2024 British Columbia General Election Thread

[Robbie]

Amid the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election, British Columbia has its own Provincial General Election on October 19, 2024. It will be essentially four years since the last BC General Election on October 24, 2020 and a lot of things have changed. Specifically, two years into his second term John Horgan stepped down on November 18, 2022 with David Eby taking over as BC Premier. And the BC Liberal leader Andrew Wilkinson has stepped down and now have suspended their campaign as well. At the same time, John Rustad has crossed the floor from the Liberals to the Conservatives and that is now the official opposition. The only thing that hasn't changed is that Sonia Furstenau is still the leader of the Green Party.

Adding a poll. Have you decided which party you will vote for?

[Sir Purrcival]

Well, let's see. Social Credit, oh wait, BC Liberals.. oh no that's not it either, BC United...doesn't ring quite true either. Oh I know, the BC Conservatives. Led by a former LiberUnited person. It seems to me that if you have to reinvent your name every so many years, you have a problem. I was trying to think of an analogous situation. I remember now, it sounds an awful lot like unscrupulous developers who create deficit laden structures and then promptly fold as a business so that they are no longer on the hook for any warranties or damages.

All hyperbole aside, I have been listening to some Conservative ads on the radio and they really frost my wheaties. As a voter, I don't consider myself stupid andwhen ads insult my intelligence I am not likely to buy that product. Anybody who has lived in Vancouver for any number of years knows well that there has long been a drug problem in the city. The names and products have changed from decade to decade but even when I was a young man 40 years ago, you had no problem finding the issue. Same with hospital waits and doctor shortages. The situations come and go to some degree but there are systemic issues that have been around for a long long time. So why is it the Cons with their ads, try to blame it all on the NDP like it wasn't ever an issue in Vancouver before 2017? When you resort to bald faced lies in order to curry favour, you have a problem.

I know it is part of politics and they certainly aren't the first nor the last but it's time that voters start to really analyse the things that politicians try to sell as fact. Otherwise we are going to truly be in a mess. There is room for differing POV in our world but I will not vote for anyone that sinks below a certain level of honesty and this time around, the Cons have done it. And before some think I am just an NDP supporter, I have voted SoCred, Liberal, Green and NDP at different points in my life. Credibility is a big issue for me. I'm not fully decided who I will definitely vote for but I have decided who I won't vote for.

[Toppy Vann]

Well said Sir Purcival.

Canada has never recovered from the cuts from the Thatcher-Reagan-Mulroney premised on the belief that the market economy could take over from government funded entities that led to the withdrawal of support to the not for profits that now kind of restored is too little to late.

No one believed that a global pandemic would hit and no one understood the dramatic shift we'd get when they addicted massive numbers to opiods.

In BC the system has never recovered from Premier Gordon Campbell cuts as outlined by one of his former ministers - George Abbott.

https://www.ubcpress.ca/big-promises-small-government

Big Promises, Small Government demonstrates the integral relationship between effective tax policy and sustainable social programs. In this important and original case study, George Abbott provides a rigorous analysis of an intense and often controversial period in the province’s political history. Despite sharply declining economic indices, the new premier expected that lower taxes would spur investment and growth, essentially paying for themselves. Instead, the Campbell government’s precipitous and ideological decision to cut taxes and exempt health and education – some 70 percent of the provincial budget – from any decrease in expenditures left smaller ministries scrambling to save $4.4 billion to meet a balanced budget. Severe budget cuts extended throughout social ministries with direct impact on their often vulnerable clients.

Federally the Conservatives have been winners in shifting public opinion all led by the evil Ezra Levant, Polievre's lies and BOT farms and those foreign paid Canadian influencers now targeted by the US DOJ.

Mulroney in his later years no doubt regretted his cuts but he sure wasn't buying the current Conservative Party policies.

Polievre to his core believes that hard work alone is all you need (said it about indigenous) but that's impossible for many in the modern economy.

[Sir Purrcival]

Since PP likes to harp on Singh and his pension. I wonder if he would be willing to forego his? What has he ever done except politics. He has made almost his entire living off the taxpayer. While there is nothing wrong with that, it is hypocritical to point fingers at others who are doing the same. The Cons in BC have had many years of influence over the political landscape of this province, just under different names. I truly wish people would put in the time and effort to remember what exactly the state of popularity was for that side of the political landscape at the end of the Clark/Campbell era. 16 Years of conservative leadership. They weren't all bad but they weren't a bed of roses much of the time either. And they didn't have a world pandemic to contend with in the middle of it.

[Toppy Vann]

This recent photo of Pierre Polievre tells me all I need to know.



This article is more than 4 months old
News
Pierre Poilievre Meets with Far-Right Extremist Group at Nova Scotia-New Brunswick Border
“Everyone’s happy with what you’re doing,” Poilievre tells conspiratorial fringe group camped out on side of highway

by Luke LeBrun, Editor
April 24, 2024
Canada’s leader of the official opposition pulled over on the side of a highway Tuesday evening and paid a surprise visit to a group of far-right extremists who have staged protests at the Nova Scotia–New Brunswick border for the last three years.




https://pressprogress.ca/pierre-poiliev ... ck-border/

[Robbie]

It looks like Heidi Game rules still don't apply to CBC Hockey Night in Canada as on Oct. 19 in game between Montreal Canadiens at NY Islanders as the game went to a shootout during a 3-3 tie and after the sixth round when it was still tied, CBC decided to quickly cut off the game to show the BC General Election. And that went for nothing as there were no clear-cut result anyways and there was no scroll letting viewers know the result of that game.

Two days later, still no solid results as things are deadlocked between the NDP and the Conservatives and we may have to wait for another week until around Oct. 28 to see before the NDP will still remain in power or will they be replaced by the Conservatives. Very disappointing voter turnout as it appears to be only around ~57% although that's still an small improvement from the 54.50% turnout in 2020.

[Toppy Vann]

It looks like Heidi Game rules still don't apply to CBC Hockey Night in Canada as on Oct. 19 in game between Montreal Canadiens at NY Islanders as the game went to a shootout during a 3-3 tie and after the sixth round when it was still tied, CBC decided to quickly cut off the game to show the BC General Election. And that went for nothing as there were no clear-cut result anyways and there was no scroll letting viewers know the result of that game.

Two days later, still no solid results as things are deadlocked between the NDP and the Conservatives and we may have to wait for another week until around Oct. 28 to see before the NDP will still remain in power or will they be replaced by the Conservatives. Very disappointing voter turnout as it appears to be only around ~57% although that's still an small improvement from the 54.50% turnout in 2020.

I think it will be at least until then to decide unless it ends in more recounts or even a judicial recount in one or two close ridings.

If what the BC Liberals did in 2017 is what Rustad will do if he's not the clear winner which is most likely, we'll see him deny any member of his caucus taking the Speaker's chair or Chair of the Committee of the Whole (used to debate legislation). It won't be either of the two Greens as they'd be needed to vote for the Government giving them the balance of power as they'd need those votes.

The NDP nor Cons if they were in the same situation as NDP can afford to have a Speaker from their party who only votes in case of a tie.

In 2005 most think in the federal House that Chuck Cadman then an independent was the winning vote to pass the added $4 billion social program spending and withholding the corporate tax cuts but his vote just tied it at 152-152 and Speaker Peter Milliken broke the tie in favour of the government.

I mention this as John Rustad might still try to fight and get deal with the Greens despite his statement he's now hiding from "Let's celebrate carbon."

More likely is the Greens (if they'll do it as it didn't help electorally in 2017) supporting the NDP by possibly pushing what I like "community health centres" to go along with the NDPs Urgent Care Centres.

I think Kevin Falcon delivered three sectors to John Rustad who IIRC he pushed out of his party in the way of private insurers, real estate speculators and private health providers. He mentioned those in the leaders debate signalling he wants the old BC Lib funders on his side. .

[Robbie]

Final results:

NDP (David Eby) - 47 seats
Conservative (John Rustad) - 44 seats
Green (Sonia Furstenau) - 2 seats

So David Eby will remain as BC Premier with his NDP holding a small majority although losing 8 seats since 2020.

Voter turnout: 58.3%
Improvement from 54.5% in 2020 but couldn't break the 60% mark.

[Robbie]

For those of you who disliked ex-Premier Bill Vander Zalm, then you have the late BC realtor Faye Leung who brokered the sale of Fantasy Gardens to thank for as she was the one who was most responsible for bringing him down.

RIP Faye Leung (1932 - Nov. 1, 2024)


Bill Vander Zalm maintains his innocence although in retrospect he admits that he would have done things differently.

[Toppy Vann]

In the years I used to attend SFU Convocations, I met many honorary degree recipients given my role and of the two family members I met for the first time that stood out above all others including the honorary degree recipients were Faye Leung and CKNW's Al Davis - both of whom had family members graduating that year.
Both were British Columbian characters.

In the case of Faye Leung announcing to the world the $20,000 bag of cash in the hotel room, I have always wondered if Bill Van der Zalm ever laid awake at night and asked himself why on freaking earth he just didn't let her take the bag with the $20,000 in it as she was the one who helped set up the deal IIRC.

[Sir Purrcival]

Because, old Wooden Shoes Willy wasn't very bright or ethical. After the SoCreds died as a political entity, another not so bright or ethical politician, Gordon Wilson managed to poison the rise to power of a new Liberal party making it ripe for the demised right to stage a coup resulting in what BC experienced as the Liberal in name only Cons. Probably fairer to refer to them as a Pro Business party as I don't recall much of any religious moral right issues being the planks of those governments. Unfortunately, that is what the right side seems to be these days. Science denying, waxing nostalgic about the good old days for whom many were not alive to even remember. Sadly, the longer one lives, and the more one has seen, the easier it is to recognize the that the crap that some think is new and exciting is really just a regurgitation of past history. The appeal of quick sound bytes that promise to solve all the problems are worth less than your average junk bond. Too many however, who either aren't wise enough to learn from history or do the research or have an agenda for other reasons are more than willing to forego stable governance. I am not commenting on any particular ideology. This pendulum swings both ways but we require, well reasoned, thoughtful individuals in politics. Not the ideologically driven, fringe folks who think nothing of spewing absolute garbage to influence the weak minded and disenfranchised.

[Robbie]

RIP John Horgan (August 7, 1959 – November 12, 2024)

He was the first Non-Liberal BC Premier since 2001 when he took office on July 18, 2017. Less than two years after stepping down on November 18, 2022 , he's gone at the age of 65 of thyroid cancer.

[Toppy Vann]

RIP John Horgan (August 7, 1959 – November 12, 2024)

He was the first Non-Liberal BC Premier since 2001 when he took office on July 18, 2017. Less than two years after stepping down on November 18, 2022 , he's gone at the age of 65 of thyroid cancer.

Horgan as a government staff member was considered "a policy guy" which to those of us who dealt with government meant he dealt with issues in a non-political way and just focused on whether things were good public policy. The worst thing is when govt staff start focusing on the politics rather than getting policies right. Those sort are impossible to deal with and run to ministers if they dont like what you say.

I met Horgan once professionally when he was a senior staffer at the Crown Corporations Secretariat (CCS)- a body crowns had to go through on proposals that eventually would go to Cabinet. Government had commissioned an external consultant's report and my boss the CEO didn't like how some issues were characterized. As it was not our report, pushing back on the consultant directly was fraught with some danger in that the gov't could get pissed off. I got as many changes through as I could by dealing with the person in charge of dealings with us but the CEO pressed for more. It was then our file head at CCS suggested I meet his colleague John Horgan who was a good policy guy and plugged into the government despite him being on staff. There was risk to our firm, the CEO and myself of going to another source as if Horgan wasn't the straight shooter he was supposed to be we could have a few deputies and two ministers and even the Premier jumping on us. The meeting with Horgan smoothed the set up of the meeting with the Consultant who was from Winnipeg so had to fly into Victoria. It wasn't what Horgan did but his understanding of the issues and his willingness to listen first, then talk helped as even the head of the CCS (a deputy minister) took risk in letting us go direct to the Consultant.

When Horgan took over as Leader of the NDP it was a no-brainer for me to vote for his party. He gave BC good, stable government with no drama, no big scandals and a willingness to work with the federal gov't assured that BC was a first in programs that supported people.