BC Politics ... this week

WHAT is happening over at Christy Clark Central??  Staff are coming and going; well actually they mostly seem to be coming… and the cost of staffing and running the Premiers office is soaring. 

Premier Clark -- Is she praying for a miracle?

It seems that many rank and file members of the BC Liberals are wondering if they are on the Titanic or not ... and time will certainly tell – especially if she losses both of the upcoming by-elections, which I predict she will.

Any way … as usual it’s been another busy week on the political front, with many stories that made headlines.  Here are some of the stories that you may have missed, or might like to have a refresher on:

HST will haunt B.C. Liberals until the eve of the next election

… the terms also insisted that if the province abandoned its side of the deal — harmonization — the full amount of the transition funding would have to be paid back … such agreements are common in federal-provincial relations and Ottawa was not about to step onto the slippery slope of letting a province walk away from its obligations …

21st Century Value-Added Forest Industry

… concluded that there is an exciting opportunity for BC in the emerging bioeconomy … potential of this new economy is huge ($170 billion for bioenergy, $200 billion for bioproducts) and BC has some of the best fiber resources to feed it. The job potential of this sector is also great …

Christy Clark replaces her chief of staff

… Flagging in the polls, and with just 16 months to go before the next election, Premier Christy Clark has replaced her chief of staff… In a news release issued before Clark's official announcement Thursday, BC Conservative leader John Cummins attacked the appointment.  "Premier Clark has appointed an Albertan super-lobbyist as her chief of staff," Cummins said in a statement…

IHA too cheap to fix donated tub

… the health authority is charging people for the bathing program, it didn't even pay for the tub in the first place, rather had it donated by the Lions Club . . . surely the IHA could cough up some cash for a new tub and lift to serve that area of Kamloops … but we doubt that will happen…

Government has ripped off million$ that should have gone to community charities ---on Wednesday Christy verbalized they plan to continue

A report entitled “Charitable gaming in revenue” in Alberta shows gaming revenues received paid to charities in that province, amounted to $325 million for 2009 / 2010

Meantime, in BC? 

A portion of a news release, entitled “Government receives independent report “ on the BC government newsroom website from October 31, 2011 states:
“… Premier Christy Clark appointed Triplett to conduct an independent review and develop options for the Province on how to improve the governance and funding formula for gaming grants. In 2010-11, government distributed $135 million - including an additional one-time increase of $15 million - in these grants to approximately 6,000 groups throughout British Columbia.”

The quick study notes for above are:

Alberta gives … $325 million

BC currently gives … $135 million* 

* in 1998 /99, approximately $161 million was distributed to charitable organizations.

There are MANY people who do NOT agree with me … but I have a hard time with government being in the gaming business.  I have issue with the heavy advertising campaigns that work to have people spend more and more money, on something that offers little or no return of anything tangible.  

The millions and millions that go into lotteries and casinos annually, means less money being spent in the greater economy with people buying and purchasing things for the home, family, on recreation, on vehicles, etc.   

These are things that truly grow the economy – and that create jobs.

But here’s another issue I have; big casinos ended most small-time fund raising by local charities and organizations.  Local groups and organizations of course are closest to the community – and know the needs of the community.  Instead they now end up begging for a miniscule share of the amount the provincial government returns to charities and organizations from gaming revenues they receive.

WORSE STILL … government is not paying up what they promised.  That was to be ONE THIRD of the revenues received.

We will not have “justice”, unless there is a review, and overhaul, of the legal system

Today we have a guest writer of Conservative Thoughts … an opinion piece courtesy of Bob Tarplett.  It was written following an article that appeared in the Globe and Mail on Tuesday January 4, 2012.  The story concerned the Stanley Cup Riot, and the inordinately slow process to get the rioters to court.  Here's what Bob had to say:

BC definitely needs a very major overhaul of its court system -- one that is causing a massive backlog – and that is a very major problem for real justice to occur in this province.  Charter limitations enable important trials to be scrapped, when they should be prioritized to enable justice to be fully implemented. 

We need to find ways to speed up the legal system to do away with time wasters such as short 4 hour court days (starting at 10am, 2 hour lunch, and finishing at 4pm), multiple appearances, condensing pretrial procedures such as jury selection, preliminary hearing, setting court date, request for legal or medical reports, and bail. Why do we need to waste further court time, just to sentence a convicted person, when one would expect that judges should have sufficient knowledge and experience in law and sentencing to be able to select the appropriate sentence --directly after the jury has been discharged -- not 1 to 2 months later!

Laurie Throness has his spin and talking points ready

Laurie Throness seeking Liberal nod

You have to enjoy the politcal wisdom of someone who has been there ... here are the comments of  former MP Jim Hart with regards to the announcement of Laurie Thrones seeking the Liberal nomination for Chilliwack-Hope

Congratulations to Laurie Throness for stepping up for the BC Liberal Party in Chilliwack. 

Laurie is not a small fry when it comes to politics, but he might have bitten off more than he can chew when he calls the actions and policy of the BC Liberal’s as “conservative friendly”.  As a rule, conservatives believe in smaller government, lower taxes, deficit and debt reduction and a strong criminal justice system.   

I defy Mr. Throness to show the voting public where he sees “conservative friendly” policy in the BC Liberal Party history since taking office in 2001. 

The Liberals have increased taxes and made government bigger. British Columbians are still suffering under the HST and the uncertainty caused by Liberal mismanagement on taxation and the economy. Maybe it is the reckless measures such as the carbon tax, and the new 2 cent per litre Lower Mainland gas tax that punish British Columbians every day that Mr. Throness believes to be “conservative friendly?” 

Why is there is no refinery being built directly at the source?

On Monday I wrote about the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline, and the review process which is now finally underway.  My opinion piece began by saying;

"The Northern Gateway oil pipeline, proposed to run from the oil sands of Alberta, to Kitimat in British Columbia, has many opponents – and champions. 

On one hand, we have thousands of jobs on the line, and millions in much needed tax revenues are in limbo, waiting approval.  On the other, are the environmental concerns that are also very much on the minds of Western Canadians. 

Some though, from outside of Canada, are trying to disrupt and stall the review of this project for their own self-interests, and personal glorification in the media..."

It didn’t take long for a comment to come in on it.  One person asked:

Here’s a stupid question, but why don’t the governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Canada each throw in $500B to take a 50% interest in a refinery at Bruderheim.  That way, we could ship middle and light distillates to both the USA and Asia via rail, forgoing the need (and opposition) for a pipeline altogether? 

Justice has been delayed and denied under the BC Liberals

James Alexander Hart
Member of Parliament (1993-2000)

My work schedule means that I am going to have a few guest opinion pieces in the next week or two -- which you will likely / hopefully find a refreshing change of pace.  This first is coming your way today, and is from Vernon resident, and former Reform MP Jim Hart, and it is on the topic of the justice system.

BC will lose 2500 criminal charges soon … and delays getting drug dealers and criminals in front of a judge... means that justice has been delayed and denied under the BC Liberals.

Our Charter of Rights guarantee that those charged with a criminal offense, have the right to face their accusers in a reasonable amount of time. Our economy, largely due to the global recession and Liberal mismanagement, has resulted in an increase in criminal cases. 

The BC Conservatives, under John Cummins, have stated that our policy is for the RCMP/Police to be able to lay charges.  This will speed up the process at the front end, but we still will have a bottle neck in the courts.

Neither has experience, achievement, knowledge, or prominence in the field of the environment, ecology, or engineering

CTV political commentator Craig Oliver

On Friday January 6^th Craig Oliver posted his thoughts on the proposed northern oil  pipeline in an opinion piece entitled “Craig's Take: The politics of pipelines”.

In reading this piece, I think one would be hard pressed not to note he appears to be opposed to the pipeline, especially given the choice and selection of some of the descriptive words he used.  He also had this insightful comment:

“Even such luminaries as American actors Robert Redford and Kevin Bacon are joining in the opposition to the all-Canadian pipeline, which Prime Minister Stephen Harper says raises some serious questions about foreign political interference.”

Merriam-Webster defines luminary as:

… a person of prominence or brilliant achievement

Allowing that to happen is indeed insane … it is wrong and it distorts the whole process

Route of the Northern Gateway pipeline

The Northern Gateway oil pipeline, proposed to run from the oil sands of Alberta, to Kitimat in British Columbia, has many opponents – and champions.  

On one hand, thousands of jobs, along with millions in much needed tax revenues, are in limbo waiting approval. On the other hand however are environmental concerns that are also very much on the minds of Western Canadians.  

Some though, from outside of Canada, are trying to disrupt and stall the review of this project for their own self-interests, and personal glorification in the media.

Today’s edition of the Globe and Mail has a story entitled, “‘Radical groups’ spur Tories to speed pipeline review process”.  Here is the beginning of this news story;

The Conservative government will bring forward new rules to greatly shorten environmental reviews of pipelines and other major projects, arguing that “radical groups” are exploiting the reviews to block proposals vital to Canada’s economic future.