Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Earlier in the Legislative session in Victoria, the NDP government introduced a bill entitled the Electoral Boundaries Commission Amendment Act, 2021. As harmless as this bill sounds, it has been one of the more contentious and hotly-debated bills of the spring session, and for good reason. This bill, which just passed (our whole caucus opposed it) has the potential to reduce rural representation and the rural voice in Victoria while increasing representation in more urban areas like Vancouver. While our Electoral Boundaries Commission reviews our riding boundaries once every two elections, the general goal is to provide equal representation for all British Columbians. But in recognition of the vast area and many geographic challenges of our province, the Commission itself has said that effective representation is not simply anchored to equality of population. A 2015 report stated that, “factors like geography, community history, community interests and minority representation” shoul...

This morning, as I begin filling out what was simply a thought starter for todays “20 for 2020” commentary, it is snowing heavily in Kamloops; close, but not quite, a blizzard. That means I’m snowed in this morning, so at least I’ll have more time for commentary number twelve in our series. Let’s start out by asking ... have you ever uttered the following, or something similar – or heard others doing the same? “ This is the way we feel on the matter and our MLA is voting the exact opposite ” ... “ Our MLA is just doing what he is told to by his party ” ... “ Why don’t our MLA’s consider our thoughts on this situation? ” ... and on an on the list can go. The reason for this is, in many instances, because there is a lack of accountability ... and often times it is entirely true that an MLA will vote according to directives from the party he or she represents.  Having a difference of opinion, as long as it is kept within caucus can be tolerated, but not voting accordin...

Yesterday was New Years day ... and the first installment of what I am calling “ 20 for 2020” ... ideas which I believe should be implemented by any political party who wishes to govern us. As I mentioned on Tuesday, each of these suggestions and ideas, despite being number from one to twenty, will be random in order; and so they should not be interpreted as being presented in order of importance. Yesterday, I paraphrased an idea which was presented by the BC Conservative Party back in May of last year. There will be four others from the Conservatives, however there will also be many ideas from my own experiences being involved in BC politics for over two decades, as well as suggestions from friends and political acquaintances. Now, as today is January 2 nd , here is suggestion number two ... there should be a review of services provided to areas and regions where much of the provinces revenues are collected from .   Many would likely say t...

Happy New Year ... and welcome to 2020.    To start the year off, I plan, over the next three weeks, to present what I’m going to call “ 20 for 2020” ... ideas which I believe should be implemented by any political party who wishes to govern us. Some of these will be longer, and some will be shorter.   Five of these ideas are policies which, in large part, have been put forward by the BC's Conservative Party ... many are ideas from my own experiences being involved in BC politics for over two decades ... and some are suggestions from friends and political acquaintances. While they are numbered, they are random in order, and so they should not be interpreted as being presented in order of importance. Let’s begin with number one, " Its about You" , which is loosely paraphrased from a policy of the BC Conservatives ...  

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...