Thoughts on BC Politics and More

The province’s refusal to consider a request from Nanaimo city council to provide sober housing for those who qualify for supportive housing has the mayor of Nanaimo scratching his head. In an interview, Mayor Leonard Krog said he can’t understand why the province won’t give people trying to recover from addiction a fighting chance to succeed. “Surely, if we can offer facilities where people who are in active addiction can take their drugs safely, and we’re prepared to staff and fund those, is it unreasonable to expect that we would be able to provide housing for people who, hopefully, have a chance to not end up on the streets in the horrible conditions that many live in now”  ... CLICK HERE for the full story

  Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog spoke out this week in his usual, uninhibited fashion about the shortcomings of cardiac care in his community.    “We’re rather like the Third World country on the other side of the Malahat,” said Krog, referring to the rugged summit that separates his Vancouver Island community and others from the provincial capital region.    “We are not receiving the kind of world-class, first-class care that you get in the city of Victoria or if you live in the southern part of the Island" ... CLICK HERE to read the full story

Artist rendering of the Nanaimo ICU. (Island Health) In November / December of last year I sent a number of emails to media contacts for Vancouver Island Health, as well as another who is well placed in Ministry of Health Communications.   I was looking for information on the November 22 announcement of a new ICU to be built at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.   In particular: I understand the formal request for the new ICU was made to the government in October 2017 -- are you able to elaborate on the process for how this is / was done, and who formally makes the request on behalf of the hospital (or is it Island Health which makes the request)? new government facilities usually have a three to five-year capitol plan created to prepare and develope the project, as well as the time needed for creating the business plan.  Based on this, preparation for the new ICU must have begun several years ago.   If not, are you able to advise when the business and c...

BC Conservative Party Leader Ryan Warawa A message from BC Conservative Party President, Ryan Warawa : Season’s greetings! I hope you are having a wonderful holiday season with your friends and family. I am writing you to give you some important updates on the BC Conservative Party. Annual General Meeting The Party held a successful Annual General Meeting at the Sandman Hotel and Suites in Kelowna on November 24th. A revised Constitution and By-laws was adopted, and a number of new policies were passed. To read a press release about our new School Choice policy, please visit the link here. I am also happy to announce that the following individuals were elected to the 2018-2019 Board of Directors at our 2018 AGM: President: Ryan Warawa Vice President: Jeff Bridge Treasurer: Bob Bray Secretary: Glen Chernen Directors at Large: Gurjinder Bains, Justin Greenwood, Darryl Seres, Christopher Wilson and Matthew Breeden Nanaimo By-election...

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...

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...