Thoughts on BC Politics and More

2016 is hours away from wrapping up, and a new year looms just over the horizon.  Before I go though, I took some time this morning to have a look back at some stories from the blog this past year.   Not surprisingly, the two top stories were about the BC Conservative Party. " Wasting one more minute of time and energy in the BC Conservative Party, by anyone, is sheer lunacy !"  from February 5th   " Dan Brooks hold, on the helm of the BC Conservative Party, seems very much in question "  from October 20th   Following that, from October 9th, came " How Much More Then Could We Be Thankful For? On November 17th, " REALLY ... there aren't enough places already for people to get a drink? " caught peoples attention And " You are welcome to believe whatever you want. I have to tell you however, you are living in a dream world if you think the majority of British Columbians will agree with you ....

Today is December 25th, the day many through-out the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Whether this is the actual day ... or even if it was exactly 2,016 years ago, is not really relevant to me.  For me, and so many others across the globe, the birth of Jesus represents human-kinds opportunity to have a Saviour -- one who we call the King of Kings. I love the story of Christmas ... I love to hear stories from others about Christmas past ... and I love all the special programs that I get to enjoy hearing on the radio.  Well many radio stations in my community -- not so much on our so-called national broadcaster however. There I have found, and heard, the most diluted pablum of holiday mush.   Never wishing to offend anyone who does not call themselves a Christian, the CBC, in a backhanded way, instead insults the millions of Canadians that have no problem -- issue -- or concern about calling this time of year what it is ... CHRISTMAS. Christmas, complet...

On Wednesday December 7th, Peter Fassbender (Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development) released information about on-going, and up-coming, changes it was making to the Community Gaming Program. He stated: “ I want to thank the Office of the Auditor General for completing their thorough performance audit of our Community Gaming Grants program. I am pleased that the audit found government has a suitable framework in place to administer the program, and we recognize that improvements are needed in some key areas. “The report outlines 10 recommendations, including the development of a performance management framework, and to evaluate the approach used in assessing applications. Government accepts all 10 recommendations ." A brief summary, and history, of gaming and gambling in British Columbia reminds us that: up to 1969 public gambling / gaming was illegal in Canada then in the 1970s non-profit organizations were able to generate ...

Bill Tieleman and the Tyee ... and Ezra Levant's The Rebel ... are singing off the same song sheet?? Say it ain't so!   But it is so, and I was as shocked, as you likely are, that they would come at the same story, from the same angle. Both stories, as you can see below, say that:   1.       Christy Clark and the BC Liberals are doing this purely for political gain 2.       Market price correction could seriously jeopardize these home buyers 3.       It could, again, drive market prices upwards   THE REBEL :   " BC Liberals program to aid first time home buyers comes with great peril " ... with an election only five months away, the last thing the BC Liberals want to see is for that bubble to burst since it would almost certainly cause them to be defeated ... while this program isn’t as crazy as the kind of policies we saw down south over a deca...

“ What a terrible message ( Christian schools state that it's teachers should not participate in things like public drunkenness and watching porn ),” said former Vancouver school trustee Patti Bacchus.   “ Something like that, it just goes backwards. It’s flat-out discrimination and a violation of someone’s human rights .” Oh really? That's just crap to put it plain and simple! It's a good thing she, as a Vancouver school trustee, did get canned! And, why shouldn't Christian schools have that kind of policy in place? If not, then what really is the sense in having religious schools?   It is absurd to even consider that Christian Schools would have anyone but teachers with a Christian background as educators. Patti Bacchus, former Vancouver School Board Trustee Let's see, by Bacchus's own standards of discrimination, and the violation of human rights, should we allow men to staff women's shelters and women's s...

Is it too late to weigh in on the Trans Mountain Pipeline ... now that it has been approved?  I don't think so. I, along with hundreds of thousands of Canadians, have long been saying YES to this job creating project ... a project that will generate billions in resources to local, provincial and federal governments. Taxpayers have been tapped, and tapped again and again, for more and more money.  I for one say, " We don't have any more to give !".  That said, I know that we need improvements to health care as more and more Canadians age ... for education to provide for new schools, and improvements to ones already in our neighbourhoods ... for training to help mature workers transition into the new economies ... for highway improvements ... and so much more. Those same naysayers are calling for more spending in these areas, and yet they seem to have no reality as to where this money can, or will. come from. Oh r...

Today, we have a guest post from my friend Sandy, AKA "The Sidewinder".  While Sandy lives in the lower mainland, his piece is certainly fitting to our community of Kamloops, and hundreds of similar lives that are impacted in the same way, in our own city. We've now had a few years of the low barrier, harm reduction approach to solving or coping with our widespread illicit drug use epidemic. Maybe it's now time to review what has been accomplished. Almost every public health official, provincial housing authority, city councilor, police officer and drug counselor in this province openly acknowledge the growing tragedy of drug overdose deaths in British Columbia. According to Minister of Health Terry Lake, so far this year, more than six hundred deaths in this province are attributable to overdoses of illicit drugs. He also cited the use of fentanyl as one of the leading factors in this outrageous tragedy; although, I don't pers...

The latest from the BC government says that it is, " ... seeking public input on rural education as part of a strategy being created by Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Education Linda Larson to better understand the needs of students, parents, schools and communities in rural BC ... " I guess the biggest need would be to actually keep schools, in rural communities, open. Problem is however, that the government has failed, miserably, to provide the supports and structure rural communities need, as well as failing to have resource development approved to ensure long-term, and increased employment, in rural British Columbia. In key sectors, for rural and small town BC, job losses have been dramatic (BC Stats Earnings and Employment Trends - October 2016): Agriculture ... down 33% since 2006 Forestry and Logging ... down 19% since 2007 Fishing, Hunting and Trapping down 31% since 2007 Lost jobs equals decreased populati...

With six months still to go until the next provincial election in British Columbia, I'm already I am asking myself, " Who will I vote for? Will there be a candidate I can support?   Who will not only say the things I want to hear, but follow through on them?" I've created a list of things I will be listening to hear answers to, in the months ahead.   It's a short list for now, but will likely grown, and be edited and revised, in the weeks and months ahead.   These are the things I will use to help me when the moment comes to place my "X" on the ballot. What personal skills, knowledge, and background to you have which will make you the best candidate for the people of Kamloops South Thompson to consider in casting a ballot for you? If elected as the MLA for Kamloops South Thompson in next Mays provincial election, what will be your top priorities for the riding? How will you seek input, from constituents, in issues i...

Yesterday, from the BC Government's Jobs Plan, came news that, "... liquor licences will soon be available to all types of BC businesses, including barber shops !" REALLY... there aren't enough places already for people to get a drink? The news release went on to say that effective January 23rd of next year: Businesses like barber shops, salons, spas, cooking schools, art galleries and book stores will be able to apply for a liquor licence to diversify their business model and serve liquor to customers. All types of businesses will be able to apply for a liquor primary licence, so long as they do not operate from a motor vehicle or target minors. This change will provide flexibility for businesses to expand and offer new services to their patrons ... and increase consumer choice for British Columbians. Well, thank goodness they won't be able to operate from a motor vehicle, but tell me, "...

Two things caught my eye today, that has spurred on my post today.   One was the fact that the Tri-City News has decided to trash media releases from the BC government, that are little more than generic announcements about every day things ... the other was the announcement that former TV personality Steve Darling will be a candidate for the BC Liberals in next Mays provincial election. First to the Tri-City News.   In an editorial dated November 8th, titled " We're waiting for the good news ", they state: " Stop, already! We get that the BC Liberal government wants credit for spending money to maintain the province's schools. But it's time the province stop sending press releases about small pots of money that are being spent on things like roof repairs and flooring upgrades — work that should be going no matter who is in power and doesn't require the additional spotlight of media coverage ." HURRAY ... finally at ...

Steven Puhallo Steven Puhallo is the Executive Director of the Kamloops North Shore Business Association (NSBIA). He has had a successful career as a public affairs and strategic communications professional with a broad range of experience at senior levels of government and in the private sector. Today, I have provided him with the opportunity to have a guest post on my blog. By way of background, Steven is the Executive Director of the North Shore Business Improvement Association (NSBIA) in Kamloops.   Working with the NSBIA board of directors, they visualized and launched the “ We Are The North Shore ” marketing campaign that has helped re-kindle community spirit.   The organizational also hosts the incredibly popular Overlanders Day summer family festival , which I was honoured to have played a small role in, with Steven and his team, at the inaugural event. Many of you also know Steven as an active member of the BC Liberal Party, which hono...

This weekend the BC Liberals are meeting in Vancouver, and by all accounts, it's living up to the expectations of a being a Rah-Rah-Rah cheerleading session, leading into next May's general election.   Much of the focus of course is on the economy, with a claim to be leading in Canada ... as well as a claim to be "Spending within our means". On the claim of "Spending within our means" alone Christy Clark is proudly telling British Columbians that: Alone in Canada, your BC Liberal government has achieved four balanced budgets in a row, with a fifth on the way. That’s how BC has maintained its highest-possible triple-AAA credit rating. These economic achievements are important because of what they allow us to do. Every penny we don't spend in interest charges can be invested in British Columbians and the hospitals, schools, and services we all depend on. And thanks to this fiscal discipline, BC is on track to be o...

Until early in the week of October 23rd, a very interesting scenario, in BC politics, was being set up.  What you say?  Well it appeared, at least at first glance, that perhaps for the first time in decades, the people of British Columbia might actually have more than two viable parties from which to cast a ballot for. Back in the early 1950s, British Columbians elected members to the Legislative Assembly from the Conservatives, Liberals, Social Credit, Labour and the NDP (1952 / 53).  Again, in 1972 and 1975, voters sent MLA's to Victoria from the Conservatives, Liberals, Social Credit and the NDP. This time around, again at least until early last week when the BC Conservative Party bounced newly re-elected leader Dan Brooks from his post, it appeared that perhaps, we might again see members from four parties in the legislature. And with good reason. 1)  The NDP are stubbornly disenfranchising one of...