Thoughts on BC Politics and More

Dear BC Health Minister Terry Lake ... Why is it that Health Care workers, Doctors, Nurses and other professionals (including those 1000's in Health Authority management positions) can have actual meals (with foods that go together) in hospital cafeterias, while people who are sick get food served to them that in no way meets the Canada Health Guide nutrition standards? I guess the same should be asked … “Why prisoners in detention are fed better as well? Would it not be fair to have them all eat the same food as hospital patients have to endure?” Having the amount and type of food recommended, and following the tips included, in Canada's Food Guide will help:   Meet your needs for vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.   Reduce your risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes * , heart disease, certain types of cancer and osteoporosis.   Contribute to your overall health and vitality. * Diabetes … heaven forbid if you get sick in a hospital, at ...

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...

How many of you have wondered about the TRILLIONS in tax revenue BC was to achieve from LNG ... the tens of thousands of jobs its would create ... how it would lead to a debt free BC ... and that we would have the first of 5, no 3 , no heaven only knows how many ACTUAL LNG plants up and running between 2015 and 2020? Well here for you are just a FEW of the promises made, and not kept, by the BC Liberal government. Multiple investors across the natural gas sector have expressed interest in developing LNG export facilities . The first commercial LNG export facility in Canada is scheduled to open in Kitimat, on B.C.’s central coast, by 2015 . CBC’s Reality Check team finds f or Clark to make these claims with no deals in place, it's more hype and hope than fact , and we are calling them political spin. Our latest data indicate that a scenario with five LNG plants constructed in B.C. between 2015-2024 would create a total industry investment of $175 billi...

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...

Greetings friends ... it's January 1st, 2016 already.  Wow, 2015 flew by awfully fast!  For myself, 2015 did not end the way that I would have hoped, as we are dealing with my wife being diagnosed with Lymphoma.  She had her first treatment on December 21st, which stretched into 3 days as she had a bad reaction to the chemo cocktail they had put together.  Bev has been extremely tired since, however we put together a great Christmas at home, and had a number of family members visit over several days. I would ask for those of you who have an on-going conversation with God, that you keep us in your prayers.  We'll be going through this process into April, and knowing we have an army of Prayer Warriors out there has been a huge morale booster for not only Bev, but myself as well! 2016 now brings us to a short 16 months until the next Provincial Election in BC.  DON'T BE discouraged as there IS going to be a voice for those of us on the cen...

On Thursday (December 10th) Dan Brooks, leader of the BC Conservative Party, issued a media release regarding Senate appointments, the case for BC holding elections to fill vacancies, and for BC to receive a number of seats EQUAL to the population of our province.   The text of the release, put forward, was as follows: ... a better alternative towards reforming Canada's Senate: the direct election of 13 Senators by and for British Columbia. ... Prime Minister Justin Trudeau proposed a new formula to fill Senate vacancies in which five The Canadian Senate citizens would be selected, including three appointees by the federal government and two by the province involved.  These appointees would develop a list of candidates meeting an improved set of qualifications to be a Senator from which the Prime Minister would select the eventual appointee ... the Prime Minister may informally consult the province involved but is not required to do so. That proposal was p...