This Week in BC Politics

It’s Friday and we are nearing the end of the week.  Time to take a look back at some of the stories that made the news this week in British Columbia … stories about the people involved in BC politics ... and that are impacted by BC politics.

Cartoon by David Parkins for The Globe and Mail

MLA Randy Hawes: An unlikely backbench rebel

…but there was Mr. Hawes on Monday, openly challenging his boss over her handling of Community Living B.C., the beleaguered government agency responsible for providing services to developmentally disabled adults.  In doing so, he exposed frustration in caucus, almost nine months after Ms. Clark took over from the controlling and insular Gordon Campbell, that the new premier might be just as tone-deaf to concerns from the backbench as the last one …

Hypocritical hurrahs from B.C. Libs over shipbuilding win

It’s amazing — and somewhat galling — listening to Premier Christy Clark’s Liberals going ga-ga over the federal shipbuilding contract when this is the same bunch that gave away our own shipbuilding work to Germany … the same shipyard just awarded an $8-billion contract to build seven vessels — including Royal Canadian Navy support ships and a major icebreaker — was “not capable” of building three car ferries just a few years ago …..

Doctor led B.C. Conservatives (Death of Dr. Scott Wallace)

… the always vocal politician was known for speaking out on many issues during his political career, a run that stretched from Oak Bay council in 1967 to his last day in the provincial legislature in 1977. 

That enthusiasm for improving health care and people's lives was an extension of the efforts he put forward in his community, said family members who shared stories about their father's philanthropic passion…..

There has basically been NO CHANGE in unemployment from one year ago

This past week Christy Clark announced there would be no early provincial election, and that it will be held as set up in May 2013.  She is however firing up the troops and giving them a reminder of the party’s commitment to free enterprise, jobs, and lower taxes.  Here’s part of what she had to say:

“Our focus must be on one thing more than any other: jobs for BC families. We will be presenting a plan that strengthens free enterprise, expands markets for BC products and sticks with our commitments to low taxes and a fiscally responsible approach.” – Christy Clark, in the BC Liberal Party’s most recent fundraising letter.

I hope that is indeed her plan because there has basically been NO CHANGE in unemployment from one year ago.  BC Stats (July 2011) shows unemployment at 7.3% while a year ago (July 2010) it was 7.5%.  There has also been no change in full time employment vs. those at part-time ... full time workers still account for 77.2% of those employed