, I am a member of the BC Conservative Party.  What I write and think comes from that background, but the thoughts, ideas, and questions I post are my own.

So, back to those 347 opinion pieces I have written and posted … I wondered which ones struck the biggest note with those who read them. 

Today I will post the most read ones from 11 to 20 … and then tomorrow will be the ones counting down from ten to #1.  Following each of the headings, which have links to the full story, I will include a brief paragraph or two on what the story was about.

Let’s begin …

BC Conservatives move into a tie with the Liberals

We now know the reason why the BC Liberals have a gain begun their mantra of a vote for the BC Conservatives is a vote for the NDP.  We have now had 5 straight polls showing the BC Conservative Party growing in strength, and we are now at 23% ...

The BC Liberals have nothing to offer British Columbians except for ever increasing taxes and fees ... big payoffs to government executives in crown corporations as well as BC Ferries and BC Hydro ... and big phoney "Green" cheques to outfits like Encana while schools and hospitals do with out.

We have NOT had government accountability --- nor have we had a government that is responsive to the people of this province.

I encourage you to read Doug Ward's story in the Vancouver Sun ..."New poll shows NDP in lead in B.C. with Conservatives surging into tie with BC Liberals"

Here is a brief comment from his story:

“The problem for the B.C. Liberals is that they are in the middle and they bleed both ways,” said the pollster.

“They are pinned down on both sides. We saw that happen to the federal Liberals in the recent election.”

 The Forum Research poll also found strong discontent with Clark herself. Fewer than one in three voters approve of Clark’s job performance. Twenty-nine per cent of British Columbians approve of Clark compared to 45 per cent who disapprove and 27 per cent with no opinion.

Again Kevin, why is it I should be supporting the BC Liberals in the next provincial election?

Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger

Late yesterday afternoon I wrote a blog story after hearing my Kamloops South Thompson MLA, Kevin Krueger, on CHNL radio.  The story was entitled, "Tax and spend BC Liberals WILL NOT win the next election".

Since it was posted I have received a number of replies ... here are just three of them:

... perhaps Kevin forgot that his party got elected by first "splitting the vote" with the Socred’s. Remember them, Kevin? I do...and I foresee the exact same thing happening to the Liberals.

… John Les also was absent from a cabinet post for a long time with a cloud hanging over him ...

… you want a part of the liberal record??? Check this out;  Where the money really goes - ICBC top 50 employees - their annual salaries for 2010.

Tax and spend BC Liberals WILL NOT win the next election -- regardless of whether BC Conservatives run candidates

Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger was heard this afternoon (December 19^th) stating a Conservative vote in the next election is a vote for an NDP government.  He said we should look at the record of the BC Liberal government.

In little more than one week Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin has asked the people of British Columbian to look at their record, as has Chilliwack Liberal MLA John Les, who you may recall served as Parliamentary Secretary for HST Information to the Minister of Finance.

John Les had this to say regarding NDP leader Adrian Dix:

"He's talking about a much bigger government and a lot more government spending … he has just three choices: Higher taxes, or deeper deficits, or both.  British Columbians deserve to know exactly what he would do and how he would pay for it.  But he is being very, very, very vague."

Finance Minster Kevin Falcon (L) and Kamloops
South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger

As I mentioned not too many days ago, here are some NOT SO VERY VAGUE words that John Les, Kevin Kruger, and our BC Liberal government may not wish to be reminded about:

... increases every year on the Carbon Tax

... increased costs for drivers licenses 

... increased costs due to HST 

... increased ferry costs 

... increased Hydro costs 

... increased parking fees at hospitals 

... increased green taxes and fees 

... increased probate fees 

... the soon to be increases on auto insurance from ICBC

... increased MSP payments 

… exorbitant salaries, payments, bonuses, and payouts to executives (directly or indirectly) on the government payroll at Community Living BC, BC Ferries, and BC Hydro.

That’s the SHORT list … don’t forget our every increasing debt which is now approaching $60 BILLION dollars --- and also Finance Minister Kevin Falcon who has now had to admit, for 2 consecutive quarters, that government debt will increase dramatically.

I would like to say thanks to two MLA's who have I believe worked hard to 'represent' their constituents

As we head towards what I believe to be one of the one of the greatest celebrations of the year ... Christmas ... things are getting a little more hectic on the home front ... with the regular everyday meetings and activities ... holiday get-togethers ... and with practices and rehearsals for the Christmas eve service at the church our family attends.

Holiday lights of the BC Legislature -- November 2011

That means the blog will take a bit of a hit over the next two weeks at least ... and it means I'll be posting bits and pieces of things that catch my eye, and maybe with a brief comment our two.

I have now been writing and posting the Conservative Thoughts blog for over a year.  

It has most time been a labour of love, but truthfully at other times it has frustrated me as I have looked at how our political system operates, and the blind loyalty it often demands.

As you all know I am a member of the BC Conservative party ... and I am also a representative for the riding's in the Kamloops area.  That does not mean however I cannot see the good in others (and the bright spots) within BC political system.