Stay tuned; this is an exciting time for BC Conservatives, and our supporters!

We had a great meeting for our Kamloops South Thompson CA Nominating Committee today. 

Ted, Fred and I have a lot of work to do over the next few months --- and we are VERY MUCH looking forward to it. 

Lot's of names have been brought forward, as possible candidates, and we'll be talking to them over the next few weeks. 

We've also picked a date, in the Fall, when we'll be holding our Nominating Meeting (we'll let you know that in a few weeks), and we have several facilities we'll be checking into, where we'll be holding our meeting.

Stay tuned; this is an exciting time for BC Conservatives, and our supporters!

PLEASE NOTE:
As the old saying goes, "Let no stone go unturned".  If you have someone you'd like us to add to the list of people we should be talking with, that you feel would be a good candidate for the Kamloops South Thompson Constituency Association, please email your suggestions to:

The Nominating Committee: kamloopssouththompsoncampaign@gmail.com.  

Let’s forget about when Tax Freedom day is, and let’s instead ask, “Are we getting the best value for what we are currently providing to government?”

Today, John Rustad (BC Liberal MLA for Nechako Lakes) asked the following question on his Facebook page, “Is June 11th acceptable as tax freedom day?”

It’s a good question and, as of mid-morning, it has elicited a number of responses; here are two that I thought had some time put in to them:

What would the tax free day look like if we included a real debt repayment plan? Are we spending too much or taxing too little? Both answers require us to remember when we demand something from government. We all have to pay for it. If you fail to repair a road, the repair still needs to be made or you need to shut down the road.

Gentle reminder...Canada does NOT have free health care or free K-12 education. We all pay for it. And we pay a lot for it. The question is whether or not we get good value out of our health care system for what we put in? I'm not smart enough to know the answer to that question, but if Canadians are going to have a real discussion about how to pay for health care, we need to eliminate the misnomer of a "free" health care system from our culture.

Here is what I contributed to the conversation:

Tax freedom day should be whenever we have provided government, with the financial resources they need, to carefully and planfully provide the services we "need" not “would like” to have. 

Government must have the desire and fortitude to carefully ensure that we have the minimum numbers in bureaucracy and staff needed … that the services provided are really needed, and not an overlap of other government levels … that pay scales and benefits are no more than what is provided in the private sector.

We live in a democracy; that’s how it works Kevin

Yesterday’s Conservative Thoughts post was entitled, "Taxes and more taxes … fees and more fees. Someone’s not telling the truth!"

Kamloops South Thompson BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger

It didn’t sit well with Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger who shot back by saying:
Um... your leader John Cummins has publicly admitted he votes NDP. And in his interview with Global's Jas Johal, made it perfectly clear he is fine with causing them to be elected in 2013, if he can.

Their leader and House leader were both NDP Chiefs of Staff in the 1990's, now they want to be government again. They are the same guys, with the same competencies, that put BC last in Canada, economically.

Now they want to shatter the coalition that has restored BC to prosperity, with John Cummins' help - and he is willing.

To which I responded:

Kevin ... your comments above re: John Cummins are out of context -- and also NOT accurate. Misleading the voters / public should be the last thing you would want to do.

That of course resulted in another response from Kevin, who said:

They are certainly accurate. MLA's in the governing coalition are accustomed to being strictly held to account, by the media and the public. You need to pay attention to what John Cummins has said, and is saying.

He has very clearly indicated that his goal is to destroy the non-NDP coalition. That would certainly mean electing an NDP government, if he succeeded. He has also flat-out stated that he voted NDP in the last election. He said he would not accept an MLA crossing the floor to the B.C. Conservatives, if not elected under that banner. He had been asked about Vicki Huntington, an Independent. Then, he embraced John van Dongen, crossing the floor, after betraying two different leaders of the coalition - apparently sacrificing that principle as a convenience, hoping he would be able to win the Chilliwack by-election, where he came in a miserable third. He was not distinguished for being able to work with a team federally, and now apparently assumes he could lead one provincially.

His approaches and his goals would lead to destruction of British Columbians' interests.

I thought to myself … now this is getting interesting.  It seems that my BC Liberal MLA is a bit touchy about things … and in my opinion, he is still off the mark on how a democracy works.  I responded by saying:

Leave no authority existing, not responsible to the people

Providing quality and affordable health care … education … and social programs, for all British Columbians, must be one of the top priorities of government.

For that to happen, I also believe that government needs to provide us with the opportunity to have real input into the planning and implementation of programs and services.

Further … for government to have the money we need for these programs and services, it must reduce its debt, so we can stop paying millions of dollars, each and every day, just to make the interest payments.

Paying nearly $7 million dollars a day just in interest payments is bad business! 

Plain and simple, this is a waste of the financial resources we have entrusted to the government.  What we need is a smaller, less intrusive, government that lives within its means.

It is apparent to almost everyone, that our current provincial government is indeed living way beyond its means. 

Every new dollar government borrows increases our debt … adds to interest payment to service the debt … and means less money available for education, health care, social services, and other needs of the people of BC.

Taxes and more taxes … fees and more fees. Someone’s not telling the truth!

The Carbon Tax is an unfair tax that applies unevenly to people across the province. 

BUT ... it also negatively impacts schools, hospitals, universities and other services we rely on, by taking money from their budgets, rather than being used to provide services

This video with Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Jordan Bateman is from several months ago, but it clearly identifies the issues, and problems, with Carbon taxes and the Pacific Carbon Trust.

Here’s another video that shows overburdened taxpayers in BC pay the highest gas taxes in North America.

And finally, on today’s tax kick, comes further confirmation that we pay higher fees and taxes ... more than any other province (with the exception of Ontario)  ... as this Global News story from December 29, 2011 tells us.

Now … upwards and onwards to the next general election

Over the past several months, I have had a number of people ask, and suggest, that I seek the nomination to become the BC Conservative Party candidate for Kamloops South Thompson.

This is something I had been considering for some time, and to have the affirmation of friends and party members, who felt I would be a good representative for our riding, has been very much appreciated.

I wish to let you know that, as much as it is my desire to move forward, and seek the nomination, I am unable to do so at this time. 

There are a number of factors for this decision; however this has now enabled me to take on a new role within the Kamloops South Thompson Constituency Association.  Along with two time federal Reform Party candidate Fred Bosman … and Ted Joslin (who has been involved in federal and provincial politics for many years … we will head up the constituency associations Candidate Search Committee.

Our job will be to look into, and talk with, potential candidates to represent the BC Conservative Party in our riding.  We are also seeking your input in this matter as well.