Thoughts on BC Politics and More

This weekend, the BC NDP held their annual AGM in Victoria.  While reading up on it, I diverged for a few moments to look back on comments, and posts, from earlier this year.  That little side trip led me to come across these words from my friend, and BC political colleague, Ben Besler .    Read what he had to say, and then tell me whether you agree, or don't, that NOTHING really has changed " ... they (the BC NDP) have become a party on cue to simply state “no” when the other says “yes”. They at one time were the labour party. A party of the working class. A party that stood for better employment opportunities and fair wages. Now they are running amok, appeasing the lunacy that the environmental apparatchiks have become. Killing jobs, stopping progress. They have partnered in solidarity with folks that do everything in their power to bring ruin on the job seeker and the middle class. They stand in the way of progress fo...

A BC Conservative Party Annual General Meeting is about to get underway this Saturday (September 30th) in Langley.   The last AGM I attended for the party was four years ago -- and it was also held in Langley.   That was the one just months before the 2013 Provincial Election -- and the one that spelled the end of the party fortunes, which until then had them neck and neck, in the polls, with the BC Liberals. A lot has happened since then, and while nothing is perfect, there are a number of people working hard to rebuild the party, and former members (who left for a number of reasons) are beginning to rejoin the party, along with many new ones. Policy -- principles -- beliefs are the basics needed to create an entity -- it's the people who lead it however that can create -- or destroy that said entity. What draws people to the BC Conservative Party are a belief in low taxes, small government, and efficient service delivery. Party spokesp...

Earlier this morning I received an email, from a political friend and former BC Conservative Party colleague, asking, "... what happened in Richmond yesterday ?" As two people have now said to me, " It's the same old gang, just different front men. Very, very sad. And disappointing." ... and ... "Absolutely a disaster. Board slate totally successful. President some retired ex-police officer friend of Ian MacDonald.  Party is done. Division remains ." I suppose that those at the helm of the BC Conservative Party for the past year, and those now running the show, are pleased with the results. As for me however, I am personally very disappointed, and numb. The results, in my opinion, will only continue the decline of the Party, as no change in direction appears to be on the horizon any time soon.    As this letter sent to the BC Conservative Party (and copied to me) shows, the few remaining members will continue to w...

In a post a week ago, I included the following phrase; ". ..the concept of fiduciary trust and adherence to high ethical standards is not an optional requirement of a public organization incorporated under the Societies Act.  It is a legal requirement as well as a moral imperative. " I wish I could claim it as my own, however it was a friend who provided it too me. Today, I repeat it once more, on the eve of the BC Conservative Party AGM, which will be held tomorrow in Richmond.  Over the past several months I have written on concerns that I, and others have had, with regards to a failure by the current Board to be open and transparent, and to move the BC Conservatives forward in a positive light that clearly presents an electable option to both the NDP and the BC Liberals. Today, I had intended to present a much different post, however a good friend wisely counseled me saying: " There will be a new board elected on Saturday night. I...

YES ... confusion continues to reign supreme within the BC Conservative Party ... just days before its Annual General Meeting which takes place this Saturday (February 20th) in Richmond. A little over a week ago I had a brief conversation with the area Regional Director asking what my status was following an official submission the Current Board and Executive.  That submission pointed out not just one, but a large number of areas of the Party's Constitution, which were trampled on when my membership was declined. In a nutshell, these included that the: ... concept of fiduciary trust and adherence to high ethical standards is not an optional requirement of a public organization incorporated under the Societies Act.  It is a legal requirement as well as a moral imperative.   Back to my discussion with the Regional Director.  I asked him if the Board had reversed its' decision, regarding denial of my membership application, and wa...

Out of respect to the BC Conservative Party, and to its members, I have held back from stronger comments I have had around concerns for its future.    NOT ANY MORE.     Here and now I will publicly state that a majority (how large or small I do not know) of the BC Conservative Party Executive and Board do not have a bloody clue what they are doing.   In fact, they seem hell bent for leather in destroying the last scrap of credibility it has, small as it may be. This was infinitely confirmed to me today when I received an email from Dan Denis, a former member, who in fact spent time as a member of the BC Conservative Executive a few years back.   In it, he stated that upon the urging of fellow conservatives, he had been encouraged to take out a membership once again.   They response of the Membership Chair Bob Bray, and by extension the Board and Executive of the Party, was to refuse it. Dan stated: I have officially bee...

The BC Conservative Party has just released the following in the past three quarters of an hour.  Leader Dan Brooks has announced he is leaving the post     From: BC Conservative Party < info@bcconservative.ca > Date: January 4, 2016 at 12:29:21 PM PST To: xxxxxxxx Subject: BC Conservative Leader Dan Brooks Resigns     Vanderhoof, BC ( January 4, 2016 ) - Dan Brooks, who led the BC Conservatives from April 2014 until now, has resigned as leader. He has been asked by the Party to serve temporarily as interim leader until February 20, 2016 . "It has been an honour to serve the people of British Columbia as leader of the BC Conservative Party, but the time has come for me to pass the torch." Brooks said, acknowledging that his term as a volunteer leader was both challenging and rewarding, but that the time had come to refocus on family and business. "My resignation opens a range of opportunities for the Party to find new leadership, ...

It's interesting -- no actually it's sad -- how the BC Conservative Party seems to bumble from one wrong move to the next.   On December 31st Party President, Ian MacDonald, sent out the latest In House Communicator to 93 Directors of Associations, Regions, Provincial Board and Chairs.   It wasn't long of course before I had been forwarded a copy of the memo, along with the following message: Alan: Just received your message today and would like to acknowledge your greeting. ... I am forwarding a copy of the latest news release. I remain dumbfounded at the stupidity. Ian MacDonald doesn't appear to be in touch with reality. Threats are probably not the best way to build a party and the whole idea of establishing ones own benchmarks to measure success leave me with my mouth hanging open. I'm thinking of maybe providing some benchmarks ... All the best for the New Year.... Now here's the text of the message from the BC Conservative Party...

If you recall, I quit the BC Conservative Party this past Spring, following the Executive and Board of the BC Conservative Party offering an apology to Alison Paton and company, and re-instatement of their memberships. Their carefully planned sabotage of the party, timely due to the closeness of the election, led to damage the Conservatives were never able to recover from in time for the May 2013 election.  As has been stated here, and elsewhere, it was sabotage plain and simple. What was the result of their dissension ?  Not one single BC Conservative candidate was elected! I have been vocal, and public, in my comments about the party since asking for my membership to be removed.  I was not alone in this; I was simply public about it.  Other members simply disengaged and walked away in disgust at the lack of direction, or failed to renew their memberships. So, let’s have a quick recap. I quit because of the actions of the bo...

On November 24 th , the BC Conservative Party issued a media release titled, “ Youth Movement Comes to the Fore at BC Conservatives AGM ". The release stated the members had ‘elected a new board of directors with a distinctly youthful outlook.’  It quoted Leader Dan Brooks saying, “There is a youth movement underway in our Party.  It bodes well for our future – we are dedicated to working on behalf of British Columbia for a long, long time.” Looking at what the individuals on the board’s executive (President, Vice President, Secretary "Lucy, you've got some 'splaining to do!" and Treasurer) brought to the table, there did appear to be a wealth of talent there.  Individuals like Kristy Fredricks with a B.Sc. in Human Ecology … Shane Smitas, a self-described ‘serial entrepreneur’ and Founder and President of two companies … Graham Plant, a medical-devices professional, with an advanced diploma in Biomedical Technology … and Robert Boscacci, a Cha...