The grey skies in Kamloops, and a brief shower, didn't dampen our spirits

What a great time this afternoon, at the Kamloops North and South Thompson Constituency Associations Get-Together and Bar-B-Que, at Juniper Ridge Park.

It’s too bad the sun waited till we were wrapping things, before making an appearance, but the grey skies and a brief shower didn't dampen our spirits.

Nearly 4 dozen members and guests came out and had the opportunity to meet, and speak one on one, with BC Conservative MLA John van Dongen.

Also joining us was Tom Birch, nominee candidate in the Shuswap riding, and Maria Dobi who ran as a candidate in Kamloops South Thompson, for the BC Conservatives, in the last provincial election.

We'd especially like to thank four of our guests who joined the party today ... welcome Hazel, Lorna, Marisa, and Bill!

"What I have … has depended on an enormous number of other people."

Scott Anderson, BC Conservative
member in Vernon Monashee

The other day I had a friend forward a piece that had been written by Scott Anderson, a member of the BC Conservative Party in the Vernon Monashee riding.  I thought what he’d had to say was great, and he agreed to let me share it with you today.  Here is what he had to say.

“Who here hates the poor?  This IS the BC Conservative party, isn't it?”

This stereotype is one we are going to be hearing more about as the election gets closer…how we conservatives hate the poor and love the rich. 

We'll hear about how if we win the election women will huddle on the street with hungry kids, the homeless will starve, and minorities will work in sweatshops run by our good buddies the ultra-rich, who will pay no taxes and cruise about town in limousines tossing bread crumbs to the hungry masses. 

It's complete nonsense, but some people actually believe it!

Now most of the arguments against expensive big government have to do with the cost of it - and it's true that we can't afford the socialism of 20th century Europe.  They can't afford it either, which is why Europe is in what amounts to a depression trying to pay for the mountain of debt they've built up over the last 60 years of socialism. 

But I want to talk about something else - something that we conservatives tend to let slide.  And that's the opposition's claim that in order to care about people, we need big government and big government programs.

BC Politics --- The Stories of 2010

Happy New Year ... I hope that you were able to enjoy a great Christmas with family and friends. As you read this, I am away for several days so that our family can visit and spend time with family.

I have a great deal of confidence for the conservative movement in British Columbia in 2011, and as 2010 ends, let's take a look back at some of the events that happened in the wacky world of BC politics:


Jan. 20: The BC government issues layoff notices to 233 provincial employees in the second round of cost-cutting measures since B.C.'s deficit soared in 2009.

Jan 21^st ... Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, which carry out directives issued by Health Minister Kevin Falcon, are cancelling 2,450 surgeries this February through March. The government has characterized the reduction in operating room procedures as an "Olympic slowdown". Vancouver Coastal Health and Fraser Health, which carry out directives issued by Health Minister Kevin Falcon, are cancelling 2,450 surgeries this February through March. The government has characterized the reduction in operating room procedures as an "Olympic slowdown".

February 1^st ...Today B.C. Liberal agriculture minister Steve Thompson suggested in a radio interview that the Buy B.C. program could be the key to helping struggling fruit growers in the Okanagan stay in business, yet despite the fact that the program costs little more than what the government is spending on Olympic tickets for B.C. Liberal friends and insiders, he would not commit to reinstating it.

March 2: The B.C. government tables a budget that forecasts a $1.7 billion deficit this fiscal year, and reveals a BC Hydro plan to increase rates by 15 per cent in the next two years. The budget maintains the government’s priority of protecting core services in health and education and commits every dollar raised through the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) and four other revenue streams to be used for health services funding when the HST comes into effect July 1, 2010.”.  While health and education have received modest increases in funding, other provincial ministries are facing significant cuts: Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Forests and Range and the Healthy Living and Sport Ministries.