For some British Columbians, time has flown; for others it seems an eternity!
It is almost four years since the last BC provincial election, Oct. 24, 2020.
And almost two years since David Eby took over as Premier on Oct. 21, 2022 , chosen by the NDP after John Horgan stepped down.
Now, finally, voters will get their say on that selection, the record of Eby, the NDP in power and the pledges and promises of both the incumbent government and the newly-minted BC Conservative Party under John Rustad.
The press releases, news conferences, ads on radio, TV, print, billboards have already begun … highlighting a wide variety of issues, ideas and ideological differences.
But they all come down to some very basic political concepts: I call them “Harv’s A,B,C’s”:
- Accountability and agendas;
- Beliefs and benefits;
- Costs and consequences.
All the major issues/promises/impacts during the campaign should be examined in the context of those categories: the economy, cost of living, health care, education, daycare, housing, crime, drugs, the Courts, climate change, carbon tax, ICBC, homelessness and poverty.
And, of course, there’s also the record of the incumbent NDP administration that’s up for judgement.
I believe the best election campaign is one where voters actually study the ideas/platforms and performances of those running for office … and don’t just vote automatically for any political party.
So I urge voters to take a serious look at the parties’ stated ideas, positions and pledges, listen to the speeches, watch any debates and study the platforms … especially those of the NDP and BC Conservatives, one of which will govern our lives for the next four years.
You may be surprised that a party you thought you would not support is actually proposing positions/solutions on pressing problems facing BC with which you most agree.
And the parties are already setting out some very clear differences:
The NDP: https://www.bcndp.ca/.
The BC Conservatives: https://www.conservativebc.ca/.
BC Green Party: https://bcgreens2024.ca/
Have at it!
We should be thankful we live in a democracy where we get to choose the party … and ideology … that will be able to put its ideas/solutions into effect over the next four years.
And, of course, we all will also be able to expose, criticize and hold them to account when they fail.
Harv Oberfeld
(Follow @harveyoberfeld.ca on “X” for FREE First Alerts to all new postings on this Blog.)
At least I can comfortably say the NDP has failed miserably for the most part on those campaign promises and issues you mentioned. Accountability and serving the interests of all British Columbians as a whole as would be expected, but is far from the truth. They have turned thier backs on democratic principals and morality to serve and pander to thier interests or shall I say special interests, by basically allowing a parallel government to form for the First Nations whereby I believe, creating another, actually this time, a dangerous precedent for a profound and devisive situation and affront to democracy. Hes dividing democracy or carvingnit up like a tender turkey.
Reconciliation and all else seems to be fine to a point, and concur, but personally I feel this is not good for the future for all of us together. It’s only extra votes for Eby. There are to many activist extreme ideologically driven politicians like Eby having power. That is definetly not good. Where does it end.
One more issue I think is a telling feature of this Eby government is that it seems to be centralizing more and getting into peoples homes lives and businesses way to much and causing grief by the example of what they have done in changing the rules for Airbnb business that was making revenue, pay for the owners and their families, and helping business people and tourism. They got their filthy hands on that even, and messed it up. The excuse being it would free up more housing for homeless and rental stock. More like giving in to the Corporate hotel industry. They actually had the nerve to stick their dirty noses into this small business of families and personal ownership. This is driving people out of this business. They are now basically telling them how to run their personal lives when gets down to this stuff. Its outrageous. Homelessness affordability and long term rental can be and should be done completely differently but these lazy minded bums are going to do it this way. We want to control in your life. Everything. And we dont care about your personal possessions or respect that you worked hard for that is what they are really saying. Things would be different if they didn’t waste and sqaunder so much of our treasure on policies programs projects and special interests that only multiplies and snowballs into a chain reaction of more losses. Solving these problems are not going to make a dent on this issue by screwing the individual mom and pop and families businesses.
The thing with a centralized socialistic government, or worse, like this one is, is that it takes the life out of the pride of personal ownership from hard work and entrepreneurial spirit. I believe we can’t afford to have this NDP and their extreme activist goofs to govern anymore. I think we are seeing a sign of bad things to come and I see it not even being good for hard working contributing people or even in the peace and sanctity of their homes and their ownership of those homes. I’ve seen that coming already in the wake of that so called Prime Minister of ours and statements he has made that has been layed out in a National Post column from a podcast among other areas of media discussing the housing crisis and generational fairness with a highly qeustionable group called Generation Squeeze which seems to be directed towards a squeeze on older homeowners. That would be seniors and elderly who have worked hard and contributed and even served their country and helped build it. He said Despite having scrimped and saved, too buy a home, older homeowners still don’t understand the hardships of a younger generation that can’t get a foot on the housing ladder. What does that really mean. Are some going to just expect things things these days
Well I say watch out hard working contributing Canadians and British Columbians and homeowners where we could be headed. We don’t have the standard political atmosphere and climate anymore. We are now on the receiving end of highly disrespectul and morally bankrupt extremist activist types who are getting control who have absolutely no connection or touch with anything sacred and decent or the essential Canadian norms we have embraced. I believe the worst possible outcomes are coming if we dont turf these people and keep them out.
(Response: well, I certainly won’t put you down as undecided! There is a certain “big brother“ aspect to some of the things that Eby has announced in recent months regarding municipal zoning and density. Supporters, however, would argue that with limited land and infrastructure, there is no other way to improve the housing stock without also increasing density. My concern is that in trying to solve one problem, the government may be creating another one: The destruction of family neighborhoods, where large apartment buildings will replace quiet, family orientated communities and even local shopping and small businesses … as the economies of scale lead to higher commercial rents and thus more and more large grocery stores and retailers. How ironic, that the socialists may be responsible for the victory of the capitalists over small independent businesses!
It’s certainly obvious who the BC media is pulling for. The last three Sundays on Global Vancouver News there’s been a political panel, it’s been nothing more than a David Eby love fest, and discussion on how terrible “far right” Rustad will be for BC.. Then this morning on the CKNW Mike Smyth show, during the regular Keith Baldry segment, Mike Smyth was doing a fairly good job of being politically neutral, however Keith Baldrey was blatantly bashing Rustad every chance he got. It’s quite obvious that Baldrey doesn’t want to see the Conservatives win the election, I didn’t realise that the duty of a political commentator was to deliberately try to sway public opinion.
(Response: Did not hear it. I have found both Smyth and Baldrey to be critical of politicians and parties throughout the spectrum and realize that the morning show you cite is not “news”, but “comment” so editorialization is okay, and listeners can accept or reject it. h.o)