ELECTIONS BC: Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam By-elections Called for April 19, 2012

The following media release was sent out by Elections BC 0on Thursday March 22, 2012.  While we all know the by-election has been called, and who is running, this release contained more details on the mechanics of the by-elections:

VICTORIA – By-elections will be held on Thursday, April 19, 2012 to elect Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Chilliwack-Hope and Port Moody-Coquitlam electoral districts. The seats became vacant when Port Moody-Coquitlam MLA Iain Black resigned on Monday, October 3, 2011 and Chilliwack-Hope MLA Barry Penner resigned on January 9, 2012.

“British Columbia offers voters an accessible and flexible voting process, ensuring that all citizens who are eligible to vote are able to do so,” said Keith Archer, Chief Electoral Officer.

“Elections BC is committed to administering the voting process in British Columbia with the needs of voters in mind.”

Residents of the two electoral districts will be eligible to vote if they are 18 years of age or older on Thursday, April 19, 2012, (General Voting Day), they are a Canadian citizen and they have lived in B.C. for the past six months.

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…

A farewell from Barry Penner

Retiring BC Liberal MLA Barry Penner

BC Liberal MLA, and former Cabinet Minister, Barry Penner was first elected to the British Columbia Legislature in the general election of 1996.

His MLA website has this information, “About Barry Penner”

Barry served as Attorney General for the Province of British Columbia from December 1, 2010 until August 18, 2011 when he announced that after four successful election campaigns, he would not be seeking re-election to the British Columbia Legislature. Barry also stepped down from his ministerial portfolio to spend more time with his young family.

Barry Penner previously served as BC’s Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation from October, 2010 to March, 2011 and Minister of Environment from June, 2005 to October, 2010. He was BC’s longest serving Environment Minister.

Barry was raised in Chilliwack, BC. He received his Bachelor's degree from Simon Fraser University after studying government and economics, and subsequently earned his law degree from the University of Victoria. Barry was employed as a BC park ranger during his summer breaks. In 1991, he worked for an International law firm in Bangkok, Thailand and then practiced law in Chilliwack until his election to the Legislative Assembly in 1996.

Barry was first elected to the BC Legislature in 1996 for the electoral district of Chilliwack. He helped lead the charge against the Sumas Energy 2, Inc. (SE2) power plant, which would have added 2.5 tonnes of air pollution every day into the Fraser Valley. He also helped rally community support which resulted in the new Chilliwack Courthouse. Barry was re-elected in 2001 to represent the riding of Chilliwack-Kent, and was re-elected in 2005, and again in 2009

I for one would like to say thanks for his work and dedication not just to the constituents of Chilliwack Hope … but to all of BC

CLICK HERE for a farewell video from soon to be former Chilliwack Hope MLA Barry Penner

BC POLITICS … the week that just was

Christmas is fast approaching … but before it does, I will still have one more week, maybe two, of political stories that made the news in BC.  Let’s jump right in starting with more news of John Martins bid to be the BC Conservative candidate in Chilliwack Hope …

Good to see John Martin running (Letter to Editor)

… one only has to view … the Legislature to become repulsed with this Christy Clark government (I believe that the recent decision of Barry Penner, who has a reputable reputation, acknowledged by all parties, was his intent to distance himself from it and resign). There is light in this sordid tunnel of two traditional parties each …  involved in corruption, dishonesty, lack of integrity  … arrogance and denial

Justice system’s weak third leg

Auditor General John Doyle released his latest report on corrections … You have likely heard about the overflowing B.C. jail system, where even segregation inmates are now being doubled up … as Doyle’s report sets out, nine out of 10 convicted adult offenders aren’t in custody. They’re on house arrest or probation, many with court-ordered conditions to report their whereabouts, stay away from their victims, stay sober and complete various rehabilitation programs … many are violent … currently 24,000 of them, an all-time high … an increase of 28 per cent in the past six years.

Conservative leader calls for sped-up review process on Enbridge pipeline

… recommends that only Canadians should be allowed to testify at those hearings, not outside interest groups.  "Canadians should be heard, but these hearings cannot go on indefinitely. Most importantly no one group or community should have a veto on the development of a project that is so important to British Columbia … stated he appreciates the concerns of local communities, and that stringent regulations must be in place to ensure the project “is done in an environmentally safe and secure manner … blasts the provincial Liberal government for not making its support of the project clear ...

First name announced for run as BC Conservative in the Chilliwack Hope riding

John Martin to seek BC
Conservative nomination

Down in the Fraser Valley the first name has surfaced as a potential candidate for the BC Conservative Party in the Chilliwack Hope riding recently vacated by Liberal Barry Penner. 
A story in today’s Chilliwack Times says that, “Times columnist and UFV criminology professor John Martin seeking Conservative nomination”.  Martin is also a criminology professor at the University of the Fraser Valley.

He is quoted in the story saying … "The BC Liberals absolutely don't deserve a fourth term to be re-elected.  I'm a small 'c' conservative and the Liberals don't represent me anymore. And I can't vote NDP.  The by-election in Chilliwack-Hope is the first opportunity for the BC Conservatives to get on the map and get a seat in the legislature. That's why I'm doing this, I want to help make that happen."

Meantime … I am not sure what is happening, but I am finding media stories like the following being posted by members of the BC Liberal Party???

The weeks news from BC’s wonderful wild and wacky world of politics

Things are continuing to heat up, and get interesting, in BC’s wonderful wild and wacky world of politics.  Without any further ado, let’s get to some of the stories that have made the news … in a big way … and some that perhaps should have …

That’s Christine Clark — no, not Christy — running for B.C. Conservatives in Port Moody by-election

… a devoted conservative, who believes strongly in smaller government and lower taxes as the path to a healthy economy … running because she believes British Columbians deserve a representative in Victoria who will fight to keep taxes low, work to find creative solutions to issues in health care and take back education from union bosses, placing it instead in the hands of parents and school boards … has a wide range of experience, both as a manger and as an entrepreneur …  specializes in the business side of technology and education … proven an effective negotiator, and an analytical, impartial and proactive decision maker and problem solver …

Success of B.C. NDP Leader Dix has Liberals firing blanks

… the just-concluded legislative session showed a different Mr. Dix than many expected. He was measured, pointed in his criticism, supportive of Liberal legislation that made sense, and effective … performance frustrated those on the government benches, who had hoped to contrast a personable Premier against a dour Mr. Dix. It didn’t happen … the Liberals were left railing against a long-ago misdating of a key memo … a serious mistake he has acknowledged many times  …

Michael Smyth: Critics question Trasolini’s motives

 … He was particularly pally with another local Lib by the name of Christy Clark … co-chaired Clark’s 1996 election campaign in Port Moody. She returned the favour by backing him for mayor … If Joe was going to make the jump to provincial politics, everybody assumed it would be as a Liberal …  now that Trasolini has burned his Liberal bridges, the Libs want to burn him but good….

Cummins: Increased deficit demonstrates Liberal government unable to set funding priorities

“… priorities should be maintaining and improving services such as CLBC, sheriffs and education – not these pet projects of the Premier.”  The increase to the deficit undermines the Liberal commitment to balance the budget by 2013/14. While Minister Falcon has stated that it is still possible for the government to meet its target, he has failed to provide a substantive plan for doing so and is backing away from the Liberal’s promise to achieve it.

Clark could roll the dice on spring election

… Christy Clark, gave Penner a hug, and then told reporters his resignation actually might be a good thing for the Liberals. "People want to see us renew.  They want to see some new people come to the table with new ideas, It's an opportunity for us, frankly." … why would you want to "renew" one of your best MLAs, in one of your party's safest seats? … other Liberal MLAs wondering just what the premier was getting at, and there are rumours some of them might be encouraged to retire, so Clark can move those new people and new ideas into position in by-elections...

BC POLITICS --- this week in the news

With the resignation of former Attorney General Barry Penner, Christy Clark now has two by-elections to call in the next few months --- by-elections that John Cummins and the BC Conservatives say they will be in.  There’s news on that … plus much more ... so read on! Remember the full stories can be accessed by clicking the link in the story title.)

Future jobs need planning now

… global economy goes from being a media phrase to something that threatens our jobs … it’s suddenly very real and very personal … and when hope gets lost, fear takes hold. Fear that our future will be bleak. Fear that what we’ve worked for will be lost … leadership and action can trump fear, and cynicism … need to stand together, to work together, and make the changes required … need to face our future not with fear or retreat, but with confidence and advancement on our strengths…

CLBC admits it pushed too hard to get clients out of group homes

… Community Living BC expressed regret for the harm caused and promised that, except in certain circumstances, nobody will be moved against their will in the future … follow recent reversals by CLBC in which it canceled plans to close homes and move residents ... spoken to families and apologized for the agency’s tactics.  “We regret the stress that we caused in their lives and we’re doing what we can to make that a better situation for them,” he said …

Community care crisis demands a resolution

… the crisis in community living has stirred something significant in us, demanding immediate action and decisive leadership.  In many ways it has become the barometer of how we are doing in B.C., striking a fundamental cord chord of justice and fairness….

Elections B.C. wants to pre-register 16- and 17-year-olds for voting

…  elections agency wants to use high school classes to pre-register teens to vote when they turn 18 … presented by chief electoral officer Keith Archer to a committee of MLAs Thursday … attempt to increase voter participation among 18- to 25-year-olds, the age group that's the least likely to vote …

Inquiry still needed in Basi / Virk debacle – taxpayers still deserve answers

Premier Christy Clark has publicly declared, “Two people (Basi and Virk) have been convicted of accepting bribes who worked for the government … it confirms what I’ve been saying from the beginning. I have a spotlessly clean public record; I have always discharged my duties honorably.”

But hold on; what of the $6 million dollar pay-off!  Speculation still surrounds the plea bargain that left taxpayers holding the bag for Basi and Virk’s $6 million defense.  Why does Premier Clark refuse to call a Public Inquiry so that taxpayers know the truth about why this deal was struck?

Perhaps Christy Clark needs a reminder that on Monday October 18^th (2010) then Attorney General Mike de Jong stated paying the defense fees (for the Basi / Virk lawyers) contravened normal government policy. 

Clark sworn in as BC premier amidst laughter

After starting with several jokes, Lieutenant Governor Steven Point administered the oath of office to the provinces 35^th premier.  Now British Columbians are asking the fate of several major issues of concerns, and how they will be dealt with by Premier Christy Clark, and her new cabinet.

Who the new cabinet members are is all over the news, and so I will not spend much time mentioning them, with the exception of two.