Real leadership is keeping your promises

Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett wasn’t singing the praises of HST when he asked voters to support him on May 12th. In fact, his party said that they were against the HST. But when Premier Campbell changes his mind, so does Mr. Bennett. Unfortunately, what voters think doesn’t really matter to him.

People across the province are stating their objections to HST. Voters are saying that it isn’t acceptable for the BC Liberals to say one thing before the election, and then do another thing after the election.

Mr. Bennett says that ‘real leadership requires us (the BC Liberals) to stand up for what we believe in’. He just doesn’t mention that BC Liberals ‘stand up’ after the election, not before. And first they have to be told by Premier Campbell just what they ‘believe in’. [Read more]

MLA report: voter turnout

The recent election left me feeling both encouraged and dismayed. While I was naturally thankful for all the support I received from voters in Columbia River – Revelstoke, I was very concerned by the low voter turnout both here and across British Columbia.

I can’t help feeling that the lack of voter interest is in some way a failure on my part. At the very least, I am part of a group, politicians of all political stripes, that has failed to communicate with voters and engage them in the democratic process.

For me, the empowering part of the election was the large group of volunteers who worked so hard to re-elect me. Similar to last election, my campaign was run on a very tight budget. My campaign was successful because of people who gave of their time and skills, and I was pleased that those people felt passionate enough to get involved. [Read more]

BC election recounts generate new results

Close is, clearly, only good in horseshoes.

Two BC candidates, who were previously declared unofficial winners in the May 12 provincial election, have now been outvoted after official recounts.

Independent candidate Vicki Huntington knocked high-profile Liberal candidate Wally Oppal, who was ahead by just three votes on election day, out of first place. Her lead was cemented yesterday (May 27) after a careful recount, which included absentee ballots for the Delta South riding, put her ahead by 32 votes. [Read more]

Conservatives reflect on election

Letter to editor –

I and my Party were somewhat disappointed by the election results. We know that people were not happy with the Liberal Government and wanted change, but with the recession, they were not prepared to take a chance on electing the NDP. Many voters told us they like what the BC Conservatives had to offer but were afraid of “splitting the vote.”

Most people we talked to knew absolutely nothing about the “Recognition and Reconciliation Act” which Premier Campbell intends to introduce soon. This Act will recognize Aboriginal Title to close to 100% of British Columbia and set up 30 new, unelected Aboriginal Governments with VETO power over any decision your democratically elected Provincial Government makes regarding land use or resource development, EVER AGAIN, ANYWHERE IN B.C. It will also give those Aboriginal Governments the power to tax us or collect rents, on all property, including private property. [Read more]

Macdonald wins Columbia River – Revelstoke

Updated May 13, 2009 4:30pm –

He’s a former teacher, former principal, former mayor but one thing he won’t be, at least not for the next four years, is a former MLA.

Incumbent NDP MLA Norm Macdonald won Tuesday’s, May 12, election over Liberal candidate Mark McKee by a healthy margin of 2,209 votes. Green party candidate Sarah Svensson received just 854 votes in total. [Read more]

Invermere debate focused on Jumbo and IPPs

The two primary candidates vying for votes in the Columbia-River-Revelstoke riding during the upcoming provincial election, squared off in the second local debate of the campaign. [Read more]

Costello on green resort communities

Jumbo Glacier Resort – Decision Overdue

It’s interesting that some of the most vocal critics of Premier Campbell’s goal of doubling tourism beds in BC by 2015 have already benefitted from British Columbia’s tourism strategy. Some, like Mr. Leeson [1], that have secured their piece of ‘The Best Place on Earth’ would close the door on the next opportunity by attempting to create false standards by which it would have been impossible for any existing resorts to be built. Take his statement:

“We do not need any more ski resorts, nor can the market support them without catastrophic impacts on those we have already supported despite their very real negative environmental consequences.”

[Read more]

Hanni to sponsor referendum if elected

Press release –

BC Conservative Party leader announces plan to stop Recognition and Reconciliation Act

BC Conservative Party Leader and Kootenay East Candidate Wilf Hanni announced today that, after he is elected as the MLA for Kootenay East on May 12th, he will start a PETITION under the “Citizens Initiative Act” to force the Government to hold a referendum on the Recognition and Reconciliation Act.

Hanni called the 2009 General Election the most important election ever held in British Columbia because if Premier Campbell is re-elected with a majority government, he will claim that he has a mandate to introduce the Recognition and Reconciliation Act, which gives title to 100% of British Columbia to the 3% of our fellow citizens who are Aboriginal. [Read more]

To vote or not to vote?

Gusts of wind woke me in the early hours of this morning and I haven’t been able to get back to sleep because the election is fast approaching and I keep thinking about how or even if I am going to vote. I have decided to put ‘pen to paper’ and as I try to sort out my thoughts, perhaps they will ring a bell with other British Columbians as well.

People seem to go to the polls for a strange variety of reasons. There are the voters who are passionate about certain issues and they are loyal to the party which seems to best have the solutions to what they care about. This is maybe the best reason to vote.

But then I notice that there are the practically comatose voters who put an X beside the name of the party they have always voted for or worse still, the party their parents voted for or the people they respect and admire say they should vote for. They haven’t a thought of their own and don’t even realize it. When I challenge them about this, they are truly surprised because it has never occured to them that this is what they do. Perhaps they don’t even care. This, sadly, is how we seem to elect governments. [Read more]

Forestry execs ’set record straight’

Press release –

Forest Industry CEOs correct the record on forestry issues

The three signatories to this statement wish to set the record straight on what is occurring in our industry today and what we see as critical for it to survive and thrive in the future.

First, to those who are quick to blame the current B.C. government for the woes of our industry we can only say it is either a clear demonstration of their lack of understanding of BC’s core business, or that they are willing to play politics with the lives of the thousands of people who depend on forestry. Simply put, B.C.’s forest sector is blessed by having the world’s largest housing market as a neighbour. That also means we are heavily dependent upon the U.S. home-building market which has collapsed. That collapse is not something our governments can fix. [Read more]