Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Yes, I’m ready to lead on Day One. Not only because I hold a seat in the legislature, which is important, but because the days following winning the election are critically important to the survival of our province.  You may have seen a poll lately that shows that I am the only leadership candidate who will form a majority government and defeat the NDP. I’m humbled to hear that. Rather than get complacent, I'm reminded of the responsibility I bear to you, and to every British Columbian. Seeing that poll reminds me that simply winning this leadership race, and even becoming Premier, isn’t good enough. Because British Columbians like you deserve more than just a Conservative government. You deserve a Conservative government with a plan for the future, and that’s exactly what my message today is all about. The first 100 days will be critical when conservatives like you and I win back our government. We will have to move FAST, with determination, confidence and disciplined execu...

A former member of Premier Danielle Smith's government caucus says Elections Alberta has approved the name for a new political party, after the province banned a list of monikers it could use, including "conservative." Airdrie-Cochrane legislature member Peter Guthrie announced in a social media post on Thursday evening that the new party will be known as the Progressive Tory Party of Alberta. "That's right. There will be another conservative option on the ballot in the next election — one that's socially reliable, fiscally responsible and answers to all of you," Guthrie said in a video with the post ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

The Conservatives are decrying a push by the federal Liberals to retroactively amend a law which some lawyers believe is a way to avoid paying out veterans over a federal error that may be responsible for overcharging them thousands of dollars. The Carney government’s budget implementation act contains an amendment that it says “clarifies” the formula used to calculate long-term care costs for veterans. Lawyers in a proposed class action contend the federal government has been overcharging veterans for long-term care due to a decades-long miscalculation ... CLICK HERE for the full story 

Conservative Finance Critic Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, says the NDP government is misleading British Columbians by blaming global tariffs for BC’s ballooning deficit, when the real problem is reckless mismanagement and failed priorities. “While tariffs and global uncertainty do add pressure to our fiscal position, the blunt of the damage has been caused by this government’s own decisions,” said Milobar.  “We are now facing the largest deficit in BC’s history —$11.5 billion — not because of external pressures alone, but because of NDP mismanagement.” Key facts from the First Quarterly Report reveal the depth of the problem: Deficit: Up $655 million to $11.5 billion, the largest in B.C. history. Debt Servicing: Now costing 5 cents of every revenue dollar, the highest since 2005. GDP Growth: Revised down to 1.5% for 2025 and 1.3% for 2026. Capital Spending: $720 million delayed, including hospitals in Burnaby, Abbotsford, Delta, and Lions Gate. Revenue C...

Why does Mark Carney, whose previous job was the UN special envoy for climate action and finance, not really talk about climate change? Political parties used to jockey for climate credibility. In 2019, Justin Trudeau saw it as an asset to be photographed with Greta Thunberg. In 2021, Erin O’Toole ran on carbon pricing and we had a genuine debate over emission reduction targets and how to credibly get there. As a climate voter, it was good times. But then inflation made this recent election a cost of living battle (Trump took centre stage for much of it, but the cost-of-living issue never really went away). Because of an incredibly effective, “facts-second” campaign by the Conservative party, which pinned the financial squeeze squarely on the carbon tax, the once-hailed climate plan became toxic — not even Liberals were on board with the policy by election day, with only 40 per cent of Liberal voters believing the carbon tax should be kept. That was down from 70 per cent in 2019 ... CL...

  Chinese Consulates task Chinese students in aggressive intelligence ops: Canadian intelligence   Beijing’s top diplomats in Canada are tasking and likely funding Chinese student associations in aggressive intelligence operations that include “monitoring and coercing” other students and university officials, Canadian intelligence documents allege.   According to CSIS investigations, these operations include a Consul General tasking Chinese students to investigate and gather intelligence on the family of an alleged Chinese economic fugitive. ( CLICK HERE to read the rest of the story)     This is all very disturbing. Sadly, it is not new, and not confined to the current government.   Frighteningly, it has been a fact of Canadian business, academia, media and politics for decades (about 50 years, at least, not just the current government – look at the pro-China influence and reach of the Desmarais family and Power Corp, behind Prime Mini...