TreeVille
All of today's pro-media coverage is about how Mr. Eby lost the race before it even got to the clubhouse turn.
Some, like the estimable Mr. Palmer, from the safety of Postmedia's innermost of harbours, reckon it was lost before the horses even got to the gate. Although, to be fair, the Dean of the Legislative Press Gallery, did use a different metaphor.
But nevermind all that.
Because I've been looking for an analysis of what the BC Conservatives will actually do in government.
You know, the stuff that actually matters to how lives here in British Columbia will be lived for the next four years or so.
Of course, there has been very little of that in the public prints.
But, luckily for us, Norm Farrell has been paying very close attention.
Here is Norm's recent analysis:
Housing: Cut construction taxes and charges, accelerate approvals, and reduce energy-efficiency requirements. End provincial density requirements. Support infrastructure needed by growth. Provide tax credits for creating self-contained accommodation for senior relatives.
Education:Accelerate pathways into trades. Further restrict phones, and enable school police liaison programs.
Environment/Climate: Repeal CleanBC, expand fossil fuel production, and support pipelines.
Healthcare: Fund treatment by private practictioners. Recruit and train more staff.
Reconciliation: Repeal DRIPA. Seek constitutional changes to eliminate Indigenous rights.
In my opinion there is some very scary reactionary stuff in there, even if the regressive 'open for extractive business' approach actually gives a short term boost to the economy.
But my opinion isn't worth a hill of beans to the 48% of the British Columbia electorate who wanted either one of those two things, or both
But here's something to consider.
Aren't both of those things what a similar percentage of our neighbours to the South got bamboozled into voting for a couple of years ago?
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Image at the top of the post?...End of the backstretch at the old Sandown Park, circa 1977, in North Saanich.
So..What should provincial progressives do now?...Well, what if, as reader Graham has suggested, we had an actual Orange/Green supergroup that worked together in opposition and even took heed of what the progressive parties in Vancouver did come election time...And yes, I am thinking of making deals about where it makes the most sense for one party or the other to stand down in strategic ridings to ensure that the splitting of votes, like what just lost them Saanich South (Con 39%, Dipper 35%, Green 26%), doesn't happen again in 2030...
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As soon as Eby called the election my guess was the NDP would loose. The other side was a bit unorganized and it might have looked like they wouldn't get their act together but really, running this province can be so lucrative.
ReplyDeleteReading about the Robert Summer's case was instructive as was listening in on adult conversations.
In my early teens adult conversations regarding the awarding of highway construction contracts in B.C. widened my knowledge and interest. So what do I expect from the Cons running the province. Well I remember all the fun and games we have had with the Socreds, B.C. Lieberals, etc. There was that court case in Nanaimo about cutting of trees. I do recall seeing Rich Coleman's name during that mix.
I do expect changes in health care-privitization and how corporations will be able to make a killing. Promises of hospitals in Surrey, if they materialize they will be private with taxpayers paying for it. If the Human Rights commission has some big changes would not be surprised as changes to the labour code. I expect to see some peoples' financial situations improving, travel will become big for MLAs of the ruling party. expect some of trump's games come north and perhaps even a visit or two. Things will not be improving in this province. Just read all the old blogs regarding the B.C. lieberals during the B.C. Rail game, Surrey fun and games=Laila Yullie's blogs. Do expect people with drug problems be confined somewhere. There was a time in this province when legislation permitted people to be sent to Riverview with a signature of a doctor or two. It was a great way to get rid of wives. Jack Wasserman wrote in his columns about how that needed to change and abuse. Oh and people could do it to their kids also. Just back to the good old days. Reading politics from 9 yrs old to 77 oh and eaves dropping gave me a whole different slant on things.
Norm Farrell will have it correct.
As long as the First Past the Post system is used, it will continue to distort the way people actually vote.
ReplyDeleteGreen/Orange fusion might still be unelectable in the short term, and the reason for this really grinds my gears. For decades, we've watched as piles of steaming shite have piled up directly tied to our way of running society for a few winners at the expense of everyone else to some degree. Orange comes to power, and the fundamental underpinnings of the casino remain untouched other than to shave of a little of the loot to pacify those suffering and to give the impression that something is different. People get tired of government's not dealing with the underlying mechanisms of crisis and tosses Orange to the opposition benches. In terms of a party that actually might form government, there really isn't much choice. Had there been some frank discussion of the ways and means of crisis, and of what it will take to actually mitigate, and eventually, to solve crises, there is a boatload of re-education that needs to happen, and a lot of that happens to be uncomfortable news for those already comfortable and promises more interim pain for those already suffering. There have been few elected folks who have had the courage to outline the prescription, and a lot of the truth gets buried behind the party whip, and certainly isn't aided by the bleatings of the media commentariat. Nonetheless, the slow process of building a better knowledge (and action) base has to start somewhere, and this election indicates what Victoria is not where it's likely to improve in the short term.
ReplyDeleteLet's not forget the repealing of SOGI 123
ReplyDeleteOne thing I haven't heard anybody talk about, is that Lorne Doerkson is only an interim leader, which implies a leadership convention in the near future. Are we being set up for a bait and switch? Given that these people elected Kerry-Lynne Findlay, I would say there is definitely a chance things could get crazy again.
ReplyDeleteWow! What a shitshow!
ReplyDeleteObviously, Eby took some poor advice. I think he has been pushed into this election by people just wanting to hold on to power.
I don't think he is normally that stupid or egotistical.
Perhaps I am wrong about this.
My perception of him from the past is that he is quite intelligent with good intentions. The perfect behind the scenes person.
How him and the party thought this guy, with average speaking skills and zero charisma, should be a leader is a bit shocking.
A complete shitshow!
the fact that the general population has no idea about politics showed through with them just voting against the dippers and having no idea what they were voting for. A group that can't even run their own party!
I understand people's plan. I use it often. Vote for whoever will do the least damage. The peeps just had no idea who they were voting for!
Poopheads!
Former Premier Eby will go down in history as the worst premier this province had and replacing the likes of Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark took some doing.
ReplyDeleteTo be honest, Eby and the NDP stopped listening to the electorate and only listened to his close cadre of :higher purpose persons".
I think the optics of the $10 a day daycare deal was the last straw with voters more worried about Eby's overreaching grasp of taxpayer's money with little or no accountability.
He failed to take on Metro Vancouver or have any vision with metro Vancouver the most undemocratic and bureaucratic outfit there is.
Eby failed to deal with DRIPA, as he also failed with his "no-fault" ICBC Insurance.
BC Ferries was another huge sore point and of course with the NDP the Hurtlands, just hurt more.
The "Dork" will soon disappoint and the more visible "Maple MAGA" anti everything, about everything will leave a sour taste with many people.
Buyer's remorse next spring?
Basically, the voter has two options, both very unpalatable and 52% stayed home.
Here is something Vancouver residents should think about; that 10 lane bridge replacing the Massey tunnel is not about traffic congestion (I will get back to that) but to allow large tankers and colliers to load dirty Montana coal and volatile Brake Oil at Surrey docks, delivered by the BN&SF Railway so they don't have to pay wheelage to BC Rail.
I wonder who was paying who to post the 10 lane Fraser Bridge promos on you tube for the past 6 months?
As there only still four lanes of traffic assessing Vancouver, via the Oak and Knight Bridges, the increased traffic flows into Vancouver will cause perpetual gridlock on the Hwy 99 and of course a new crossing of the North Arm of the Fraser will happen and a highway right into downtown Vancouver, via the Arbutus corridor.
A little birdie has told me that the planning for that is already underway.
Now that would be a real election issue won't it?!
I think this post counts as the very first time Eby has even been mentioned on this blog. Am I wrong--?
ReplyDeleteYou should feel scared. Current forecasts peg the provincial deficit of $14 billion and B.C. has had eight credit-rating downgrades in three years.
ReplyDeleteThe REAL problem for the NDP goes beyond choosing a new leader. The party’s MLAs, strategists, bureaucracy seem to me to be flush with socialist activist revolutionaries who are more interested in pandering to those in deep poverty, homeless, druggies, anti-development activists, First Nations militants … rather than giving priority to needs of working families, struggling singles, students, seniors, crime victims. struggling businesses (especially those strangled by multi-year-long public works projects outside their doors). The party “of the people” has to get back to being more dedicated to the majority, not just the minorities.
ReplyDelete