What kind of Deputy House Leader was Rich Coleman, if he knowingly let discussions from the BC Liberal caucus be leaked?

BC Liberal Deputy House Leader Rich Coleman

QUESTION:  With friends like this, who needs enemies? 

Shortly after the announcement by Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, that he was leaving the BC Liberal Party (of which he sat as a member for nearly a decade and a half), Deputy House Leader Rich Coleman took out the knives.

Oh he put on the concerned friend game face, saying how faithful he had been, staying at Van Dongen‘s side during ‘personal’ (?) issues he had gone through in the past.  A story in the Vancouver Sun on March 27 (John van Dongen swaps parties from Christy Clark's Liberals to B.C. Conservative) quoted Coleman saying:

"I've been concerned about John as a friend for some time. He's been struggling with his role in public life and I wasn't particularly overly surprised because I've had lengthy conversations with him about some of his own personal issues."

Then began the criticism of his ‘so-called friend’.   

And why?  Because he had allegedly broken ranks with fellow members of the BC Liberal caucus for saying he could no longer support the direction of the government —and how it was being led.

Abbotsford South MLA
John van Dongen

John van Dogen rose in the legislature to make his announcement, and he had many things to say about his reasons for resigning from the BC Liberal Caucus – here however are the words that stood out as the most important to me:

"There have been other lapses in proper accountability and I expect more to come. When more and more decisions are being made for the wrong reasons, then you have an organization that is heading for failure."

For the first time since Christy Clark took over the reins of the BC Liberal party, a member of her own caucus expressed, in public, what many in BC have been feeling for some time now. 

A sad tale of gas prices and taxes

Yesterday I had to head to Children's Hospital, down at the coast, to take my grand-daughter for an appointment.

The price of gas in the Valleyveiw area of Kamloops was $1.09 so of course I filled up. As I passed by Merritt I did not notice the price however in the Fraser Valley I noted the price was rising – and from the freeway off ramp, headed towards Oak Street, the prices ranged from $1.30 to $1.34.

To tell you the truth I really didn’t think much of it other than to say I felt sorry for people at the coast who in addition to the horrendous price we pay for fuel, also have an additional transit tax as well. I said to myself, I should have enough to get back to Kamloops, but if it looks a little tight I can always fill up in Merritt.

So ... what was the price in Merritt?? Well believe it or not it was $1.34 and so you bet all I pumped in was $5.00 to get me the rest of the way to Kamloops. And the price in Kamloops ... still just $1.09.

John Cummins, “Treaties are supposed to resolve conflicts, not aggravate them”

Michael Smyth (Vancouver Province) had an interesting blog story today, on the sudden instant conversion of Blair Lekstrom.

As you will likely recall, he had indicated he would vote against approval of the Treaty with the Yale First Nation.  I guess being out of caucus once was enough for him as he was ‘whipped’ into line to vote his approval.  Come next election, it will be interesting to see how that goes over with residents in his riding.

Meantime, as Smyth said:

“Now that the Liberal government and the NDP Opposition have both voted for the treaty, Cummins is left alone to oppose it.  It's a perfect issue for him, and his upstart Conservatives, in their bid to break through with voters.”

To read the full Blog story click HERE

Is Christy Clark preparing to add a second carbon tax?

While those of us who live in the interior of BC face a far greater tax bite with the Carbon Tax --- there are benefits to NOT living in Greater Vancouver -- such as a transit tax that sits around 15 cents / liter.

Now however Christy Clark and the BC Liberals are considering a second carbon tax (AKA "tax grab" -- OR -- 'fleecing' of the taxpayers). 

Oddly enough this is a policy even further to the left of the NDP -- and additional fuel to an op-ed written by former Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Maureen Bader.

Bits and Bites

It’s a busy week so just a few bits and bites for the moment --- hopefully I will have a full blog story tomorrow.

Minister of Transportation Blair Lekstrom will vote with his government today in support of the Yale First Nation Treaty, the Vancouver Sun has learned.

Conspiracies abound ... I think not :)

It is unfortunate and regrettable that some people have to see conspiracies and plots every where.  Such is the case this weekend at BC Blue, a blog by former member of the BC Conservative Party,  Dean Skoreyko.  This blog is much like another one written by someone that appears to stay in the dark and be unnamed in their blog at http://www.bcconservatives.ca/.

Defections from the BC Liberals may be on the horizon in the next few months

Yesterday I was delighted to have the opportunity to listen online to the Bill Good Show, and hear his interview with former Social Credit Premier Rita Johnston. 

For those of you who are not aware, in 1991 she became Canada's first female premier.  She is also a member of the BC Conservative Party's Tactical Advisory Group, which is headed up by former Reform MP Randy White.

While Bill’s interview with her was mainly focused on comparisons between then and now, as Christy Clark takes over the reins of the BC Liberal Party, she was able to comment and get in discussion of the BC Conservatives, and their upcoming leadership race.

I did stick around for the next segment on his show as well, because Bill Good mentioned that he would be having former Liberal, now independent MLA’s Bill Bennett (Kootenay East) and Blair Lekstrom (Peace River South) on with him.

The only “rats” are one that deliberately and maliciously spread poison.

Given the fact that British Columbians overwhelming indicated, late last Fall, that they were tired of politics as usual, I have to say I am amazed that anyone else (or numerous others) would continue on the same track just months later.  Have those who aspire to lead us not learned anything from how the Liberal Party has failed to provide accountability and honesty?

This is why over the weekend I was appalled to see a story posted in a blog that I believe was intentionally misleading and inaccurate.

As in most blogs, the opportunity to post a response was provided, which I did (see my comment below the following story).  Regrettably, the blogs author chose to not post my reply, and so I would like to let you know what I had to say in response.  Please note my comment was posted at 7:28am on February 19^th.  I will leave up to you to decide why the comments I had to make were not get posted as of this going online two days later at 4:30am (Monday).