Polls -- Support --- Nominating Candidates -- and YOU

In spending some time online this morning looking over news stories, and comments from political commentators, I came across two things of note:

1) The new EKOS Politics / iPolitics.ca poll shows the strongest age demographic, with support for the BC Conservatives, is the "Family Raising" age bracket of 25 to 44 ... with those who are retired (65+) being the next strongest age demo. 

The poll also shows that timing is now crucial.  It indicated support is increasing again, and has gone from 11.4% late last year, to now stand at 14.6%. This is the 3rd poll, in two weeks, where I have seen showing support growing once again

2) Another reason why small 'c' conservatives can - and should - support the BC Conservative Party is found in a blog post from political commentator BC Iconoclast. 

This morning part of his post stated; "The media story is that she (Allison Redford) pulled off a dramatic change of fortune for her party. If she can do it, so can Christy Clark is the argument. I do not think this example applies in BC for a number of reasons ..."

His opinion piece is short and to the point, and so I would certainly like to encourage you to read it (http://bciconcoclast.blogspot.ca/2013/02/cold-christy-clark-pull-of-win-like.html)

Right now we need every member and every supporter to lend a hand, in whatever way they are able (including simply offering encouragement), so that we go into the 30 day campaign period strong! 

Volunteer to help -- make a donation to the campaign -- get your friends and neighbors to think about supporting and voting for us.  The bottom line is we simply need you to do whatever you can.

For those of you who are BC Conservative Party members, in the Kamloops South Thompson riding, this is what you need to know is most important. 

Right now we need you to beb there at the nomination meeting (Thursday February 21st) to cast a vote for the candidate you believe will best represent us here in the Kamloops South Thompson riding. 

Again the meeting is at 7pm at the Old Yacht Club on River Street. Come hear what your nominee candidates (Maria Dobi and Peter Sharp) have to say ... ask them your questions. 

If you require a ride to attend, just call and we'll be happy to get you there.  IF you are unable to attend, please call or email so we can get a Mail-In ballot to you.

We are BC Conservatives ... We Believe in BC!


FOLLOW-UP:
Since posting this earlier, I received a comment by email that I thought I would share and pass along to you:

Alan, that's my story.  I am in that age bracket and many of my friends are worried about our future in BC.  Low paying jobs, high cost of living and a government that spends taxpayer money like it was from their parents trust fund.  I even hear stories that people don't want to have kids because they won't be able to afford it. 

I wasn't drawn to the party because it was an OWG club.  I was drawn to it because of the principles the party stood for.  I think this is what we need to push out everytime we hear of the OWG criticism.

I can hear her now on election night … “I’ve been saying all along, we’d lose those by-elections”

Chilliwack - Hope Electoral map

You have to dig to find stories on the up-coming by-elections for Port Moody – Coquitlam, and Chilliwack - Hope, but today I thought I would take a look for what I could find regarding Chilliwack - Hope.   

I especially wanted to track the comments of Christy Clark as we went from the pre-writ period … through to her comments in recent days.

As you will see in the following snap-shots from stories, there seems to be a distinct pattern in her opinion of the BC Conservatives, and the role she expected they would play.

She first began by declaring the BC Conservatives to be a “spoiler”, going so far as to be “dismissive” of the party.  Then came talk of the possible “disastrous consequence” if Liberal candidates were to lose.

Premier Clark then said she was “stubbornly optimistic” as she has begun to “temper expectations” knowing that the BC Liberals will have a “tough time keeping both seats”

Here’s that snapshot of the stories I found, where these comments were made:

BC Conservatives could be 'spoiler' in coming Chilliwack by-election

Chilliwack Progress – Dec 21^st

"Governments almost always lose by-elections," BC Premier Christy Clark said … "Nevertheless, we're going to have an outstanding candidate … it's a two-way race between the BC Liberals and the NDP … the BC Conservatives can only act as a spoiler."

As Christy Clark calls two by-elections, she looks ahead to 2013

Globe & Mail – March 22^nd

Clark focused her remarks on the NDP and mentioned the Conservatives only when asked.   “We have to make sure our coalition stays together,” she said.  Ms. Clark was dismissive of the Conservatives …

BC by-elections could prove crucial to Liberals

Globe and Mail – March 26^th

Ms. Clark is stubbornly optimistic and talks of another Vancouver-Point Grey outcome. “I hope we will win both. We’re going to work really hard to win both,” she said.

Premier Christy Clark warns Chilliwack-Hope voters against voting NDP

Chilliwack Times – April 4^th

Clark went on to warn of a near-disastrous consequences if the BC Liberals do not retain power in the Chilliwack-Hope riding … and dismissed the Conservatives.

Clark back in the ’Wack to pitch job creation

Chilliwack Progress – April 4^th

“I’ve been coming to Chilliwack a lot because it’s really important that Laurie Throness get elected out here,”  … the Premier shrugged off a recent poll that suggested the small-c conservative vote has already split between the BC Liberals and the BC Conservatives.

Premier not over confident going into by-elections

News 1130 – April 10th

The premier appears to be tempering expectations for her party as advance voting begins Wednesday in a pair of provincial byelections.  The premier is letting you know the government will have a tough time keeping both seats in the legislature

So … Premier Christy Clark went from stating the by-elections would be a two way race between her governing Liberal Party and the NDP … to now stating that the government will have a tough time keeping both seats. 

Is Terry Lake setting up a situation for an ‘honorable retreat’?

Environment Minister Terry Lake

INTERESTING NEWS from the Globe & Mail, in the form of a story entitled, “BC Liberals announce review of province’s carbon tax”.  In part it read:

The Liberals are not announcing a new schedule of increases in the tax beyond the one that ends in 2012.  But Mr. Falcon rejected a reporter’s suggestion on Tuesday that he is laying the groundwork for the demise of the tax.

“I wouldn’t make that leap,” he said at a news conference during the budget lockup.

Instead, he said the government has been proud to lead in addressing climate change through the tax.

“The issue is: four years on is the right time to review where we are at,” he said.

The minister added that he is especially interested in whether the tax is affecting economic competitiveness, especially in the agricultural sector, which faces competition abroad from rivals unburdened by such a tax.

Mr. Falcon said B.C. always expected other provinces and jurisdictions to adopt carbon taxes, leading to an “equalizing effect.”  But he said that has not happened, and B.C. is isolated.

Later in this story they went on to quote George Heyman, who happens to be BC’s Executive Director of the Sierra Club BC, saying that Falcon’s remark were basically a signal of the governments intentions.

“There’s no way to read the minister’s hints except that they’re definitely looking for a way to get out of the carbon tax,” he said.

Now just in case you have forgotten, BC’s Environment Minister is Kamloops North Thompson Liberal MLA Terry Lake. 

That makes it odd that it’s Kevin Falcon talking about, and discussing, what is happening with the Carbon Tax.  It is after all part of the government’s environmental green plan --- and that would make it is something which would be on the radar for an environment minister.

BC Politics … the week that began February 5th

It’s the end of the week … and during it; we have of course had a number of stories on BC politics.   

No surprise, BC Hydro was again in the news … as was news on another poll showing declining support for the governing BC Liberals … and the appointment of nine new judges in BC.

Here’s a quick recap of some the stories in case you missed a few:

Poll in line with B.C.'s history

This is the province that threw out the old Liberals and Conservatives in the mid-20th century and replaced them with Social Credit and the NDP … then turned on the Socreds and exterminated them as a party … then, a decade after that, reduced the NDP to a rump of two members … we are not kind to those who have disappointed us, failed us, led us into hard economic times, or lied to us …

B.C. Liberals expecting tight Chilliwack-Hope byelection

John Martin, BC Conservative party candidate said he's going to put up a good political fight … "I don't buy into this Liberal line that somehow anyone who is not an NDP voter should get their vote, owes them their vote, that they should get their vote by default" …

BC Hydro Withdraws Massive Effort to Build a Spin Arsenal
… the Times Colonist and Global TV reported that BC Hydro was pre-approving 25 marketing firms to have ready to go to spin various initiatives … Thursday, BC Hydro announced that they had withdrawn their call for companies … a win for taxpayers who are sick and tired of government agencies using our money to sell us their ideas …

New Angus Reid Poll: BC Conservative UP .... BC Liberals down

Latest BC voter preference
results -- Angus Reid (Feb '12)

The latest Angus Reid poll, out today, is just further proof of growing support for the BC Conservative Party.  This is the 3rd straight poll by Angus Reid showing increased voter support across the province. Meantime the Liberals have dropped another 3% in voter support and are below 30% according to the poll.   

Fully 27% of those who voted Liberal (small "c" conservatives) in the last election are now supporting the BC Conservative Party.  And as proof they are little more than NDP Lite -- 10% of their voters have gone back to the New Democrats

Here is the full story, and poll results, from Angus Reid:

Across British Columbia, 42 per cent of decided voters and leaners (+2 since November) will support the NDP candidate in their constituency in the next provincial election, followed by the BC Liberals with 28 per cent (-3), the BC Conservatives with 19 per cent (+1) and the BC Greens with 10 per cent (+2).

BC Conservatives move into a tie with the Liberals

We now know the reason why the BC Liberals have a gain begun their mantra of a vote for the BC Conservatives is a vote for the NDP.  We have now had 5 straight polls showing the BC Conservative Party growing in strength, and we are now at 23% ...

The BC Liberals have nothing to offer British Columbians except for ever increasing taxes and fees ... big payoffs to government executives in crown corporations as well as BC Ferries and BC Hydro ... and big phoney "Green" cheques to outfits like Encana while schools and hospitals do with out.

We have NOT had government accountability --- nor have we had a government that is responsive to the people of this province.

I encourage you to read Doug Ward's story in the Vancouver Sun ..."New poll shows NDP in lead in B.C. with Conservatives surging into tie with BC Liberals"

Here is a brief comment from his story:

“The problem for the B.C. Liberals is that they are in the middle and they bleed both ways,” said the pollster.

“They are pinned down on both sides. We saw that happen to the federal Liberals in the recent election.”

 The Forum Research poll also found strong discontent with Clark herself. Fewer than one in three voters approve of Clark’s job performance. Twenty-nine per cent of British Columbians approve of Clark compared to 45 per cent who disapprove and 27 per cent with no opinion.