Thoughts on BC Politics and More

... “One of the main things that I tell people is there is a lot more politics involved, and at the municipal level there really isn’t. Even in the TNRD, everybody pretty much tries to work together and is pretty sincere about that. At the provincial level, there is ideology, there are party lines, there are different moving parts. And even in estimates, we thought there would be opportunities to get good answers to our questions and a lot of times we don’t,” said Stamer ... CLICK HERE for the full story

BC Conservative MLA for Surrey North, Mandeep Dhaliwal, has introduced * groundbreaking legislation to enhance transparency and ensure age-appropriate educational materials in British Columbia’s public schools. The Parental Transparency and Age-Appropriate Education Act establishes an independent, voluntary review committee responsible for evaluating all classroom materials, including books, films, pamphlets, and digital resources. Materials will receive clear, age-appropriate ratings, giving parents full visibility and confidence about what their children are being taught. “Parents deserve transparency in education,” said MLA Mandeep Dhaliwal. “This legislation empowers families, ensuring they are informed and involved in their children’s education. Our goal is simple: clarity and accountability.” Key provisions of the bill include: Establishing an independent committee for transparent review. Mandatory public review of all educational materials used in BC’s public schools.  Clea...

A Fraser Valley politician has some harsh words about B.C.'s health-care system, saying he saw unsanitary, disgusting conditions ... CLICK HERE for the full story

While the official election is not until October 2024, and the writ has by no means been dropped in B.C., politicians have been unofficially on the campaign trail for months ... ... On Friday, for the first time since crossing the floor and becoming leader of the BC Conservatives John Rustad will stop in the Tournament Capital to rally support for B.C.’s new fourth party ... CLICK HERE for the full story

As British Columbia emerges from its worst wildfire season on record and continues to recover from recent climate disasters, two of the province’s opposition parties are saying they would scrap the government’s climate action plan ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  On thePodcast, host Bob Mackin welcomes Conservative Party of B.C. leader John Rustad, who was a forests minister and aboriginal relations minister in the previous BC Liberal government. He said the NDP government needs to rethink the way it fights fires and rethink the way it manages forests in an era with longer, hotter, drier summers.     “I don’t want to take away from the fact that there are tens of thousands of people that have been significantly impacted by these fires, right?” Rustad said. “I mean, it’s just, it’s tragic, when you think about it. We need to make sure we get everything we can in there to support these people to get them so they can get their lives back together, to be able to rebuild. But long term, yes, we need to think about changing how we manage on the landscape" ... CLICK HERE for the full interview

  August 23, 2023 – Vanderhoof, BC: "First off — my thoughts are with people on the ground who are dealing with fires and in danger of losing everything. Also, I want to thank our brave firefighters who are on the frontlines right now.   "I strongly encourage everyone who is able to do so, to evacuate to safety. It's the safest choice.   "That being said, I can tell you exactly what's going through my mind if I'm living in North Shuswap right now — how do I keep my family safe, and how do I protect our home and our livelihood?   "Every British Columbian deserves to be able to protect their community, and their home. Frankly, I don't know many rural British Columbians who haven't helped put out local wild fires at some point or another, with friends and neighbors.   "The reality is, there is a wealth of practical firefighting knowledge in rural communities.   "We have to trust people to do what's right — BC's ...