In politics … as in comedy … timing is crucial.
So, with the Official Opposition BC Conservatives in turmoil (at one point last week, they had two MLAs claiming to be Leader) and now a new leadership campaign under way, it must be tempting for Premier David Eby to call a snap Spring election.
In fact, some “working” journalist pundits, have suggested that could indeed happen.
It will NOT … and I’ll tell you why.
First of all, the BC economy is in a mess: the current year’s deficit will be an estimated $11.6 Billion; BC’s debt will soon top $134 Billion … up more than 50% in just two years!
BC’s unemployment rate nudged down in November to 6.4% from 6.6% in October, but in some important large voting blocks/areas, it actually went up:
“The unemployment rate for women is on the rise, jumping from 13.8 per cent to 14.3 per cent for women aged 15 to 24, and 4.8 to 5.4 per cent for core-aged women 25 to 54 years old,” the Vernon Morning Star noted.
“The unemployment rates in Vancouver and Victoria both dropped by 0.1 percentage points, with Vancouver’s rate falling to 6.2 per cent and Victoria’s to 4.1 per cent. But in Kelowna, the situation is very different, where unemployment rose from 9.3 per cent to 11 per cent,” the newspaper pointed out. (Read the details here: https://vernonmorningstar.com/2025/12/05/b-c-s-unemployment-rate-decreases-but-not-for everyone/#:~:text=The%20latest%20jobs%20report%20shows,cent%20from%20October%20to%20November.)
Then there was last week’s announced closure of the Crofton pulp mill, with a loss of 350 jobs and the community’s largest employer since 1957.
Eby tried to blame Trump’s tariffs … but company/industry officials pointed out the vast bulk of the Crofton pulp exports go to Asia, not the US, and blamed delays in getting cutting permits, lack of affordable fiber sources and poor pulp prices.
And just five days ago, BC business leaders warned in a letter to Eby/NDP government” the economic trends emerging over the past two years are the most troubling the province has seen in decades.”
“The letter highlights that nearly 60,000 people in B.C. migrated to other provinces in the last year, representing the largest outmigration since the late-1990s and mid-1970s,” the Daily Hive reported. (You can read the full article here: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-government-david-eby-business-organizations-fix-economy.)
All that is on top of the now-routine complaints/failures of the NDP government to adequately deal with long-ongoing Hospital Emergency closures, treatment delays, public safety concerns, homelessness, mental health issues.
If that’s not enough for Eby to rule out a Spring vote, there’s also unhappiness, even growing anger among British Columbians about the NDP government’s handling of First Nations.
The media hasn’t covered the issue much (too afraid?) but I sense millions of British Columbians now believe the NDP’s panders too much to First Nations … handing over millions of dollars for questionable reasons or without adequate controls of where/how the money is spent; giving FN almost veto powers over major economic development projects, and, maybe the worst, adopting the UN Declaration of Indigenous People’s Rights and other policies without fully realizing the disastrous implications that could have for ALL private property rights in BC.
Just days ago, a B.C. property company stated ” a lender has pulled out of financing a new building because of the recent Cowichan Tribes ruling that granted Aboriginal title to more than three square kilometres in Richmond.”
“Montrose Property Holdings, which develops industrial warehouses on land it owns, some of it in the Aboriginal claims area, said it had been in “advanced discussions” with the lender which it had successfully dealt with several times before, and a prospective tenant,” The Vancouver Sun said.
“But talks ended because of “uncertainties and risk allocation issues” raised by the B.C. Supreme Court ruling in August, the company says in an application to reopen the court case that will be filed soon.”
And the company said several other projects have also been affected. (Here’s the full article: https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-company-says-lost-lender-tenant-new-development-after-cowichan-ruling.)
Eby needs time … in the Courts and with Legislative changes… to deal with this HUGE problem that many voters believe the “woke” NDP created.
Elections BC reported that vote in October 2024 cost BC taxpayers $82.4 million … not something most would relish spending again so soon. (The NDP also spent $13.4 million and the Conservatives $10 million.)
Remember, Eby/NDP barely hung on to power in the last election.
With all these issues and fears impacting the province, a Spring election would be a gift to the BC Conservatives, especially if they find a leader who can hold the party together for more than a few months … and impress the voters.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this blog.)
In your response to Ijustdont knowsanymore;
“Clark is of the past: what the Conservatives need is a new leader, with new appeal”. Ho
Replacing Rustad with Clark would show a lack of depth in the party and would be the gift that keeps on giving for the NDP. especially as you noted in another response,
“I doubt Eby will run again. He reminds me of Justin Trudeau in his last year of office… the more voters see/hear him, the less they tend to believe/like him.” Very much so as folks tired of Trudeau long before covid, Eby is on the same but faster track.
M.P. from the north Island Aaron Gunn has been floated in trial balloons maybe taking a run at the B.C. conservative leadership, if that should come to pass or someone similar that would be a gamechanger if that leader gets the party to look like a government in waiting to hammer them on their dismal record on most take your pick issues.
At that point it would be up to the NDP if they want to take a chance at the next election by continuing with the leader that eked out a win for them by a couple of seats against a rag tag group hastily assembled in a couple of months led by someone that had been ousted from the previous B.C. United gong show.
(Response: Aaron Gunn might be too right of center to appeal throughout the province; watch Elenore Sturko. As for the NDP, I suspect Nathan Cullen might have provincial leadership ambitions. What a battle of different visions those two would be! Ho)
I am looking forward to the day when Eby and the NDP are out of office, no question.
I can guarantee whoever is voted in will not shut down casinos or websites that promote gambling. These are legitimate businesses that operate here and all over the entire world. Las Vegas, Macau, etc. and every other province in Canada.
People gamble because they enjoy it until it becomes an addiction like smoking, drinking, and taking drugs. Serious problems all around. You cannot stop a young man from using a cell phone to gamble. One cannot blame any government for this.
Criminals have to launder large sums of money that was obtained through selling drugs and other illegal activities and they want to be able to spend it without raising any red flags.
Criminals are being watched and stopped and we have the perfect example here in Vancouver this weekend. They stopped a man on the street and confiscated $12,000.00 when he was on his way to a casino. What normal person walks around with that much cash in his pocket?? It is because he is allegedly part of a larger criminal gang that uses casinos to wash their money. They definitely must have had him on their radar. The cash is spent there and when it’s cashed out, what is left, plus their winnings, they are issued with proof that this money is now legal tender.
Fintrac is notified of any transactions of $10,000.00 or more, no matter who you are. Banks do this all the time, as well as casinos, to name two.
To get back to the topic at hand I hope the conservatives get their rear ends in gear and soon.
(Response: The closure of Hastings Racecourse and Casino … not the fact it would be closed, but the way the province handled it … shows a very cold, nasty side of the provincial government. I get it: horseracing may be a diminishing sport/business; NDP ideologues may not like the sport; the valuable site could be put to better use; the White Caps want their own stadium. But when dealing with an iconic institution that has been there since 1889, government should at least handle it with a little class! Instead, the NDP government SUDDENLY announced it would away critical casino revenue sharing that had specifically been granted to racetracks to offset losses when BCLC went into the gambling business… strangling it financially. And yes, the City wants to redevelop the site. Surely, they both could/should have given a year or two notice of such major blows … to allow the operators time to seek new revenues/sponsors and a new location? Especially when there are hundreds of workers employed there … with few other employment opportunities! Any new development will take years to plan, approve etc. …so why the rush? No good reason…. just nastiness …and more incompetence. Ho)
Harvey and Daniel: Horseracing is a beautiful sport and I’ll miss it if its gone. I have long wished for Vancouver to have a full sized track, instead of our smallish 5/8 mile course.
With the Cloverdale track now closed, I hope interested parties will find a new, larger site to hold the races. One containing a one-mile raceway, both types of racing, and a casino. Many great international cities have first class tracks that have top horses and riders, but we never did.
Luckily the people who did the work are still here, so I for one, think its time we had a world class track!
Perhaps one of our First Nations would care to host such a venture. I think of my own neighbours, the Kwikwetlems, for example. Perhaps they might like to house it on some of their lands, maybe Colony Farms. They could have a casino, the Kwitwetlem Raceways maybe, and maybe a yearly race called The Kwitwetlem Cup!
(Response: I’m well aware of the appeal of horseracing. I have gone to the track on occasion … at both Blue Bonnets in Montreal and Hastings Park here and Gulfstream Park in Florida (I mostly lost! 🙂 … but enjoyed the outing.) My oldest brother was an avid racing fan/owner/business associate of other owners and a very well known jockey back East. But it says something that the industry now needs casino revenues to survive and I can understand the pressure to make better use of Hastings track land. What I think is appalling is how the province and city are dealing with the “wind up” … no compassion, no accommodation for the several hundreds whose lives/income are tied to the site and the industry. Terrible! Ho)
It may possibly be a good thing if Christy Clark entered the ring. We sure do need some house cleaning in BC. We have the arrogant ideologically extremist driven Eby Provincial destroyers and incompetents and then e have the mixed bag of wackos and kooks mixed in with some thatmay actually want to get things on track for BC. How does this all work for British Coumbians interests ? It doesn’t. Maybe Clark will come in fighting while repeating her whatbI would say was a famous fitting line that referred to the NDP in that they couldnt run a popcorn stand in a zoo. I always thought that really fit the NDP like a glove. She did say the Conservatives can’t run the province either with the kooks they have in their party. So, she hit them smack on and deservedly so.
I think for now anyways, she might be the antidote to this mess that BC is in because those two sides of political selfishness and lost causes that couldn’t run a popcorn stand in a zoo. I think she does understand the concept of one government for all and not just the five percent and hopefully putting an end the NDP conceived and implemented shakedown policies that are actually stressing so many people and families out and sowing and causing divisions in our society and more economic uncertainty.
(Response: Clark is of the past: what the Conservatives need is a new leader, with new appeal. Ho)
Yeah I guess I got the wishful thinking bug. Politics is a funny ever changing thing though. One minute were looking over there and the next something pops up opposite. I always thought Christy Clark was more dynamic than anyone so far and by far. I think she put up with a lot of mans world politics bull crap also. But no party or leader is perfect but she had that spark and fire. Nothing that matches that, that I’ve seen so far. Definitely not boring or squeamish to get something done. But which ones out the Conservatives in the party would be a good fit. Maybe its the interim leader himself. I like to think theres at least some who have both feet on the ground that really wants to do right for British Columbians. But as Clark said there’s to many kooks in there. They need to get their shite together, and fast because the NDP and its kooky leader are wrecking the room. Eleanor Sturko maybe for a strong leader. It’s going to be a fantastic edge of our seat time coming up.
(Response: Clark was right about the potential of LNG: too bad militant First Nations and their NDP puppets opposed it so vociferously … think of the billions it could have generated without all the opposition and delays since those early days. But here time has passed …at least as a party leader. Ho)
Hi Harvey, I think you are correct, when you say the NDP has abandoned their base, other than the unionized workers (which is fine), but there are many other ordinary workers and taxpayers, whom they ignore, even though they probably still vote for the NDP.
I am thinking of the tradespeople in small shops, such as mechanics and technicians, sales people, clerks, medical receptionists of all sorts, electricians and plumbers, and a host of others who are not employed as government employees, who look after keeping everything working and small businesses functioning.
Most of these people, have been forsaken by almost all political parties, except near an election. They deserve better, but I doubt they will get it, until they start voting for candidates, who will look out for them, not just follow party lines. Although, those candidates, are few and far between.
(Response: Good point. The squeaking wheels seem to get all the attention … the cash and the benefits. Sometimes, when I am driving down Broadway or Kingsway or No. 3 Road etc., I marvel at the amazing number and variety of small businesses; or, behind the main shopping streets or in the suburbs, the huge number of independent businesses in industrial parks. Think of all those who own, work at, service and frequent those places: who represents them? Who gears policies/actions to meet their interests …. and address their struggles? That’s what BC needs … now! Ho)
I am a wee bit concerned that people here and former premier Glen Clark have cautioned the BC Conservatives to choose a leader not attached to the wacko fringe.
To me it seems both federal and provincial conservatives are terrified of every change foisted upon the populace in the last decade or two. Some brave leader is going to have to take on one or two fringe ideas in addition to UNDRIPA, be it LGBTQ fostering or even the UN Refugees Convention to get most of the truly riled on board with them.
(Response: In Canada, provincially and federally, the vast majority of voters have traditionally preferred center of the road. People with fringe ideas … left or right … attract votes, but almost universally not enough to win. Ho)
I don’t understand why so many on the left are obsessed with social issues. They preach tolerance, but have no tolerance for those who know carbondioxide is the gas of life, marriage cannot be redefined, the unborn have the right to life, vaccine manufacturers should not be immune from prosecution, and injections with ingredients like mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum and polyethylene glycol should not be mandated.
The focus should be on treating all groups equally, punishing crime, improving health care and education, and reducing corruption. It should not be to widen the gap between rich abd poor, and make more people depend on the government for their survival.
(Response: Governments should get involved with social issues … addressing inequalities, injustices and human rights etc … BUT not as their priority. First, governments must create, encourage and promote the economy that produces the jobs that sustain working peoples and businesses that provide the tax revenues to sustain much needed public services … and then, the monies needed to take on/improve social disparities. Many voters sense these days parties/politicians on the left give priority to the latter, instead of the former. Ho)
I had to laugh this morning — in the Globe & Mail:
“Christie Clark posted on social media on Tuesday that she would “always be grateful for the chance to serve,” in a message marking the 15th anniversary of her running for the leadership of the right-of-centre B.C. Liberals, but she says she has no interest in leading the Conservatives.”
Which means she is ‘testing the waters’ and would be there in a heartbeat if anyone in the party tossed out her name.
She who led the BC Liberal Party for several years — the remnants of the Social Credit party — fighting the good fight against the BC NDP. Then last year, there was a futile ‘hail Mary’ shot at leadership (and instant coronation as PM) of the Federal Liberals. Now she covets the reins of the BC Cons.
Gordon Wilson was nicknamed ‘Flip’ Wilson because he so frequently changed parties and political principles, for more power and/or money.
It might be time Christie inherited this moniker.
(Response: If Christie Clark becomes the new Conservative leader, David Eby SHOULD call a Spring election!! Ho)
Christy Clark is no intellectual, (edited for legal concerns). If that’s not enough to disqualify her, she’s not a conservative.
DIRPA or the Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, will sink the NDP faster than the Titanic.
The constant pandering to the First Nations, is going to divide this province which will completely derail the so called “Reconciliation”.
The First nations like everyone else are “Trans actionable” and if the Richmond/Cowichan land decision stands, the First nations will want more and more and more.
Eby and the NDP are now victims of “unintentional consequences” of their own doing and the party is so damn stupid not to realize this.
Like a ticking of a time bomb, DIRPA is going to frame the next election and all the Conservatives need to do is become a sane opposition party.
It is all about land and power and DIRPA has laid the foundation for a winner take all situation and EBY’s NDP will feel the brunt of public displeasure in the next election, where they may not win a seat.
Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it.
The Conservatives dumped their leader and I think it is time the NDP consider dumping theirs.
Just crystal ball gazing……………………..
(Response: Personally, I doubt Eby will run again. He reminds me of Justin Trudeau in his last year of office… the more voters see/hear him, the less they tend to believe/like him. And with Eby’s handling (mangling) of DRIPA, hospitals, homelessness, crime, drugs, mental illness, the general economy (but especially the forest/pulp industry), BC’s deficit and debt … not much there to justify yet another term … unless the Conservatives pick a total dud as new leader. Ho)
So no imminent election. And the majority here seem to think the NDP pretty much suck. But at the same time even the most ardent Conservatives on here are admitting that their party of choice pretty much sucks as well. So what to do.
BC politics has always been a bit weird. I am approaching 75 and in my lifetime BC has been run by either the NDP (about 25 years) or the “not NDP”. As much as people like to refer to us as the “left” coast and not just because we are on the left side of the map, we are hardly all that left leaning when it comes to elections. Of those 50 years when the “not NDP” has been in power, it has always been a “conservative” party running the show. The BC Liberals were mostly Conservative. They changed their name to BC United because they didn’t want to be confused with the federal Liberals.
In the earlier years (’50s to ’80s) BC was Conservative but after EXPO we became far more urban, diverse, cosmopolitan,and liberal but the conservative parties haven’t. The BC Liberals sort of tried. They cared enough about climate change that they were the first Canadian jurisdiction to bring in a carbon tax but they still had to satisfy their more right wing members to make sure a “not NDP” party was in power.
On the other hand, now especially, the BC NDP appears to be more involved with identity politics rather than focusing on other important issues.
I have no doubt that the vast majority of British Columbians want a solid climate policy, one that ensures that projects are environmentally safe But what do we have in BC. It’s all or nothing. Conservatives seem to want it all regardless of environmental consequences and the NDP seem to want nothing even though, for example, tanker traffic safety since the Exxon Valdez has improved considerably. Where is the middle ground?
Same goes for First Nations reconciliation or DEI or the drug crisis or bail reform. With all of those issues, the majority of Canadians, especially BCers are liberal. But we seem stuck in this all or nothing mentality. The left seems to paralyze itself because they are afraid of offending someone by saying no while conservatives seem to take great pride in “telling it like it is” which ultimately turns people off.
Sorry for the ramble but in summary, where is the middle ground? Both parties are capable of filling that void but they will need strong leadership that can maintain control of members on the fringes of the party and even more importantly, convince voters that “you can’t always get want you want but if you try sometime you get what you need” (Mick and Keith, 1968)
(Response: It’s a very good “ramble”: should be read/discussed in every political science class (history too) in BC schools, colleges, universities. A superb summary of BC’s political reality. I’m now 80 (time flies!) and go back far enough to have covered (and on my den wall have a photo with) W.A.C. Bennett. BC political parties have long been “coalitions”:not even many Socreds truly believed in Social Credit monetary policies (unlike Ernest Manning in Alberta or Real Caouette in Quebec); nor were the BC liberals truly Liberal … increasingly becoming more an amalgamation of business/developer/property owners’ interests; the NDP were social democrats with a solid blue collar, union, working class solid base. But over time they changed too, watering down their working class DNA with increasing influences university educators, intellectual professionals, environmental elitists and, these days, more poverty revolutionaries, wannabe international activists and FN panderers. Who stands/prioritizes the middle class … the masses who do the work, pay the taxes and just want to be able to own a home and take care of their families??? The BC Conservatives have an opportunity over the next few months to capture that demographic …if they can stick to the center fiscally, make the economy their priority and don’t go too far right on social issues. That’s why their choice of leader will be critical. Ho)
I just read T’s submission.
It definitely is an eye -opener and I am very impressed with Mr. Palmer, to say the least.
I had no idea that Eby is allowed that much power. I beg to question if what he is doing is even legal in BC??
(Response: Probably legal …but too bad there are not more Palmers ( Mike Smyth on CKNW and Les Lyne at the Times Colonist too) exposing/pushing the government more aggressively day after day …so the public finds out what is going on much more effectively! Ho)
https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-bc-ndp-david-eby-government-pattern-of-secrecy-coverup-denial-indigenous-relations
(Response: Another Vaughn Palmer eye-opener! When governments are overly secretive and engage in cover-ups, it shows a disrespect for the voters and our basic democratic rights. Ho)
Similarly to Daniel I found D.M. Johnston’s summary bang on.
Listening last evening to one of the movers and shakers of the B.C. conservatives opining that his preference would be the interim leader stay on until the end of the spring session which would make sense to bring some cohesion to the party. Twenty anonymous caucus members signed the letter for Rustad to go, that leaves 19 that didn’t, so I’m sure those issues need to be resolved, also give them time for fundraising and present thought out alternative policies.
It probably isn’t lost on the conservatives that much of the voting public view them as a hastily formed opportunist group with divergent political views at odds with each other with a sizeable component of flat earthers and full mooners. It would go a long way in the interim to have the designated conservative opposition critics in front of a camera from time to time, not just the leader and one or two members as per. John Rustad and Peter Milobar, it’s not as if there aren’t enough of Eby’s and NDP blunders on the grand scale that has run B.C. into a ditch in two years to pull apart.
To your original point Harvey, an early spring election would be Eby’s best chance of holding on, the longer he leaves it the more the conservatives should take advantage of getting their collective act together. I’ve always voted NDP but after what has happened to B.C., under Eby over the last two years, if the conservatives look like a serious party with a believable vision of getting back to reality, not some debt ridden social experiment I would vote for them.
(Response: With the latest Court ruling on mining, on top of the Cowichan ruling on property rights, and the growing public anxieties over DRIPA, I’m more convinced than when I first wrote this particular blog that Eby/NDP won’t hold a Spring election. In addition, the Conservatives will have a shiny, new leader … without much time to screw up or have the public start to have many doubts. And they’ll maul the NDP over the FN disaster, hospital closures, continuing crime etc. No Spring election …no way. Ho)
Always good stuff on this blog.
I found D.M. Johnston’s comment of Dec. the 7th is very interesting.
Ijustdon’tknowanymore’s recent note about BCLC raises some important points as well.
Several years ago there was an investigation because BC casinos were allowing massive sums of money to be laundered on their premises and BCLC was there right in the middle of it. The government of the day “weasled their way” around this and it was soon forgotten. I’m not sure how much tax revenue they received but no question it was substantial. I believe Christy Clark was the premiere at the time and Rich Coleman was also involved.
Gambling now is being run by gambling web sites on line, and in the palm of the bettor’s hand. Talk about easy to do. I’m sure BCLC must get some of their revenue but I am not sure how this can be stopped. (how do you stop the internet?) The biggest customers are younger men, I believe, but I don’t have those statistics. Just something I saw on CNN.
I’m guessing these are sin taxes?
Harvey is absolutely correct. This problem is entirely Eby’s doing and can affect each and every one of us who live here. This has to be stopped now.
It is definitely a bad thing regarding on line gambling because I believe the BC NDP government is such the epitome of hypocrisy when it comes to game play and casinos. The money laundering issues needed addressing for sure, but this on line thing is much worse in so.far as it is sinister and diabolical because this shameful and morally corrupt government is completely complicit in my view in that they are allowing the actual and specific targeting of people to get them hooked for the sole purpose of generating huge revenue intake which in turn also swells the belly of the owners and operators piggy banks. I think this is much worse than the laundering issues that arose under the Christyy Clark Campbell government. Eby and his ideologically careless and carefree goons must just love the record revenue generated so he can hand more over to his special interests of the shakedown industry.
Since we are on the subject of the BC government and its shortcomings and serious they are, and the state of BC politics, I have come across reports articles and stuff that I believe needs a deeper investigative dive into gambling addiction, especially where on-line gambling is concerned, and the very real and sickening and immoral behaviour of this BC government along with it goons of the BCLC and other interests having some level of complicity in seeing gambling addiction flourish. This subject seems from what I have mined out so far is that this is a subject of high concern from many corners about this governments involvement in what I would call a purpose built model to get people and especially young people easily addicted on line for max profit. I believe its now completely geared towards purposefully creating addiction for maximizing profit with no concern for health. The reports so far seem to suggest this or at least point in that direction. Also there seems to be concern that there is a stagnation in funding to areas of need that have always had some kind of funding reliance from the revenues while at the same time gambling is giving government and owners record profits and giving other certain party’s an even bigger cut, while funding help to other areas stays stagnated or even diminished. Also there seems as though there is a huge conflict of interest concerning this government and its BCLC handlers highly questionable portrayal of concern through their sneaky propaganda advertising about their concern for the health and well being for the players while gambling. Online gambling is so easily accessible for to people as part of the addiction and profit cycle. It’s especially concerning because I feel its really geared towards getting the younger generation totally addicted to it that only leads to mental health stressors, possible financial ruin then mental breakdown in the end. If we thought the money laundering issues were a problem under the BC Liberals I see this gambling addiction issue under the wilful blind eye of the present day government to be a much worse problem, in that it is an insidious and diabolical one as it appears to be a deliberate attempt at targeting the public directly. We need a government with the moral backbone to put all this Eby governments destruction to repair. At least for now we need a cohesive mightily strong opposition.
(Response: In 50 years, when BC historians (economists, investors, taxpayers, property owners, businesses too) look back at this time, I don’t think problems with BCLC will come anywhere close to the disastrous/damaging decisions and policies of David Eby … both as AG and now Premier … than his dealings with First Nations. It’s some of the worst political incompetence I can recall in BC modern history …from any leader/party. And even now, he refuses to just repeal DRIPA!! Can anyone think of any government decision/policy/legislation that was worse or could damage more of the entire province/population? Ho)
Yes, maybe that’s so in the historical rear view mirror account of things when they pass through time, but it’s still one hell of a bad part that adds to the sum of all the bad stuff happening under this Eby government or thing or what one might want to call it.
It’s a race to see who can get their act together first. I genuinely hope the Conservatives can offer a non-crazy option. Remember when Tsakumis referred to them as the “God Squad?” Carve out that element and focus on the economy. They still have time to rebrand.
(Response: The choice of a new leader who can satisfy the different elements within the party, and also impress and not turn off the voters will be no easy task. Can’t wait to see the list of candidates! Ho)
Just a note.
Yesterday, I was invited to participate in a meeting to discuss the BC Politic, because of my knowledge of Transportation. Now, all at this meeting were over 65, except for two and most were true professionals, with degrees and more.
At this point in time, the group wishes to remain anonymous, but with plans to be more vocal, through several media mediums in the future.
Now, from what I heard, all were unhappy with the BC politics and most were once favourable to the NDP, they are not now.
My take away from this meeting was this, the NDP are not listening; Eby is not listening; and the party seems completely adrift in a sea of hubris and ennui.
With the BC Conservative Party fracturing, and the NDP will never allow any real debate, Eby’s NDP have free reign to spread economic havoc throughout the province.
From my point of view the Liberal Party of BC is as dead as Marley’s Ghost, Falcon made sure of that, which leaves the Conservatives.
To win the next BC election, the Conservative party needs to do this: (1) Install new younger leader who ideally would be a ‘red’ Tory; (2) rid the party of the anti-science/anti-vaxer/homophobic types; (3) mute the evangelical types (keep religion out of it); (3) distance the party from the Maple MAGA Movement and be completely open with the electorate.
Today’s NDP care more about First Nations, addicts, cyclists (did you know there is a push by the cycle lobby making it OK for cyclists to ignore stop signs!?!) and other fringe groups, that the good old BC taxpayer.
The other thing I worry about is that Eby has not grasped the danger from the south, with Trump and his policies,. Eby was a Johnny come lately to respond to the tariff attack and still does not seem to understand the dangers from down south.
Sadly, the NDP do not realize 2026 is more dangerous to BC than 2025 and we are never going to get back to the far more sane world of 2024.
Eby’s NDP reminds me of the fable “The kings new clothes”, because the EBY/NDP policies are inventions to pretend they are looking good to the public, when in fact they are nakedly absent.
(Response: BC Conservative Party members would do well to read and heed the advice you give for finding a new leader and moving the party bin a direction that could win popular support. And those attending the meeting you mentioned would be welcome to join the discussions on here, which I know is monitored by both government and media. Ho)
Interesting times for sure.
Rustad appeared weak & insecure as opposition leader. He did however end the BC Liberal party, that is a bonus as BC requires a true right wing alternative.
The urban/rural divide is far greater with Eby’s crew, 100%. Population in urban centers control the Province, nice to finally see some ER closures in Metro, something us rural folks have become used to…..
An earlier comment references the Massey tunnel/ bridge fiasco. The bridge put forward by Christie was to accommodate much deeper draft vessels for US coal export increases.
Maybe if Eby/Horgan left it alone Saskatchewan would have sent potash here instead of to Trumpistan?
The BC Conservatives need to bring in a confident, coalition building leader to replace Rustad. Someone with a calm demeanour, camera friendly appearance & many skills in negotiations. I do not see these attributes in any of their heirs apparent.
(Response: The Conservatives need a leader under 60 years old, with name recognition, experience in politics/government (without negative baggage) and, very importantly, ease and credibility on TV. Ring any bells? Ho)
Gotta see the NDP get the boot. It’s as plain as day. Sooner than later. It’s a no brainer as to the misery, stress and destruction these Eby lunatics are causing. But it did start with Horgans term. He lit the fuse and Ebys just making sure it stays lit until it’s all destroyed. What kind of Premier works to give away so much power money and sway to the five percent over the interests of the majority. Then the big fancy dressed journalists and anchors at the MSM won’t talk about whats actually going on. Us Journalists I’ve heard some of them say about themselves on television like Global for one, is pretty darn rich. Whenever I hear one of them fart out from the rear end of their fancy suits, We Journalists or Us journalists, we cut through the smoke and what not, to give you the viewer the real story is such a heap of horse pucky, one can almost smell it.
(Response: You raised a really good question, when you wrote: ” What kind of Premier works to give away so much power money and sway to the five percent over the interests of the majority?” It’s too bad the MSM are very timid in raising that issue. If I were still working (I’m retired! 🙂 ) I am sure I would have grilled ALL MLAs over DRIPA when it was being considered .. especially coming from the UN General Assembly, which today is a one-sided farce largely controlled/scripted by Arab oil interests and anti-Western dictatorships, nothing like it was originally intended to be. In their rush to be oh-so-politically-correct and impress FN, BC’s MLAs gave away the rights of BC property owners, business investors and taxpayers. DRIPA should be repealed: taking out ALL of its contents that threaten property governance will leave it a useless shell anyway. Ho)
You’re absolutely spot on. Oh this this new age of politics and messed up spineless politicians It’s all a disgusting shameful tragic mess. Nothing was ever perfect, but I want my good old days back and the more normal range of politics and better stronger willed politicians and leaders . What happened ??? 😂
HO “It will be fascinating to see who seeks the job!”
I heard Christy and Kevin are playing Old Maid for the right to run.
(Response: Nothing usually surprises me in politics ..but these two would!! Ho)
The NDP wants to turn BC into the former South Africa. The goal is to make a minority more powerful than the majority of the population. Voters need to choose a leader who treats all British Columbians equally and lives in the present, not in the past. It’s good that John Rustad has resigned because he was hopeless. I’m not sure what will happen in the next election, but the longer David Eby continues in office, the more BC will move in the wrong direction.
(Response: I don’t like seeing ANY ethnic group getting preferential treatment/handouts of taxpayers’ dollars for no good reason. The BC government has awarded $6 million each to the Musqeuam,Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations …. $18 million in all … for “collaborative cultural and legacy partnership” during FIFA. More pandering? Bribes to keep them from disrupting the games with protests? No? Well then, how about $6 million each as well to BC’s Italian, Spanish, Brazilian Dutch, German and British communities too? After all, their cultural and legacy connections to soccer sure seem historically deeper than the FN! Read about the latest gratuitous FN handouts here :https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/bc-government-first-nations-fifa-world-cup-events-funding. Ho)
But Harvey look at all Eby’s successful policies: decriminalization, safe supply, revolving courts, clustering of low barrier SRO’s, cancellation of a Massey bridge for tunnel, and so on and so on.
(Response; Drove through the tunnel Monday, northbound at 2:45 p.m. …. counterlane not yet in …and the lineup southbound on the Richmond side was way, way back. Bet those voters would have liked the bridge, which I believe would have been completed by now. Ho)
Complete a Bridge in 5 years?
Have you noticed how long it has taken private contractors to “widen” the Bridgeport road overpass just North of the Deas tunnel?
A 2 lane each way over pass standing 45 FEET above the highway widened to 4 lanes…
4.5 YEARS….and they’re still not done.
A tunnel or bridge will take at least 10 years.
And the new Pattullo Bridge? 4 -5 years…
To be renamed something unpronounceable by 99% of the BC population.
Hurray! We’re so progressive.
The NDP’s adoption of UNDRIP policies, healthcare imploding, inflation rising, unemployment rising, media pandering to all things NDP, ….
Voters are angry, fed up and demanding changes.
That the current bloated, self serving, uninterested bureaucrats are completely incapable of fixing.
They don’t care but they can sure talk a great story.
The nightly excuses from the lastest “Health Minister du jour” would be laughable if it wasnt so serious.
( I had my 3rd “do not respond” auto e-mail that arrives every 90 days from the Health ministry telling me they still have my name on file for a family doctor… God bless AI.)
It’s all coming to a head and a furious electorate isn’t a great start..
And if the abrupt change of the Poll direction Carneys appointment as the head of the Liberal Party is any indication….
A new person at the head of the Cons might just be what they need to push it over the top….
The NDP won’t be calling an election any time soon.
They’re scared.
(Response: I’m not sure the Conservatives …even with a new leader …could solve some of the very complex problems BC is facing (hospital closures, lack of doctors, homelessness, crime, druggies, struggling businesses, loss of jobs etc.). But I sense growing numbers of voters (including many who gave Eby a second chance) feel Eby/NDP spend far too much time dealing with social issues, FN pandering (to the point of putting land/property ownership/development at risk). fighting with Alberta and blocking a new oil pipeline … instead of concentrating on keeping plants/mills open, helping Vancouver’s 130-year-old Hastings Racetrack survive, keeping the Whitecaps in the city by fair revenue sharing at BC Place, just generally getting BC’s economy in better shape and introducing REAL changes to get the druggies/crazies off our streets. Ho)
https://nationalpost.com/opinion/adam-pankratz-b-c-s-reconciliation-nightmare-gets-even-worse
This is why the BC NDP should not call an election. We have something called fixed election dates.
In 2001, the Legislative Assembly passed the Constitution (Fixed Election Dates) Amendment Act, 2001, so that the province now has fixed election dates every four years. As outlined in the Constitution Act, a general election must be held on the third Saturday in October every four years following the previous general election date.
https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn/discover-your-legislature/about-the-legislative-assembly/bcs-electoral-process/bc-elections
Now in minority situations when the governing party loses a non-confidence vote an election will occur but other than that, I believe that is the only time an election should be called early.
The government will never call an early election if they think they are going to lose. So why should they be allowed to call an early election when they think they can win.
I was upset at Horgan when he called an early election in 2020 and I was upset at Trudeau for calling an early election in 2021. Other provinces have done this as well. I know snap election can be exciting for the news junkies but why have legislation if we don’t have to abide by it?
(Response: Legislation setting out “fixed” election dates is never without loopholes that allow governments to call an early vote. And there are also many other pieces of legislation that those in power (governments, regulatory agencies, Crown Counsels, judges) don’t follow or enforce to the letter … sometimes flouting it badly! So, politicians (especially leaders) may jump at the chance to hit the Opposition when it’s down … IF a reasonable period has elapsed since the last election AND they think they can win. At this point, despite others speculating, I don’t see either of those being valid. Ho)
I’d feel more confident in BC’s future if we had a person aligned with Danielle Smith leading the BC Conservatives.
(Response: It will be fascinating to see who seeks the job! Ho)
One could argue that Eby is running the province thru a presentism lens and is enabling a form of economic quicksand.?
(Response: It certainly looks like some government policies are anchored in their “present” ideological favoritism, rather than thinking of the implications for the future. Especially the way they pander to First Nations (the latest, today, letting FN name the new Pattulo Bridge. Read this: https://604now.com/new-patullo-bridge-opening-2025/ Why? Did FN pay to build it? Maybe taxpayers who did should have the say?) Ho)
Great.
ANOTHER name no one can pronounce.
Enough already.
(Response: Clearly more “woke” NDP ideology over practicality! And still wondering … anyone know how much of the construction costs are the FN picking up … since they got to name it? HO)
Bingo, “give the man a cigar”, you have hit it on the nail why Eby would not call a spring election. He would be daft to do so.
Te BC electoral map has been so crafted that future elections election will be won or lost in Metro Vancouver ridings and guess what, the First nations are salivating at claiming the pricey land for their own.
The Conservatives are in great disarray and of course they would be as they are nothing more than a coalition of right of centre, from Liberal to Maple Maga’s, but the property rights issue will trump all else in the next election.
We won’t go into the deficit issue because you know my opinion on that.
Eby seems absolutely clueless about economics and thinks everyone has a hoard of gold under the floor boards.
But here is another issue and that is the government’s inherent abuse of the elderly – elder abuse. I am 70 now and I can see first hand how the government treats the elderly and this has now leached down to commercial operations.
The Boomer generation is coming to an end but we aint dead yet, so to speak, but to the NDP we are “dead men/women” walking and treat us as such.
I did not vote in the last election simply because I firmly believed the Rustad Conservatives and the Eby NDP were unfit for office and in our dated democratic process, there is no way the voter can register that fact and i am not alone with this dilemma. (oh, and the Conservative Candidate, a former BC Liberal candidate, was a shoe in.)
But throw in the present land ownership fiasco and I will vote for who I would feel would be best to take on the First Nation issue.
I was the 6th generation of my family who have worked in the forest industry, starting from from the Maritimes, then to southern Ontario, Wisconsin then finally to Vancouver Island. My father was a UBC graduate forester (my first job was “pulling chain” at Eburne sawmills in Vancouver and after working at Canfor’s P&H plywood mill in Sapperton). My father long predicted the demise of the BC forest industry due to provincial mismanagement of our forest, which translated to the corporate mismanagement of the both our forests and forest industry.
Basically, government and corporate greed and mismanagement has all but killed the forest industry.
I could go on but Eby is a man out of touch with today’s issues and is fighting 1990’s issues, which have little meaning in our new “Trumpian” world.
Have an election Premier Eby, but do not be surprised at the results, with the growing anger of your government.
(Response: Just on last night’s Global Newshour, there was story that maternity patients were being redirected from Peace Arch Hospital to other locations (when time can be critical) because of lack of doctors. That’s happening far too often in far too many places in BC these days … another reason the government would be foolish to seek a vote of confidence from the public anytime soon! Ho)