Being the opposition party sucks. Peter's tired of talking about change, he wants to enact it.

 IMAGE:  South Delta, March 24th

I attended a Peter Milobar event today. The room was packed. People were standing. Wouldn't be surprised if he needs bigger venues soon.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
Dude's a coach. If you went to a hockey rink or a baseball diamond and you saw him walking around, you'd just assume he was coaching a team. He even speaks like a coach, sports analogies and all. He's on the field to win, has a strategy and he's going to play fair. When he yells at the refs, they've probably screwed up. He doesn't care what colour jersey you supply him with because what colour jersey he wears won't change how he plays the game. 

TAKEAWAYS:

- He dislikes SOGI and will repeal it but solidly supports the Canadian Charter re: protecting students from bulling and discrimination.

- He will repeal DRIPA and green-light government lawyers to argue in favor private property rights in court, which is something the NDP is currently preventing. He says this while acknowledging that section 35 of the Canadian charter will still exist. He also notes that prior to DRIPA, many resource projects went ahead, and private property rights weren't such a panic issue prior to it.

- He will repeal NDP's Bill 44 to give power back to BC community councils and residents. I would like to hear more about this from him.  

- On healthcare, Milobar wants to accredit foreign medical schools congruent with Canadian medical practices and standards so Canadian students who graduate from those foreign schools can easily return to Canada to build their career in medicine. He also wants to alleviate pressure and backlog within our healthcare system by building more senior living developments in communities across BC. 

- He wants to change BC's educational system, so learning is more student based. Specifically, so kids who need more help get the help they need, while kids who are excelling past their peers are given wings to fly instead of a ceiling. He wants to fund this change by finding efficiencies within government's web of bureaucracy. 

- He supports tax cuts that support the sustainability and growth of small businesses, and the stability of families.

- Milobar mentioned Alberta's Danielle Smith a few times, and said he would absolutely use the notwithstanding clause, but notes its 5 year limitation with potential to renew for 5 more years only.

Milobar is definitely a details guy, and he spoke from what he solidly knows; not a note pad or a memorized PR script.

His campaign is unapologetically working hard to convince liberal voters to swing conservative and support his realistic and respectful conservative platform. He knows it's going to take red and blue coming together to defeat the NDP, and the only reason he's in the race is to do just that. He said it a few times: being the opposition party sucks. He's tired of talking about change, he wants to enact it.

There were no used car salesman vibes at the event. Instead there was seasoned diplomacy. This was an individual who knows what he's talking about, and someone that could probably discuss detailed policy for 48 hours straight. 

He came across as level-headed, slow and steady. I think he’d be just as comfortable building a fence in a field, as he would building a team with other Premiers, to put pressure on Ottawa as needed.

Today was the first political event I attended in over 12 years, and I’m glad I went.

P.S.  I forgot to pay for my decaf coffee before I left, though. Sorry Peter, I owe you $5.03.

NOTE ... this post has been shared anonymously, by request. I will say I know this individual, and respect their thoughts and opinions