Wouldn't you agree? Is this a legitimate expectation we should have?

Once upon a time a popular opposition firebrand named Christy Clark, stood up in the BC Legislature, to rip the NDP government for spending tax dollars on shameless, self-promoting advertising. 

“People don't want the government to spend 700 grand of their money so they can find out how to access services; people want this government to spend their money so that those services are there for them to access. That's what British Columbians want,” Clark railed. “How many firefighters, how many police officers will not be on the street because [the Finance Minister] is spending… on her advertising campaign?” 

The above is from an opinion / editorial piece by BC Taxpayers Federation Director Jordan Bateman (November 2012) entitled, "Government Ads Use and Abuse Taxpayers’ Money".  

For month prior to the May 14th provincial election campaign, the BC Liberals took hits from all quarters, on this clearly wasteful and partisan adverting campaign.  

Sadly, during the four week election campaign, it was all but forgotten ... even by former radio co-worker Bill Good who on November 16th, over the airwaves of CKNW had stated:  "Those are very partisan ads. They should be bought and paid for by the Liberal Party of BC." 

The election is of course ended a week ago, but perhaps the major political commentators such as Keith Baldrey, Vaughn Palmer,  Bill Tieleman, Michael Smyth, etc, will now ask this question which I now pose: 

"Will the Premier comment to ending this kind of self-promotion and stick to truly informative ads providing BC residents with 'needed' information?"  

I believe if she does this, it really will help to put her on a more solid footing with a large number of British Columbians who still sit in two distinct camps; those who didn't vote for her ( over 55%) ... and those who again for a number of reasons(including a belief it doesn't make any difference) didn't cast a vote at all (approximately 48%).  

By the way, this is equally a fair question to ask of Adrian Dix and the NDP, as he himself had also pushed for a ban on partisan information being presented in government advertising being paid for by taxpayers, and had indicated that if elected he would put forward legislation to stop this from happening again.

So I put the question forward to both leaders then; are you against partisan political advertising which is paid for by taxpayers, and will you put forward legislation / support legislation, that would see this in place and enforced?

It's fair question to ask this, and the taxpayers of BC should have every right to know the answer ... wouldn't you agree? 

Is this a legitimate expectation we should have of government?

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.  The floor is now being turned over to you ... and I welcome your thoughts on this.

BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger should read these words; “Vitriol” … extreme bitterness and hatred toward somebody or something

Kamloops South Thompson Liberal
MLA Kevin Krueger

Today in the BC Legislature, BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger decided to show once again that he simply does not know when to muzzle his comments. 

Given the fireworks during media scrums with Krueger, it sounds like perhaps the impact of revelations, coming from BC Conservative MLA John van Dongen, are hitting a little too close to the target … which led news media people to set Twitter ablaze with some of it.

Here is just one exchange that took place earlier this afternoon on Twitter … however there were plenty more comments from those in the news media:

Comment from Keith Baldrey‏@keithbaldrey

Stream of consciousness rant from Krueger attacks integrity of Van Dongen, Dix, and Cummins. Takes a shot at media for good measure. #bcpoli

Response from David Schreck‏@StrategicThghts

@keithbaldrey Is the Krueger rant on record; couldn't he have saved it 4 Hansard recording? :)

Rep;ly from Keith Baldrey‏@keithbaldrey

@StrategicThghts   two scrums.

Response again from David Schreck‏@StrategicThghts

@keithbaldrey    Two! Wasn't he able to get it all off his chest in the first one? :) Verifies what Justine wrote about dumping Campbell.

Sean Leslie, from CKNW also ran the following news story;  “Liberal MLA blasts political opponents”

A frustrated Liberal MLA felt the need to vent today.  Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger approached reporters to rant about former colleauge John van Dongen and NDP leader Adrian Dix saying both are getting far too much positive coverage in the media.

It's absolutely insulting, to the intelligence and integrity of BC voters, to suggest that we have to support the Liberals

The political landscape of BC continues to be the focus of those in the mainstream media, following the defection Liberal Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, to the BC Conservative Party.

It also has, I believe, given even greater cause for the BC Liberal Party to wonder on their future with the voters of BC – and their chances in the up-coming by-elections – especially Chilliwack Hope.

For weeks, prior to the writ being dropped, the BC Liberal Party was pouring funding announcements into the riding, spending a lot of advertising dollars, and also putting up campaign signs (in direct contravention of a municipal by-law in Chilliwack).

The campaign was on, and their team was in place.  John van Dongen’s decision to join John Cummin’s BC Conservative Party has dramatically changed that however, and it has caused them to add a new face to the team. 

This morning, Keith Baldrey of Global News posted the following on Twitter:
“Long-time MP Chuck Strahl to chair BC Lib campaign in Chilliwack-Hope byelection. Definite boost to the party, but will it be enuf?”

I replied:

“@keithbaldrey if waited till now 2 become part of campaign,just shows very shaky chances of win”

Here’s another comment that was posted earlier today on Twitter, from Dean Skoreyko‏@bcbluecon, to which I also posted a response:

“Strahl, Day, Hill and Manning support of Christy Clark helped her become 2nd last in Canadian premier ratings”

Alan Forseth‏@AlanForseth

“hope she keeps that up, just wallpapering rotting walls & foundation of #bclibs”

Can the BC Liberal Party save itself from a wipe-out in the next BC general election?

Will she or won't she ...

As Keith Baldrey has pointed out, the window for Christy Clark to call an election is shrinking if she plans to call one for this Fall.

She has the fate of the HST vs. the PST / GST, which has been delayed now, as voters will getting a few extra weeks to get ballots in.

That plus she has to be concerned with where John Cummins will be taking the BC Conservative Party -- as they put the finishing touches to a new policy platform -- in readiness for a possible Fall election.

Neither the NDP or the BC Liberal Party is gaining ground on the other ... meantime the BC Conservatives have been continuing to make ground with voters in the province.

Will we have an election this Fall??? ... right now I think it's a 50 / 50 shot.

Read Keith Baldrey's full story -- click HERE