Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Alan Forseth ~~ Kamloops ~~ April 24 th , 2019 The latest information, from the BC Stats Info Line, came out today.   As if you weren’t already aware of it, by the emptier feeling in your bank account, the consumer price index (CPI) was 2.6% higher in March. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is built as a triangle. Showing the need a firm and solid foundation. In BC that foundation is currently looking a little shaky, and likely causing stress for many men, woman, and families. As Simple Psychology says ... n eeds lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up . From the bottom of the hierarchy upwards, the needs are: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem and self-actualization. Looking at just items needed by the everyday family, the cost of food climbed 4.3% with prices for groceries up 5%.   Within the food category, the highest rise in prices was for fresh vegetables (+15.7%) , follow...

Just 76 words ... 401 characters ... that’s all it took for BC NDP Premier John Horgan to make comment on the win by Jason Kenney and the United Conservative Party over in Alberta last night.   Heck he’s used twice as many words to say he’s headed to for a meeting with the Governor of Washington State. Here’s what the BC government media release from the Office of the Premier had to say: Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement on the results of Alberta's general election on April 16, 2019: “This morning, I called Jason Kenney to congratulate him following his election win. Our brief conversation was constructive and focused on issues that matter to both Alberta and British Columbia. We agreed to talk about challenges in the days ahead”. “I look forward to further conversations and working together in the interests of both of our provinces.” Given the feuding that has gone on between BC and Alberta in the past couple of ...

Gas prices in Vancouver on April 29th, 20 18 Gas prices in British Columbia are out of control. On Friday (April 4 th ), prices in Vancouver reached as high as $1.67 per litre – shattering the all-time record, with Victoria and the rest of the province not far behind. And while the (BC NDP) government and Premier John Horgan continue to make excuses, I’ll let you in on a little secret – this is exactly what they wanted. Not only have they done everything in their power to stop the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline, they’ve also hiked the Carbon Tax 33% since getting elected – including again this week. A tax that’s sole purpose is to raise the price of gas to punish you for driving ... and yet now they act all surprised when their policy does just that. Does the Premier really think British Columbians are that stupid? Gas prices in Vancouver in April 20 19 And look I have no problem with someone advocating for a Carbon Tax, if they’re honest ab...

W ill there be an election in BC this spring?   For those of us that are engaged Reading of the 2019 BC government Throne Speech in politics, this is a burning question. What could the signs be? A throne speech normally sets the tone, and is used to lay out a vision for the next year, with hints at other initiatives. It is then defended by government MLAs. The NDP introduced the lamest throne speech in BC’s history which simple attacked the BC Liberals, and praised the NDP initiatives from the previous year. It also contained a few populist issues and promises of programs not starting until future years. The NDP also refused to speak to their throne speech, or defend it, leading to the shortest throne speech debate in BC history. I initially thought this was simply incompetence by the NDP. But did they do this intentionally to save their plans for a spring election call? The NDP need to introduce legislation to support their promises made to ...

Premier John Horgan has released the following statement in honour of the 11th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP): Eleven years ago, UNDRIP was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly to protect and uphold the inherent rights and human rights of Indigenous peoples around the globe. One of our first commitments as government was to work to implement UNDRIP, the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Tsilhqot’in Supreme Court decision. The road is long, but we have made reconciliation a cross-government priority and are taking important steps forward, in partnership with Indigenous peoples. Government after government has made empty promises to First Nations and all Indigenous peoples, and made unilateral decisions about their communities and land. Systemic and institutional racism has left a legacy of trauma and inequality that affects the lives of Indigenous peop...

Just in case you didn’t know it. “ Metro Vancouver is home to some of the fastest-growing cities in Canada .” AND … “ Modern, efficient transit systems are needed more than ever to reduce traffic congestion, connect businesses and communities, and meet the needs of a rapidly growing population .” This afternoon Justin Trudeau, and BC Premier John Horgan, announced more than $3 billion in federal and provincial funding for two major rapid transit projects in Metro Vancouver … the Broadway Subway project … and the Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit project. Luckily however, at least one reporter was on the ball asking, “All of these things have been announced before – why are we here – is this just a photo op?”