Future Of BC Politics Lies Outside The Legislature
Prince George, BC – When thinking about what’s in store for BC politics, Political Science Professor at UNBC says looking outside the legislature may hold more clues than what’s happening inside the hallowed chamber.
BC Premier Christy Clark sparked a bit of an uproar among her political opponents and pundits, alike, for choosing not to start yesterday’s session of the legislature with a Throne Speech. Instead on Monday, she appeared on a private radio program in Vancouver (CKNW’s Bill Good program) to outline her government’s priorities.
UNBC Professor, Jason Morris, admits there is some concern that government communications should be accessible to all British Columbians and catching the radio program was a challenge for many in Northern BC. But, he adds, "Shouldn’t citizens also take some initiative to find out what’s going on without expecting the content to be couriered to their front door?"
Morris says the run-up to the radio speech created media buzz and public interest, which was probably part of the plan. And being that it was outside the legislature, it ensured it wasn’t as easy for the opposition NDP to get in the last word. A new Angus Reid public opinion online survey of 800 British Columbians released at the start of this month puts Adrian Dix’ New Democrats far ahead with the support of 42-percent of decided voters, to the Liberals’ 28-percent support, followed by the BC Conservatives at 19-percent and the BC Greens at 10-percent.
An election must be held by May of 2013 and Morris says all parties will be transitioning into campaign mode. "This means not just debating policies and bills in Victoria, but developing strategies, raising funds, and recruiting and nominating candidates." Morris says, "What happens in the legislature is more and more just going to be a small part of the story."
He says the BC Conservatives present a new political challenge. The prof admits poll support may be artificially high for the seeming rise of this right-of-centre challenger, but says if the Conservatives can get organized internally and if the BC Liberal membership has forgotten the lessons of vote splitting with the BC Reform back in the 1990s – then all bets are off for the next election. Morris qualifies these are big "ifs".
Comments
The liberals is TOAST just as soon as crusty gets up the nerve to call an election. We will defeat this group in crushing numbers. If she had any brains at all she would extinquish the hst NOW and give us back our exemptions then maybe she might have a faint hope of re-election. After all it is the hst that is going to make them go down in a landslide. Like I say the liberals are toast. Can’t wait to see that.
At the moment it’s up to the NDP to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Which, given the history of the NDP, they could once again do. Too bad they didn’t drag Corky Evans out of retirement and make him their leader. Dix is just too reminiscent of some of their past flops, and about as dull and uninspiring as that re-cycled Federal fossil that leads the BC Conservatives.
You are probably correct on the NDP mattyc, but be careful what you wish for!
Adios Christy Clark..
This professor..Nowhere did he state..A party that lied, cheated, corrupted, ran the five largest BC deficits in our history..Tripled the BC debt to $70 billion dollars, screwed education, bankrupted BC Hydro, BC Ferries..Led the nation in child poverty for 8 straight years..
rammed an HST down our throat and countless other lies and betrayals..BC Rail anyone.
Nowhere did this professor say a party needs a time out, refresh and de-corrupt..
BC Liberals, the most corrupt party in BC History, Gordon Campbell, the most despised Politician in Canadian history.
nuff said, adios BC Liberals,
“BC Liberals, the most corrupt party in BC History, Gordon Campbell, the most despised Politician in Canadian history.”
Lol. According to who? The Powell River Persuader?
Anyway, yes, I agree that the Liberals will be gone next election. And Adrian Dix and the NDP will come in and save our souls! Lol!
Johnnybelt says..
“Anyway, yes, I agree that the Liberals will be gone next election. And Adrian Dix and the NDP will come in and save our souls!”
Now you got it Johnny, the most intelligent thing you ever said, will wonders never cease!
Hey, you left the LOL off my quote. At least you’ve ‘come out of the closet’ so to speak, crim. Good for you!
Graffiti seen on a wall downtown:
“It is criminal to have a mind like criminalmind.”
You mean my comments have gone viral in Prince George Gus?…I`m famous, or maybe Gus is a tagger.
My guess is Gus is a tagger
“The liberals is TOAST just as soon as crusty gets up the nerve to call an election. We will defeat this group in crushing numbers.”
Yikes, I’d better change my handle!
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