Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Today, we have a piece for you that was co-written by myself, and Ben Besler.   We were both coming at, thinking about, texting similar thoughts -- so it only made sense to piece them together, and present them to you. Let us know what you think in the comments section below: What kind of insights were there to a recent post ?   Here's a sampling: The right is in ruins. The government is all left wing and in tatters. A compelling figure could rise from the ashes, but who? Everyone is hell bent on not working together. Does the right take over the BC Liberals and then change its name? Does a new party with a name that has no baggage sprout? What about Kevin Falcon? Too much baggage? Rick Peterson? Couldn't even beat Brooks. Jordan Bateman? Too elitist?? Government will fall apart further, but I don't think BC is ready to deal with it yet. That said, someone better start organizing now to lead above the...

Is Christy Clark at the end of her reign ... and have the BC Liberals gone as far as they can go as the current big tent party? That's a question that I, and many others, are asking now that the Provincial General election of May 9th is over.   Over at least until recounts are completed, as well as absentee ballots. Although the BC Liberals gained the largest number of seats, they are still not officially the holders of a minority government -- and as we are all well aware -- even if a few seats flip either way, it will be dangerously close every single day the legislature sits.   All that needs to happen is for a couple on the government side not to be in the legislature, and the opposition could call a vote of non-confidence, and back to the polls we go. Okay ... so well know all of that.   Here's what I do wonder is going to happen though. The BC Green Party did not get the required 4 seats to receive official party status.   There is word out t...

BC elections are still making history.  British Columbians have just gone to the polls to elect the first minority government in 65 years. Granted there are still a few ridings that will be facing recounts and that may swing things a bit. But for now, it just so happens that BC has been graced with the instability of a minority government. #BCpoli has always been a strange brew, but this past election proved that the brew may have soured a tad more than usual. Politics in BC has become a place where everyone is a loser and the biggest loser wins. Which is probably why the classic rock hit by Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, even the losers (get lucky sometimes), has been skipping like a broken record through my head these past few days. The polls reported that the BC Liberals took 43 seats, the BC NDP 41, and the Greens 3. No party is of yet able to cross that 44 seat thresh hold to form government on their own. So who won, really? ...

Well ... the election is over -- no one won (yet at least till the re-counts) how ever Spring is arriving regardless.  With thoughts on that, here is Maple Ridge resident Sandy Macdougall; No other season of the year brings as much joy, hope and boundless energy as Spring. It's enough to make me feel sorry for those poor folks who don't enjoy four seasons. Spring is the season of renewal in our part of the world. Everywhere you look you can see signs of the miracle of rebirth as nature works its magic. From golden daffodils and dandelions to magnificent blossoming Oriental cherry trees, the colour palette of Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me anywhere there is a Spring season. Consider for a chilly moment the Arctic or Antarctic. Other than a few pathetic penguins, starving polar bears or wandering international scientists, if you don't like snow and ice, our polar regions have very little to offer that can rekindle you...

On April 19th, I wrote a piece entitled " I CAN'T support that kind of campaign, or a party that would allow a leadership team to okay that kind of campaigning "   In it, I concluded by stating ....   Unless something major happens, to turn things around in what and who the BC Liberals are, then I will indeed go to the polling station on election day.  I will however mark a big X through the ballot to show my displeasure with such poor options (at least in political parties) presented to us. Sadly ... it will be a first for me, but I see no other choice given the current crazy world of BC politics .   Since then I have had a raging argument going on in my head about what to do. Vote for Todd Stone because he is the least bad option? Vote NDP because I want to show my displeasure with the BC Liberals Vote Green (NOPE) ... that wasn't going to happen! How about Beat Klossner, from the Communist Part...

Hello Friends, When confronted with the Social Credit 'Socred' brand, prior to the 2017 provincial election, I realized this is what BC needs.   I decided I would be willing to put my name forth to open this option up to British Columbians. With a history of decisions that bettered society as a whole (creating an environment for individual freedoms and prosperity, yet with a social conscience) I realized that it is what most of us want to see.  MICHAEL HENSHALL ... BC Social Credit candidate for Fraser - Nicola Currently we have a two party system that dominates BCs political landscape. One party seems to be void of conscience, with an all out neglect for anything other that to scale the ladder of personal success and wealth -- even at the expense of others. The other party, sees the wealth of others is best to be evenly distributed throughout society.  The framework the Socreds created under WAC Bennett secured certain aspects of ...

JOHN CROCOCK SAYS, some people ask me why I started a new political party in BC? Good question !!! First of all it was a group of people that started the BC Action Party, mostly consisting of former BC Conservatives, but also people from other parts of political spectrum.  We had a choice to go with some recognizable party name that already existed, or go with new name. We decided on a new name for two reasons: 1)     There would be no political baggage with a new name. 2)     This would allow people from the all walks of life and political backgrounds to unite under one umbrella for the common purpose -- to advocate for a more accountable and transparent government.   The BC Action Party supports fiscal conservatism, but we acknowledge the importance of unions.  You’re not going negotiate thousands of separate employee contacts without the assistance of the unions.  However, we remember when th...

Former BC Conservative candidate Scott Anderson Today we have another guest editorial -- this one from a political colleague, Scott Anderson.   For those not aware, Scott ran as a candidate for the BC Conservative Party in the 2013 Provincial General Election, in the riding of Vernon Monashee.   Scott is also a Director-At-Large on the Board of Directors for the BC Conservative Party. He wrote an interesting piece regarding the BC Provincial election, which I saw on one of his Social Media feeds, on Wednesday evening.   Here is what Scott had to say: I did the oddest thing the other night, in the absence of a BC Conservative candidate. I went into the voting booth with no idea who to vote for, and voted for a party I would never normally vote for, and probably never will again. Only two people know who I voted for and one of them is the candidate, who I saw shortly afterward and couldn't resist telling, because this is a small city and eve...

Sandy Macdougall (aka the Sidewinder), who hails from Maple Ridge, has penned his last piece for me to run, prior to the election.   Think your vote doesn't count, or isn't important?   Read on to see why even a fraction of the people who don't vote, because it won't make any difference ... read on:   Edmund Burke; Irish statesman born in Dublin, was an author, orator, political theorist, and philosopher. Edmund Burke, the eighteenth century Irish philosopher, once said, “ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing .” I disagree. May 9 , is provincial election day in British Columbia and, if past records are any indication, the big winner will probably be voter apathy where so-called 'good men' will sit idly by, letting others cast their ballots and make important decisions for them. Probably forty per cent of the eligible voters in either of our local provincial ridings will not p...

In light of Christy Clark's visit to Kamloops just the other day, I thought it might be interesting to revisit a post that I had up ELECTION 2013 ... and a visit to our city by the BC Liberal leader and her entourage.   Read on, from this day in history, April 16th, 2013. Today BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark told voters here in Kamloops, and around the province, that we are headed in to the “ the most important election in modern history ”. I couldn't agree with her more!  The writ has finally been dropped, and I'm sure it is a relief to all British Columbians, because several key things seem to be weighing heavily on the minds of people here in our Kamloops South Thompson riding. The Liberal Platform doesn't address the financial problems which THEY have created, and banking on the possibility of future billions of revenues from liquefied natural gas is a risky bet.  BC Liberals still fail to understand governm...