Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation has announced the winners of its annual Teddy Waste Awards, calling out what it says are the worst examples of government waste in Canada, including spending on booze, botched tourism ads and a novelty river hotline. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was awarded the lifetime achievement Teddy for nearly a decade of what the CTF describes as excessive federal waste, including billing taxpayers $6,000 per night for a hotel suite in England, spending six figures on airplane food after pledging to cut costs, and adding 99,000 federal bureaucrats while nearly doubling the national debt. "Trudeau never met a problem he didn’t try to fix by wasting more tax dollars." said the CTF ... CLICK HERE for the full story

In the wake of a major national study by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) on the crisis in schools, BC teachers are urging government to heed the warnings and chart a new course—one that would make British Columbia a public education model for the country. The new pan-Canadian study surveyed almost 5,000 teachers, principals, education assistants, and support workers. The data paints a vivid picture of poor working and learning conditions in public schools, which are attended by more than 90% of K–12 students in Canada. “ As a progressive government committed to quality public services, the BC NDP really needs to seize this moment and this message ,” BCTF President Clint Johnston said. “ Let’s make BC the educational beacon for all of Canada. Together, we can do it " ... CLICK HERE for the full story

The head of Canada’s public broadcaster has been among those serving up lumps of coal to Canadians. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation’s annual “Taxpayer Naughty and Nice list” has given CBC CEO Catherine Tait the top spot in the Naughty column for handing out “Santa-sized” executive bonuses that dwarf the average Canadian’s salary, especially at a time of financial pressure across the country for most people ... CLICK HERE for the full story  

... it’s not credible to think that raising (Carbon) taxes and taking some for administration costs can actually help families. “It simply isn’t credible to believe the feds can raise taxes, skim some off the top for administration costs and somehow make families better off ... CLICK HERE for the full story

There is so much energy in Alberta right now. It feels like change is in the air. So today I say to all those who have been struggling, to those who have lost their jobs and are barely hanging on, to the young folks who can’t find work, to the small business owners who struggle every day, to our wonderful public servants who are frustrated with a bureaucracy that doesn’t let them do their jobs - to all of them - we send this message: Help is on the way and hope is on the horizon. The NDP is finishing this campaign the way they started it: with fear and smear, U.S. style attack ads and the politics of personal destruction. And the United Conservatives are finishing the campaign the way we started it. With positive solutions on how to create jobs, grow our economy, get pipelines built and to fight for a fair deal for Alberta. That is why we are offering the most positive and detailed platform in Alberta’s history. And if we ar...

Long-time conservative friend Ben Besler said to me recently, “ I remember being in a BC Conservative board meeting with the Tactical Advisory Group. Former Newfoundland Premier Brian Peckford was there, and he started in on a rant about where we were as an organization .” He (Peckford) said, “ Listen. If you want to win, there are three things that you need to work on, and that’s: Organization! organization! and organization! ”. “ His direct passion in saying those words has always stuck with me ”, said Ben, before continuing, “ But organize where … and how?  And who are we … and what do we stand for ?” Good questions, asked by Brian Peckford a year or two prior to the 2013 Provincial election … and more recently from Ben as well. That led me to think, and wonder, who we are as a province … which accidentally led me to finding the motto of our province.  First adopted in 1895, it is Splendor sine occasu … "Splendour Without Dimin...