And now … a blatant request for your support to elect me Director at Large

Greetings fellow BC Conservative Party members...

Former party president Wayne McGrath - his time on
the phone, and a trip to Kamloops got me onboard

I have been a member of the BC Conservatives for nearly 3 years now, and since the first initial meeting of the party here in Kamloops, I have been a member of the Board of Directors for the Kamloops South Thompson riding.  

With the support of members in this area, I was also selected by the party to become the Regional Directors for Kamloops, Thompson, Fraser, Nicola.

One of the things I have enjoyed, in recent years, has been writing on Conservative values, and taking both the Liberal and NDP to task.  This has been done, in my own personal Conservative Thoughts blog.

While the Conservative Thoughts blog is not an extension of the party (it is my independent thoughts and opinion), it is fair to say not many would doubt my support for the party.

If you are not yet aware, I would like to let you know I have let my name stand for election as Director at Large on the new provincial board. Next Saturday at our AGM in Langley, I ask for your support & your vote.

If you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me by email.

Thanks...

Alan Forseth

Conservative Thoughts: http://​kamloopsthompsonbcconservatives​.blogspot.ca

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mostlypolitics
Email:  alfman55@hotmail.com

PERSONAL BACKGROUND:

• Born in Vancouver – moved at the age of 10 to Williams Lake where I grew up. 
• Attended school, married my High School sweetheart Bev, and we raised a family (2 children).   



One of life's pleasures -- my new-to-me 2002 Goldwing

• Moved in 1992 to Kamloops which is where Bev and I call home

WORK BACKGROUND:

• Worked as light equipment operator and laborer at the Gibraltar open pit copper mine from mid to late 70s
• Employed in all facets of radio (on-air, news, writing and production, sales, and management) for 30 years
• Currently employed in sales for an independent BC owned and operated web development, and marketing company, with several sector specific BC tourism websites.

Me at the 2011 BC Conservative Party
AGM which was held in Nanaimo

 POLITICAL BACKGROUND:

I came from a family with deep roots in the CCF Party, and initially was an NDP supporter. 

With the emergence of the Federal Reform Party I became a member, working on several campaigns in the Kamloops riding.  

I also became a member of the BC Reform Party, running as a candidate in the 1996 provincial election.

Like many I have been disillusioned with politics, at the provincial level, for a good number of years now.  

Only with the recent re-emergence of the provincial BC Conservative Party, have a felt able to once again take part in the process, and to encourage others to do so as well.

I thank you for your time and consideration --- and again I ask for your vote to elect me as a Director at Large, on Saturday September 22nd at the BC Conservative Party AGM in Langley.

Given their own track record, hardly a peep can be heard from the NDP

Yesterday, BC Conservative Party Leader John Cummins asked, “Why is it so difficult for the BC Liberals to be truthful about the province’s finances?”

He asked that after Finance Minister Mike de Jong released BC’s first quarterly report for the budget year 2012/13.

Is this the government plan --- 'we'll just write it off'

A media report from the BC Conservative Party also stated that:

Cummins noted that the BC Liberals have a long history of deception and deceit regarding British Columbia’s finances.

This history of deception however goes back a lot longer than the BC Liberals time in office, and as one person I know said; “sadly...most people just do not want to know.”

This is nothing new --- and nothing recent for that matter. 

Regrettably I found that to be true when I ran for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election ... and sadly nothing seems to have changed since then.

Too many people only want to hear the sky is 'blue', even if there's storm clouds roaring in, and howling winds right behind.

I’m going to toss some numbers out ( your eyes will now glaze over) on BC’s provincial debt.  These are numbers that I would guess no more than five or ten percent of the population are even aware of:

• when the NDP took power in '91 the provincial debt was $17.26 Billion
• when the BC Liberals took power in 2001 the provincial debt had hit $24.9 Billion
• by 2011 the Liberals had taken the debt to $45 Billion
• and for 2014/15 the Ministry of Finance has projected that provincial debt will exceed $66 BILLION

Just taking a look back at the past 30 days

As the title says, I thought I would take a quick look back at stories that have generated the most number of page views.   

Several have a number of comments, and if you have an opinion one way or the other, it’s never too late to have a say and add your opinion.

In at number five:

What they believe, and stand for, are the things that will guide them in government

If you go to the BC Liberal Party you’ll find a section entitled “What We Believe” … the BC Conservative Party website also has a page that gives an overview on what the party stands for, it is entitled “What We Stand For”.

Some in the media and public believe that the BC Conservative Party has viewpoints that would be opposed by the majority of British Columbians, and has no clearly defined plans and ideas.  Given that, I thought that I would do a side by side comparison.

In at number four:

Oh, and by the way … I am still waiting for a reply from Kevin Krueger on this

Based in Victoria, Tom Fletcher is the legislative reporter, and columnist, for newspapers published across the province by Black Press. Yesterday (May 2, 2012) he wrote a story, “BC Liberals try election gag law again”, which I posted on my Facebook page.  The story, which follows, was posted by me without comment as information for others …

The third most read article was:

Not much has changed in 16 years

Last night I was going through a box of campaign material from the 1996 provincial election in BC.  For those not aware, I ran as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the riding of Kamloops North Thompson.

While going through the box, I came upon opening remarks I made at an All-Candidates Forum that had been held in Barriere, a small rural community about half an hour north of Kamloops, in the North Thompson.   

In at number two was:

David Loukidelis described what he called “an unacceptable pattern of government-wide failure to respond to access requests in as timely a fashion as it should.”

The BC government today announced that Deputy Attorney General David Loukidelis will be leaving the government.  Loukidelis became the Deputy AG in January 2010 following a position as the Commissioner of the Freedom of Information Office.  A brief story in the Vancouver Sun this afternoon noted: The announcement was made in an internal note sent Friday by John Dyble, deputy minister to Premier Christy Clark.

And here is the story that has generated the most page views during the past month:

If you decide to read on, make sure you have some Tylenol, and an antacid, handy

The other day I was talking with a media friend, and had mentioned I was thinking of taking a look at how BC's debt has climbed over the years.  Well I did indeed do that, and now I am sorry I did.

I appreciate those of you who take the time to read these thoughts – no matter what your political beliefs or background.  In fact, “Thank You” for doing so!

Tomorrows post … “Can the word ‘Progressive’ be used in context with being a conservative?” … has been written; I hope you’ll drop by and have a look once it goes online in the morning.

Take care my friends!

Not much has changed in 16 years

Last night I was going through a box of campaign material from the 1996 provincial election in BC.  For those not aware, I ran as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the riding of Kamloops North Thompson.

Kamloops Daily News political cartoon from April
'96. We still have a “Clark”, but now it’s Christy.

While going through the box, I came upon opening remarks I made at an All-Candidates Forum that had been held in Barriere, a small rural community about half an hour north of Kamloops, in the North Thompson.   

Today I thought I would share them, once again, because in reading them I thought … not much has changed in 16 years!  I wonder, as you read this, if you'll think the same thing.

For far too long we have had only two choices in British Columbia come election time.  One was to vote a party out of power, thereby allowing the other party to win by default – or to vote for a party that didn’t really meet our needs, but kept the other out of power.  Things are different now.

The election being held May 28^th is going to be one of the most important ever.  One that will provide each of us with a choice to continue with ‘behind closed doors decision making the traditional parties offer – or to choose a party that has the will and courage to listen and make ‘real change happen … to make government accountable to you.

But with choice, comes the responsibility to know where the parties stand on issues, and how they will deal with the important decisions that face our province in the years ahead … and how they will consult with you and seek your input in making those decisions.

Our choice will also come down to electing a ‘politician’ – or electing a ‘representative’.

Taking a look at the costs, size, and scope of government in BC

The Labour Day weekend is over, and Fall has now UN-officially begun as the kids head back for another year of school (as long as we do not have a strike in the near future). 

I have also now begun week number two in the return of my Conservative Thoughts blog, and today I am going to take a brief look at the costs, size, and scope of government --- and some things that perhaps we can consider in making government more streamlined and effective.

From the BC Conservative Party Draft Policy document:

The budget of the Province has risen from approximately $29 Billion in 2001 to approximately $42 Billion in 2011-2012 … and the current budget is divided approximately 40% for core Government Ministries and 60% for broader public services.

The number of Government Ministries, Crown Corporations, Boards, Tribunals, Commissions, Councils and other entities in British Columbia now functioning is approximately 320 in number. This estimate does not include the approximately 175 local governments and regional districts the Province provides funding to, nor does it include the breakdown for Regional Health Centers, Community Hospitals and special treatment centers, etc.

PART TWO: Liberal party is a mish- mash of those on the political left … and those on the right

Part one of this story was written back on May 4th, and in it I indicated that I felt that there really was nothing that could be called Liberal about the Liberal party.  In that blog editorial I posed the following question:

 “Again I have to ask the question then … why do we need a Liberal party at all --- and what is it they stand for that people on the center right can’t find a comfortable home with the Conservatives … and those on the center left with the NDP (or a new hybrid called Liberal Democrats)?”

 I have not changed my opinion, and I still feel that believe that many who find themselves on the center right of the political spectrum are supporting the BC Liberals because a few years ago they felt they no longer had a home.  I believe the still don't -- at least not in the Liberal party.

 Again as I say, this story was written some weeks ago, however yesterday (Sunday July 10th) I had the following comment posted to my Conservative Thoughts blog:

 “As a BC Liberal I feel Clark needs to put her stamp on government before rushing off to call an election this fall. A victory in the HST referendum could very well achieve that. I still don't like the prospect of a split vote on the right and, as someone who feels more comfortable in the center, I won't be voting for a BC. Conservative Party anytime soon. “

 I of course did take time this morning to post a response, and this is what I had to say: