BC Conservatives in Kamloops set to announce first nominee candidate

Hello again friends .. today I pass on the media release which went out yesterday to radio, newspaper, and TV in Kamloops:

Monday.  That's when Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative Party members will find out the name of the first person, who will be seeking the nomination to run as their candidate, in next May's provincial general election.

"We have spoken to a number of people over the past few months about running for the party", said Regional Director Alan Forseth.

Forseth continued, "This individual does have previous political experience, and will be well known to the people of Kamloops."

"We also expect they will be the first of several, to put their name forward, which is why we will continue to speak with other interested men and women."

"Anyone who believes in open and accountable government, and truly representing the people who have elected them, are welcome to seek the nomination", Forseth concluded.

Monday's announcement will be made at 12 noon in Gaglardi Square, on Seymour Street, in Downtown Kamloops. 

Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative members will vote, to elect their candidate, early in the new year.

I'm looking forward to Monday -- hope you can join us for the announcement.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops. 

As Peter Pan said, “All of this has happened before, and it will all happen again.”

An opinion piece ran in the Tuesday November 20th edition of 24hrs Vancouver entitled, "Liberals could win next provincial election"

It read in part:
... Premier Christy Clark gave what was, by all accounts, a rousing speech .. a clarion call to arms leading up to the election next spring. Indeed, there wasn’t a defeatist tone in the speech or mood in the house...

Soon to be BC Liberal candidate John Martin sharing his
thoughts of Premier Christy Clark on CKNW (03 / 28 / 12)

"Not even the most devoted Liberal supporter could

argue with a straight face that this government has

earned a fourth mandate. Theirs is a legacy of deceit,

incompetence, and financial mismanagement."

... recent polling has the governing Liberals deader than the proverbial doornail that would seem to be more than a little strange. But the premier is nothing if not a fighter ... it seems likely at this point that Adrian Dix and the New Democratic Party will form the next government, it is by no means a fait accompli.

... BC  politics has been about big government and unions versus free enterprise ... when the NDP got into power in 1973 and 1991, it was because the free enterprise party was in tatters. I’m not sure that can be said now — especially with an energized and feisty premier.

... if Clark can frame this election in the traditional left-right terms of free enterprise versus big government and big labour, plus play down the battered Liberal brand, she might just have a chance.

Seriously.

My response?  Well I certainly had one, and so I wrote:
Sorry but you are writing off the BC Conservative Party wayyyyyy to soon -- and yes I am a member of the party.

I think you, and many others, are going to be surprised at who ends up going to the legislature in Victoria next May. Seriously!

That led to Collin Rogers taking a moment to suggest:

Seems to be a lot of back room (non democratic) activity, in that party!

There was interesting news out of Abbotsford yesterday, as noted in Abbotsford Today:

"... it is with a deep sense of regret that I have accepted the resignation of My Board of Directors for the BC Liberals – Abbotsford South Riding. With this letter, I also am resigning as President of the Abbotsford South Riding Association ..."

And why did this happen? Well it appears that the top down brass of Christy Clark's BC Liberal Party decided to force a candidate on the constituency association -- something the Board of Directors for the Abbotsford-South Constituency Association decided they would have nothing to do with.

Darryl Plecas -- 'appointed' as BC Liberal
candidate in the Abbotsford- South riding

In a letter issued by Stephen Evans, Past-President of the Abbotsford South – BC Liberal Riding Association, he stated:

"The appointment of Darryl Plecas was both unfair and not democratic. The Riding Association was not consulted on this appointment.

If the Riding was consulted, the Riding Association would have stated that the memberships and Riding Association Funds were not generated by Darryl Plecas nor his campaign team. The only reason for Darryl Plecas’ appointment was that he could not defend a challenge from Moe Gill if there was a fair nomination process.

This leads to the question that if Darryl can’t beat Moe Gill in a fair nomination process, how can he win against John van Dongen in an election?

For his part, my nephew (Steve Forseth) has decided this heavy-handed decision, by the BC Liberal Party, was the right one to make, saying:   
"the interpretation of the candidate selection process of the BC Liberal Party by the Abbotsford-South Riding Association is the incorrect one...."

Bottom line? What a load of CRAP!

Here we go again ... Dean Skoreyko aka BC Blue has decided to manipulate and twist things again in his latest blog post:

"BC Conservative’s president creates massive mess then quits leaving others to clean up"

Bottom Line?  What a load of CRAP!

 

Dean is WELL AWARE that Al cannot, and has not, created any mess ... nor does he exclusively decide on the direction of the party. Decisions are made by the board of directors -- and I should know because I am a member of the board.

 

Al Siebring -- stepping down as BC
Conservative Party President

Dean has also conveniently decided NOT TO include an important part of information, as it does not fit with his manipulation and twisting of things.  That information --which went to all party members -- is and I quote:

"A completely unexpected increase in responsibilities in my professional life as a broadcaster, starting in January, will make it impossible for me to continue in this position."

At the recent BC Conservative Party AGM held in Langley, I was pleased to nominate Christine Clarke to the position of Vice President, a position to which she was elected by the members.  Again, as Al Siebring noted in his message to party members:
 

" ... the Board unanimously affirmed Christine Clarke - who up till now was our Vice-President - as the new President of the Party. We have every confidence that she will do a fantastic job."

 

The Board of Directors for the BC Conservative party has been guided in ALL of it's decisions BY THE MEMBERSHIP -- and it will continue to do so.

That's the way it ACTUALLY is ... Period -- Bottom Line -- End of Story!

 

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops with the thoughts of one conservative --- feel free to weigh in with your opinion.

Are we prepared to give the time needed to see if benchmarks for success can and are being met?

The Guiding Principles of the BC Conservative Party start off by stating the party has:

A belief in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable and effective and for which delivery is accountable to all the people of British Columbia.
 

Maybe it's also time for an idea that is LONG over due, and which would be a fit with that statement; long term plans for social programs, health care, and education that look forward over 5 to 10 year terms.

That would allow government, and the people of BC, to see whether programs are indeed effective, and it would show government is willing to be accountable for the resources we entrust to them.

I recall thinking about this idea a number of years ago ... and I was reminded of it again by a political commentator, Alise Mills, this afternoon on CKNW.

We do indeed need to see that there are measurable targets and goals which are being met by government, and government agencies like Community Living BC for example.

Here's the rub though. This needs to be done with the understanding, by each of us, that programs will need time to prove and show they are working.

Sometimes that is NOT going to be seen in a year, 2 years, or even the 4 year cycle of a government.

In today’s society, where instant gratification is expected more and more, this is an idea that may be hard to come to grips with. 

So ... if this makes sense, are we prepared to give government, and agencies, the time needed to see if benchmarks for success can -- and are -- being met?

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative ... care to share your thoughts on this idea?

I finally saw a political party that understood common sense trumps band-aid solutions every time

I have been VERY busy these past couple of weeks with work ... and with duties as a Regional Director for the BC Conservative Party .. which has meant only a few recent posts here.

Today is kind of a smorgasbord of thoughts , comments, and ideas ... but I think they all seem to come together in a positive way ...

Here is a comment that I must post anonymously:

... wanted to know when I decided to join the BCCP and what the reason was ... I told him it was after I'd met John at a luncheon ...and because he has a far clearer vision than Premier Clark, for the province, and a clear idea of what he'd do if he was in power ... and I still feel that way.

Today in a news story former Liberal MLA Bill Belsey stated that the BC Liberals are poised to "deal a devastating blow to the New Democrats."

Meantime BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins was quoted saying: “It is understandable that Christy Clark and the other Liberals want to put the best possible ‘spin’ on events as they gather for convention this weekend."

And then there's a story in today’s Kamloops Daily News which began with the following:

The exodus of high-ranking Liberals has done nothing to diminish the party's morale heading into the next provincial election, the candidate for Kamloops - South Thompson said Thursday.

Instead, the resignations of Kevin Falcon, George Abbott and others is a way to breathe new life into the party at a crucial political time, said Todd Stone (BC Liberal candidate for Kamloops South).

BC Conservatives have clearly articulated positions that don't change depending on what loud vocal minority group is shouting

Everyone knows, and it is perfectly clear, that I do not support Christy Clark and the BC Liberals.

My lack of support has only been re-enforced in the recent days and weeks, as it seems that Christy blows one way or the other, in the breezes of voter discontent.

Shall we start with Enbridge and the Northern Gateway Pipeline? Clark herself has never really made a firm decision on the Northern Gateway … in fact the 5 principles she placed as crucial to having government support can NEVER be met – and she knew it at the time.

Ms. Clark simply wanted to try and make herself look good to anyone with an opinion on the project, whether they support it or not. By taking no stand however, she has pleased NO ONE.

She wants those who don't support the pipeline to think she is on-board with them … and she wants those who do support the project to think they just might have a chance to see it come about.

Meantime, she knows full well that the five principles she has put forward can never be met, and therefore the project will never get off the drawing board.

Contrast that however, to the statements of John Cummins, and the BC Conservative Party.

As CFTK TV News in Terrace stated today, “At least one political leader in BC is willing to express support for Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway Project” --- that ONE leader would be John Cummins of the BC Conservative Party.

In a media release today, John Cummins said that unlike Premier Clark AND Environment Minister Terry Lake, he WAS willing to meet with Enbridge officials to see what their plans look like for building and maintaining the safest pipeline possible, and to see in person what monitoring systems they have in place at other locations.

Cummins stated that the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project had economic benefits far outweigh environmental concerns.

"Given all of the information made public to date, I strongly believe that the Northern Gateway Pipeline should proceed as quickly as possible. British Columbia desperately needs new capital investment, and new high-wage jobs. The Northern Gateway Project delivers both”.

And little wonder … this project alone would provide as many as 4,100 person-years of direct on-site work, and a total of 35,000 person-years employment throughout the province.

Environment Minister Terry Lake on the other hand, in a TV news interview which I saw, refuses to meet with officials from Enbridge, who have offered to show him what the technology they will be working with. 

AND YET ... he has the audacity to claim and state (which I have also seen and heard) in the media, that Enbridge will not provide the government with the environmental and safety information they wish to have on the project.