If Bill Bennett is standing shoulder to shoulder with her on that fence, it must be quite the balancing act

I am disappointed to see BC Liberal MLA Bill Bennett not only deliberately misleading the people of his region, but elsewhere across the province, with regards to BC Conservative policy on pipelines and the environment (MLA, premier stand 'shoulder to shoulder' on pipeline issue).

In his article, posted in the Kootenay News Advertiser, he states, and I quote:
“ … the NDP categorically oppose pipelines, without even wanting to know the results of an environmental assessment or potential benefits to tax payers. The BC Conservatives categorically support pipelines, no matter the environmental risk and cost and no matter whether BC receives any benefits.”

I am sure he is very well aware that BC Conservative Party policy does not in any way have blanket support of pipelines, and has always stated that any resource development must pass thorough environmental reviews, be of benefit to the province, and have direct benefit to the people within the region of proposed development.

For those interested, here is the text of ARTICLE 7: “Environment” (BC Conservative Policy document)

That statement however doesn’t seem to make sense to the “We’re Green no matter what the cost” crowd

Leadership we can count on?  Well it seems what we can
count on is a leader that will drive our economy in to the ground

So … BC NDP leader Adrian Dix says: “Within a week of taking office, we will serve the federal government with 30 days’ notice to terminate the 2010 deal in which the Liberals signed away B.C.’s interests.”

Well thank you very much (NOT!)

GREAT --- that's all we need is years and years of more delays.  I know I am not alone in saying, “Let's just get the process completed and make a decision. Delays cost jobs!!”

But no … those in the NDP, along with those who are totally opposed to any kind of job creating development in our province, are going to do everything they can to stall, delay, and stop projects from going ahead. 

Their sole purpose? 

Well it seems clear enough to me from a message posted by Tom Woodsworth on Facebook today.  He stated, “The sludge ain't going anywhere. Worried the green energy sector will explode and relegate the O&G sector to the dustbins of history? Not gonna happen anytime soon.”

Well to be clear, all I am saying is it's time to fish or cut bait. Either the project passes environmental reviews or it doesn't.

WHY?

Because this never ending process of reviews and counter reviews is nothing more than a COSTLY waste of time and energy for ALL involved.

That statement however doesn’t seem to make sense to the “We’re Green no matter what the cost” crowd. 

I take the philosophy that "Common sense is neither right wing, or left wing" to heart and believe myself to be a fiscal conservative with a social conscience.

That's me (Alan Forseth) with BC Conservative
Party leader John Cummins

Greetings friends ...

I would like to let you know I have submitted my name to Jeff Bridge, to let him know I will be seeking a position as a Director at Large, for the BC Conservative Party at our AGM in September.

I have been a member of the party now for nearly 3 years, and was initially the interim President for Kamloops South Thompson, as well as the interim Regional Director for Kamloops Thompson Fraser Nicola (Reg 10). I currently am Secretary of the Kamloops South Thompson CA, and continue to be a designated (by the party) Regional Director for Kamloops Thompson Fraser Nicola.

While we have not seen the kind of growth as some CA's in the Okanagan, we have made great strides moving forward from a starting point that initially stood at about 1 dozen members.

As you know, from reading this, I write the Conservative Thoughts blog, which although it has no direct ties to the BC Conservative party, is fully supportive of the BCCP and our goal of achieving government.

I take the philosophy that "Common sense is neither right wing, or left wing" to heart and believe myself to be a fiscal conservative with a social conscience. I also believe that while a Board of Directors can have some differences of opinion on direction, it can be brought together with people that are willing to listen to both sides, and then try and steer things to a win-win solution.

For those who are not aware, I was also part of the Reform movement in BC in the early / mid-90's, and in fact ran as a candidate for BC Reform in the 1996 election. Following that election, I saw too much-finger pointing, dissension, and to be blunt -- Pride - that got in the way of the good that could have been done. Sadly, the result was the implosion of the party.

We as small 'c' conservatives, have a great opportunity to return grassroots, common sense, government to BC -- let's all work together towards that goal!

If you will be attending the BC Conservative Party AGM in Langley, I hope that you will give me your consideration when it comes time to select the people you wish to be "Directors at Large".  I ask for your support.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops.

Will there be more for the next generation, of people in these communities, other than low and minimum pay tourism jobs?

For many living in northern BC … in particular the Burns Lake and Prince George areas, a story in today’s Province newspaper has to remind them of the vulnerability of living and working in small and rural BC communities.

I just returned, on the weekend, from an annual motorcycle trip I take each year with my brother.  Part of the trip took us along the northern coast of Washington State.  Sadly … I saw MANY sawmills in small communities that were shuttered and closed.

In some the equipment was totally removed; while some, long-neglected, remarkably still  had the equipment in them.

We've already seen many sawmills closed here in BC as well.

So the question becomes, “How can we keep jobs available for our small rural communities, and yet still ensure that we do not over harvest?”

Perhaps we have sadly become so efficient in our saw-milling processes that 'small town' BC is only going to be needed, to log the resources, to send them to an ever shrinking number of mega-sawmills.

Even then however, those logging jobs are ever shrinking through on-going mechanization that has been underway for decades.

Is there a balance to be found? … can we retain the jobs needed so that small northern, and interior, communities are able to survive and grown? … will there be more for the next generation, of people in these communities, other than low and minimum pay tourism jobs?

I’m not sure what the answer is, but I’m interested in hearing your thoughts. 

Meantime, here’s the story that ran, as I mentioned, in today’s edition of the Province newspaper, “MLAs aren't facing the truth: B.C. forests are tapped out”

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops … with the questions of one conservative. 


RESPONSE ... well I did ask for your thoughts and comments, and I did receive one from Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad.  Here is what he had to say:

This article makes a number of assumptions that are plain and simply wrong. First, marginally economic stands: in Williams Lake, companies are operating in stands with volume as low as 85 cubic metres per hectare. In the Lakes TSA that number is 140. If we partition off volume between 100 and 140, the Lakes TSA can sustain an additional cut of 380,000 cubic metres annually.

Companies can do this in other areas so why not in the lakes? In addition, by partitioning this volume, companies would actually have to operate in this type of wood to gain the volume. They can't use it to leverage taking additional wood from better quality stands.

Second, fertilization is something we're already doing in BC. Other jurisdictions have been very successful with their programs and the committee's recommendations is to look at this and beef up a program in BC. Growing more fibre and capturing more value from it is the key to our forestry future.

Finally, many supply areas treat old growth management areas as NON-SPATIAL. In the Lakes TSA, they are defined spatially which is what creates the reduction in the supply. So if a spatial OGMA gets hit by a fire, pest or another issue, does it still have OLD GROWTH values?

These types of stands are now called DOGMAs or Dead OGMAs. Non-spatial OGMAs allow for the targets and goals of these areas to be met over a supply area rather than a specific spot. But keep in mind that the committee isn't recommending doing this. Rather, do a scientific review and then provide that information to the local LRMP group for their review and recommendation.

The committee's report tried to provide a sign-post towards a shift in forest management. This shift works towards higher levels of silviculture investments, growing more fibre and growing more value. It's the right direction to go which is also why it was unanimously supported.

Integrity? The Investigators looks at the sale of BC Rail – and what happened?

CKNW’s “The Investigators” takes a look the BC Rail controversy, including the Basi / Virk court case.

The program was Written and Produced by Bob Mackin, with Narration by Jon McComb

The program features BC Conservative MLA John van Dongen as well as Alex Tsakumis, BC Liberal Leader / BC Premier Christy Clark, and political commentator Bill Tielmann. 

The program gives a good overview of the BC Rail file, as John van Dongen approaches the September 10^th court date.

To hear the full program click the following: http://www.cknw.com/features/the-investigators.aspx

What do you think? Would it be a good idea to increase the number of Sheriffs to have them take over some of the responsibility of traffic enforcement?

Did anyone else miss the following media release from last Thursday? I personally have to think that if we were to increase the number of BC Sheriffs, and tasked them with this duty, they actual could "... engage in traffic enforcement activities in order to modify behaviour and enhance safety ..."

I’m sure I’ll get flack on this; however I think that putting an RCMP, or city police, officer in a car with radar is a waste of resources.

Here’s the full media release from the Canadian Police Association:

Public safety, not "revenue-generating" should be focus of traffic enforcement

A proposal from the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) to expand the BC Sheriffs' mandate to include traffic enforcement as a "revenue-generating" tool shows an unfortunate lack of understanding of the basic role of law enforcement, said British Columbia Police Association (BCPA) President Tom Stamatakis today.

"The simple fact is that Police Officers engage in traffic enforcement activities in order to modify behaviour and enhance safety; not to raise money for the government, and any suggestion otherwise by the BCGEU is misguided and frankly insulting to BC taxpayers," said Mr. Stamatakis.

The request for the outsourcing of police duties to inadequately trained employees of the provincial Sheriff's department comes as police officers in BC are already being diverted from their own regular policing duties towards the transfer of prisoners, and ensuring an adequate presence in the province's courtrooms, two key duties that the Sheriffs are currently mandated to perform.

Both of these men (Peckford and White) bring a huge amount of experience to this important election preparedness position

I was delighted to hear an announcement today, from BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins.

Brian Peckford, announced to BC Conservative Party "Issues"
Management" committee in preparation for 2013 Provincial Election

Randy White, previously a British Columbia Member of Parliament, Caucus Chairman and House Leader - and Brian Peckford, the former Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador -- have both been named as Co-Chairs of a newly-created Issues Management Committee.

They will be looking at issues and policies for the party, as it prepares for the up-coming General Election in May of next year.

The media release from Mr. Cummins noted that:

Randy White first won election to Canada’s House of Commons in 1993, representing Langley and Abbotsford , and he was re-elected in 1997, 2000 and 2004. He wrote the legislation for the National Sex Offender Registry and the National Victims Bill of Rights both of which are, in part, law today.

Brian Peckford served as a Conservative Member in Newfoundland’s House of Assembly from 1972 until 1989. He held a number of posts in the provincial cabinet from 1974 to 1979, and then was Premier for a decade before leaving elected politics for the private sector.

Former MP Randy White - on new BC
Conservative Party committee

Both of these men bring a huge amount of experience to this important election preparedness position, and will be well able to advise the party during the lead-up to next May’s campaign. 

As John Cummins said:

“I am thrilled that Randy and Brian – who between them held senior public office for 30 years – have agreed to play important roles on our campaign team.  Their knowledge and experience will be invaluable in electing a Conservative government next May.”

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.