Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

THE SIDEWINDER: MacDUFF'S NAIVE CALL



I have just struggled through Cheryl Ashlie's column (MacDuff’s Call: A political novice with a sizeable ego), in the Sept. 22 edition of The Maple Ridge News.


To say the least, Ashlie's comments are naive and show just how totally out of touch she has become with political reality.


Ashlie lauds the decision of Darryl Plecas to accept John Horgan's invitation to become the Speaker of the House, a move described by almost everyone else as self-serving and a betrayal of the trust of the constituents who voted for him.


Ashlie claims Plecas' turncoat move will help provide good governance but in making this claim, she fails to explain how he will achieve this lofty goal.


I cannot recall a single instance of a Speaker not enjoying the support and respect of all members of the legislature. In Plecas' case, he will surely not enjoy any support or respect from Liberal MLAs. While NDP MLAs might pay lip service to supporting him. many of them will probably also hold him in contempt.


Following the May 9 election, Plecas threatened to throw a tantrum if Christy Clark didn't resign as party leader. We cynics think that was intended as an open invitation to Horgan to approach Plecas in regards to the Speaker's post which until then was potentially going to put a big dent in the NDP/Green majority.


Plecas knew exactly what he was doing and anyone who thinks the decision didn't involve greed and self-interest is deluded.


Ashlie claims Plecas has integrity.


Really? 

 

If Ashlie actually believes that, I will never again be able to take anything she says seriously. Try running that integrity claim past his Abbotsford-South constituents. I don't think many of them view him as anything other than a self-motivated person who is entirely lacking in political integrity.



SANDY Macdougall ... aka The Sidewinder ... is a retired newspaper reporter. He was elected for three consecutive terms to Maple Ridge municipal council in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and also ran for the Progressive Conservatives in Kim Campbell's ill-fated federal election campaign.
Labels:

Comments

  1. IslanderSeptember 28, 2017 at 9:06 AM

    Funny how folks label her SIDEWINDER. Google 'sidewinder' and it now goes straight to her.
    Guess Liberals hope to bury the TRUE RCMP OPERATION SIDEWINDER REPORT (a RCMP whistle blower's story) . Liberals hoped to bury that story 20 years ago.
    And now the real OPERATION SIDEWINDER will be washed away on the Internet, many url pages behind SANDY Macdougall... aka The (New) Sidewinde?. "Clever move Liberals", but some have saved the whole SIDEWINDER REPORT.
    http://www.primetimecrime.com/Articles/RobertRead/Sidewinder%20page%201.htm

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Alan ForsethSeptember 28, 2017 at 7:14 PM

      I'm not totally sure what you are referring to, however the blogger Sandy Macdougall (AKA The Sidewinder) has been using The Sidewinder for editorial comment since the later 1970's. It has nothing to do with the Liberals ... the RCMP ... or any reports

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

RCMP gag order comes after BC NDP catch heat for diverted safe supply (Northern Beat)

In the wake of several high-profile police drug seizures of suspected safer supply that put the BC NDP government on the defensive last month, BC RCMP “E” division issued a gag order on detachments, directing them to run all communications on “hot button” public safety issues through headquarters in the lead-up to the provincial election. “It is very clear we are in a pre-election time period and the topic of ‘public safety’ is very much an issue that governments and voters are discussing,” writes a senior RCMP communications official in an email dated Mar. 11 in what appears to have gone out to all BC RCMP detachments . . . . CLICK HERE for the full story
Post a Comment
Read more

PEATS: I am writing with a critical concern regarding the imminent closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic, a vital healthcare facility in our community

The following is a copy of a letter sent to me, which was sent to BC’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix. It is with regards to the impending closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic in Dawson Creek.   Dear Minister,   I am writing to you today with a critical concern regarding the imminent closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic, a vital healthcare facility in our community. The closure, scheduled for the summer of 2024, is a result of the utterly burdensome terms and conditions imposed by the bureaucratic Northern Health. As a result, Dawson Creek stands to lose four doctors who have made this city their home, and who wish to continue serving the people of our community.   The impending closure of the Eljen Medical Clinic is a significant blow to our city. Not only will it result in the loss of highly qualified and dedicated healthcare professionals, but it will also deprive thousands of Dawson Creek residents of access to their primary physicians. At a time when healthcare se
3 comments
Read more

KRUGELL: BC NDP turns its attention from BC United to BC Conservatives

The BC NDP turning its attention, from BC United, to BC Conservatives was reported over the weekend from a variety of sources. It is the result of the surge in the BC Conservative's polling numbers and the subsequent collapse of BC United. The NDP has largely ignored the BC Conservatives, instead they opt to talk about issues directly or attack their old foes BC United. Practical politics says that parties closer to the centre tend to ultimately prevail over the long haul. They do wane but often make comebacks. A good example is the federal Liberals going from third party to government in 2015. Centrism has a lot of appeal on voting day. The NDP shifting its fire from United to Conservative is a reflection of reality. BC United did buy advertising online and radio over the last few months. Did that shift the polls back to them? Nope. The reality is today, the BC Conservatives are the party of the Opposition, and day by day the Conservatives are looking like a party not ready to fig
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more