Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Canada Should Be Legally Bound to Its Climate Promises -- passing the 2009 Climate Change Accountability Act could close the gap between our country's ambitions and its actions.    Cameron Fenton   ~~   350.org   / Huffington Post ~~   10/30/2018 During the recent House of Commons emergency climate debate, spurred by an alarming new UN climate change report, there were many politicians talking about the need for Canada to rise to the challenge of climate change. Many of these same politicians acknowledged that, right now, Canada's policies aren't enough to line up with what scientists are saying we need to do. … it reminded me of the last time I was in the House of Commons watching Question Period. I was there supporting legislation that, if brought back, could close the gap between Canada's climate promises and our climate policy. … I was in the House of Commons gallery with around 100 other young people from all across ...

This is one of those rare occasions when I promote something specifically to do with the BC Conservative Party.  The following has been submitted by Andrew Mann, Leadership Committee Chair for the BC Conservative Party : I’m excited to announce that today marks the launch of the British Columbia Conservative Party leadership race. We will be accepting nomination forms until December 31, and on February 23, 2019 we will elect a new leader. To inquire about running to be our new leader, or if you would like to get involved with the party, please go to our website at www.bcconservative.ca .   This leadership race is the start of a new chapter for our party and our province. British Columbia deserves better than it has been getting for the past decades. We have watched three political parties trying to get into our wallets while distracting us with semantics. Only one party in British Columbia opposes the money grab euphemistically called the “Carbon Ta...

Guest Commentator Ian MacLeod -- see full BIO below -- Today, we have a Guest Post from Ian MacLeod, who says ... the Proportional Representation (PR) referendum before BC today must be defeated, both due to the rigged and deeply flawed process and on the long-term damage a yes vote would do to BC.  Here's why ... FIRST , the process is rigged and fatally flawed, and fails on at least 3 counts: “A pig in the poke”: Unlike 2005 and 2009, there was no real consultation as to the options. If we vote yes to PR on this incomplete package, we then have to choose from three options without the real and meaningful details (size of ridings, number of members per riding, method of selecting PR “top-ups”, etc) – a real “pig in the poke”. A rigged choice: It is rigged to support the extorted deal with the Green Party. Proportional Representation (PR) is the only option offered, not surprisingly, the one most suited to the Greens. The Greens have never earned more than 17%...

Former Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard -- see complete bio below -- Mr. Mayor ... Mr. Chair ... Mr. President.    There you go – carry one of those titles around for a while and you’ll think you’re pretty special.   In fact, you might even seem smart as so many marvel at your words. The key is though to know how you’ll be treated when the title is gone. Elsewhere in these stories I will describe how I’ve chased these titles since grade five.   And this means I learned at an early age what happens when they are gone.    The toughest school age experience was being a ‘mover and shaker’ in our grade nine class, and so assured that I could get elected School President for my grade ten year (this was at a time that junior high was grade eight to ten.)   My dad’s transfer to Victoria put an end to that and I arrived at a new school for grade ten with no one really giving a damn about my suggestions or yet alone leadership.   It was a...

Environment Minister Catherine McKenna McKenna defends federal government's carbon tax plan amid premiers' opposition.  Catherine McKenna says premiers, including Doug Ford, who call carbon tax a cash grab are 'absolutely wrong'   ~~   CBC Radio   ~~   Oct 24, 2018 The federal government has gone on the offensive to explain its newly announced plan to slap a carbon tax on the provinces and territories that did not sign onto the pan-Canadian framework on climate change. Residents of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario and Saskatchewan can expect to pay more for gas by April, while also receiving "incentive rebates" from the federal government. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe called the plan that was unveiled Tuesday " a shell game ." Ontario Premier Doug Ford called it " the worst tax ever, anywhere " and " the most divisive, most regressive tax in Canadian history ." CBC Radi...

From Todd Stone, to Tracy Redies, to John Yapp, to Jane Thornthwaite, to Doug Clovechok, to Mike Bernier, to Lorne Letnick … the list of BC Liberal MLA’s all singing from the same song book goes on and on as their united voices all say, “Vote One and Done".   Let me say this … they, along with supporters of the BC Liberal Party are WRONG!   Even IF you do support retaining our current system of  and have no wish to change to some form of Proportional Representation, it IS vitally important for you to vote on Question #2!   Despite the Liberals trying to persuade us differently, there is indeed plenty of information on the vote , and it is from an independent source – Elections BC.   There you’ll find pretty much everything you need to make an informed choice about the different voting systems, and the different rules for each … including how voters cast their ballot, how votes are counted, and how votes translate into seats in the l...

De Niro, Biden latest targets of suspicious packages also sent to Democrats, Trump critics .  Trump, in a rally Wednesday and tweet early Thursday, assigns primary blame to media coverage ~~ Associated Press / CBC News ~~   Oct 25, 2018 Police intercepted suspicious packages addressed to actor Robert De Niro and former vice-president Joe Biden on Thursday, and investigators said they were similar to crude pipe bombs sent to former president Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN..... I do not often comment on American politics, but make an exception because Canada politics is headed down the same path. Most of our MPs represent the party they are attached to instead of the people who elected them. That will have bad long-term consequences. We want our MPs act like someone we would like to invite for dinner when they are on the job in Ottawa. The media picks up its cues from political parties, and their representatives. The anything goes, no hold...

Guess what?  Justin Trudeau's LIBERALS are going to give us back the money they ripped off from us with the Carbon Tax -- just like the bcLIBERALS did(n't). Yah Right!!

UPDATE CBC News ( Oct 24, 2018 11:29 AM)   ...  "BC MP Sheila Malcolmson to leave federal NDP to seek provincial seat" One election is in the vault, but there’s no rest in politics – we’re heavily into a by-election which hasn’t been called yet. MLA Len Krog’s election as mayor of Nanaimo will create a vacancy in the Legislature when he resigns.  I wonder if Leonard considered the political avalanche he may have triggered. The provincial by-election could possibly trigger a federal by-election here. Or if things don’t work out, a surprise provincial election. Krog’s resignation may come soon. Premier John Horgan has already announced that he wants an MLA in the House before the budget debate, which usually takes place in February. So a January by-election seems almost certain. The stakes are mighty big in this one, the result could change who governs our province. If the NDP candidate wins, it’s status quo. If the Liberals squeak out a win, that could spe...

The basic premise of democracy is governance of the people, by the people for the people. It was conceived to avoid rule by armies, cabals, churches, gentry or kings. From October 22 to November 30, British Columbia residents will be asked to mail in a ballot in a Referendum on Proportional Representation. They will either vote to maintain the current First-Past-The-Post system or change to one of three proportional systems offered by the government. Unfortunately, the only proportional systems on the ballot are ‘Party Systems’ in which parties choose some of the MLAs. There are proportional systems in which voters choose all the MLAs. Unfortunately, none of these will be on the ballot. In 2004, the Citizen's Assembly, a randomly chosen group of voters, looked at all forms of proportional representation. They rejected the systems in which parties choose some of the MLAs and recommended a system called STV in which citizens vote for all their MLAs. The governme...

I’d like you to take a minute to read the following headline, from a BC Government media release sent out today … “ Province helps fund Metro Vancouver transit and transportation improvements ” Now upon reading this, would you think the same as I did?   The government plans to provide new funding to help with transit difficulties in the lower mainland?   If that is indeed what you thought, like me, we’d both be wrong. No, instead here is what is actually happening. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, headed by the Honourable Selina Robinson, has proposed changes ('changes' = tax increases) to the Parking Rights Tax – and that is what will help TransLink fund major transit and transportation improvements to keep people and goods moving quickly, safely and affordably in Metro Vancouver. Apparently, TransLink has projected that the increases to the Parking Rights Tax will bring in and additional $10 million a year in new revenue from what the...

Not seeing the forests for the trillions of trees Mark Bonokoski   ~~ Toronto Sun ~~ August 10, 2016 Thanks to Statistics Canada, Wikipedia, and reader Ollie Waschuk , a retired teacher, there would appear to be sufficient evidence to put forward the argument that Canada should be selling carbon credits to other countries, and using that money to relieve Canadians of some of their tax burden. We are virtually without sin when it comes to the net result of carbon arithmetic. In fact, Canada should be given credit for chewing up a goodly portion of the world’s carbon emissions, and not just for absorbing all of our own.   There is nothing about carbon emission reductions that has anything to do with ‘saving the planet’. That is hokum. The original plan, the Kyoto Accord, was a sham designed to move billions of dollars from first world nations to third world nations.   Like any other scam, the precept had to be simple and plausible.

Saturday brought interesting results, from all around the province, as polls closed at 8pm on municipal and school board elections. For starters, Saturday’s civic election had numerous notable moments, including in the City of Nanaimo, where former NDP MLA Leonard Krog will soon take over as mayor.   That leaves the provincial riding open, and … it also means BC Premier John Horgan will need to call a by-election.   Given his NDP razor thin majority in the legislature, only due to being propped up by Andrew Weaver’s Green Party, that is not a riding he’ll want to even consider the possibility of losing.   Look for a star candidate to be on the ballot. Newly elected North Cowichan Mayor Al Siebring Also, on Vancouver Island, former North Cowichan city councilor Al Siebring decided to take a run at the Mayors chair which was being held by Jon Lefebure, who had 16 years of public service in the District of North Cowichan.   At the end of vote cou...

This past Tuesday (October 16 th ), the BC government stated it was moving forward with its plan to eliminate Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums and introduce the employer health tax (EHT).   Together, they claimed these two things would reduce taxes on people and businesses by approximately $800 million each year. Is that true?    Well all I can say is that does NOT seem to be factual given what many have to say … many who should be in the know.   Here’s just a sampling: ‘BC …less affordable for families and less attractive for business’ is not exactly a slogan for success.  ~~ Fraser Institute … Select Committee on Finance told the tax would add $700,000 a year in expenses and the City simply cannot "absorb" those costs, as the Finance Minister suggested municipalities could do ~~ City of Prince George “Ultimately, it’s going to be passed on, I think, to their customers …” ~~ Dent Benefits Consulting “… this u...

We are doing a lot of hand-wringing, and giving lip service, to the surge in fentanyl overdoses, but we are not taking any positive action to stop the carnage. We need to bring in very stiff penalties for the possession opioids by other than medical professionals, pharmacists and people with valid prescriptions.   People caught distributing, importing or manufacturing opioids should face prison terms of between 10 and 25 years without bail, reduction for time spent in pre-trial custody, or parole. They are dealing in illegal and lethal substances extremely harmful to society.  One hundred and thirty (130) Canadian were killed by criminal use of handguns in 2013. Meantime, in 2016, there were 3,005 opioid-related deaths and the number of opioid related deaths is rising rapidly (3,996 in 2017 – 33% increase) If 2018 stays on track, the number will be over 5,000 this year. The criminal peddling fentanyl is much more dangerous th...