Bios
Will McMartin
Will McMartin is a political consultant who has been affiliated with the Conservative, Social Credit and BC Reform parties.
Stories by Will McMartin
Taylor Hired by Bank After Killing BC's Bank Tax
BC is broke but she could make $145,000 to $350,000 as a TD director.
BC's Bizarre Fiscal Plan
The government seems to be jamming its feet on both the brake pedal and accelerator.
Fudging Up
Next Tuesday, expect a really big deficit. Colossal, even. But business won't squawk.
Liberals' Biggest Campaign Gamble Paid Off
They made unpopular Campbell a star. And more notes on a weird election.
Where this Election Will Be Won
Fourteen ridings in BC's North and Fraser North will decide it.
A New BC Rail Cover-Up?
The Campbell government put money from its BC Rail sale into a trust, but a shift to riskier investing likely lost $25 million. We can't know for sure, because trust directors are breaking the law by not posting statements.
Huge Pay Raises, the Silent Issue
Libs gave selves big pay hikes, zero to minimum wage earners. But NDP can't complain.
BC's Economy: Whose Was Best?
Socreds. NDP. Libs. Who oversaw the strongest economy? (Hint, not Gordon Campbell).
Libs' Fibs on Crime Voting
Claims that New Dems opposed police spending are false.
NDP Has History on Its Side, But Not Smart Messaging
In BC races, diving economies usually turf governments.
This Budget Is Toxic Fudge
BC's government is in denial about the economic realities we face.
Balanced Budget Bozos
BC politicians keep passing, then changing, laws against deficit spending. Are we nuts?
Who Will Be Next BC Senators?
Harper's short list ranges from Wai Young and John Reynolds to Jerry Lampert and Tung Chang.
BC Then, Ottawa Now: Who's Crazier?
Province's wild political history offers context for current crisis.
The Great Depression in BC
The crash of '29 and how it laid waste to the province's finances. First of three.
BC's Spring Vote, Through Lens of Obama's Victory
Lessons from the US presidential contest.
Between Lines of Campbell's Speech: A New 'Fudge-It Budget'
He'll have to jigger the books to not show a deficit.
Settle in for Long Harper Reign
Seat tallies tell the tale. Tories won bigger than pundits said.
McMartin's Very Own Winners and Losers
The election victors, the vanquished and why Harper is grinning.
The Higginbotham Curse
In which McMartin braves his editor's wrath to float a humble election theory.
Charting May's Chances against MacKay
Green leader a long shot to unseat Tory stalwart in Central Nova.
Charting the Votes for Hedy Fry
Vancouver Centre's Grit incumbent faces strong foes -- and the Dion factor.
Charting the Vote for Incumbents
Four or five will lose their jobs, if this election is true to form.
Charting the Votes where Tories are Strongest
Conservative support in BC skews to North, Interior and south Fraser Valley.
Charting the Vote for Grits in BC
In recent elections, Liberals hovered at 28 per cent. Now they’re falling short.
What Sarah Palin Shows
Sexism and racism alive and well in US politics.
Fewer Schools, More Politicians
Sorry kids, Shirley Bond and BC Libs protect their own futures.
Top Bush Adviser Made Millions Lobbying for BC Forest Biz
Ed Gillespie is 'New Karl Rove.'
Myth: Tax Cuts Fuel BC's Surplus
Fact checking the finance minister. The dirty job goes to our man McMartin.
Spending on BC Politicians Explodes
Total cost of MLA compensation soars over 50 per cent since 2001.
McMartin's Budget Preview
Prediction: Canadians will continue to pay more for less in 2007.
Taylor's Do It Ourselves Budget
After tax cuts, it's far less than meets the eye.
BC Health Spending Exploding? Don't Believe It
The real story is a provincial budget skewed by deep cuts to welfare, local government and transportation.
BC Legislator: Nice Gig!
MLAs got full-time pay for nine week session. Gordon Campbell is arranging a raise.
Cosy Business Ties Exposed by Health Budget Turmoil
BC's Health Authorities: Who gets hired (and fired).
How Stars Aligned for Dion
His victory was forged by these five key convention moments.
The Fluke that Made BC Boom
Historic surge in commodity prices enriches. BC Libs take credit.
Ignatieff's Duel with History
Small edge promises hot convention.
Could You Be Finance Minister? Take Our Quiz!
And learn how Carole Taylor made $446 million seem like nearly $2 billion.
Carole Taylor's False Alarm
With scary health spending forecast, she fools news media -- again.
A Chance to Cut MLA Pay in Half
They earn too much for a part-time gig.
BC's Runaway Head Offices
Billion dollar tax slash fails to attract firms.
Gordon Campbell, Financial Genius?
Lib rollercoaster ride ends up where it started.
Taylor's New Recipe for Fudge
Predecessors fudged deficits. She hid a whopping surplus.
The Spin You're Paying For
Government's ad spending doubles. And other BC budget notes.
Emerson: The Power and the Tory
His betrayal, his perks and some context for the outrage.
How McMartin Sees BC: Tories 21, NDP 12, Libs 3
Plus, a gritty account of life inside The Tyee.
Dosanjh's Biggest Donors Run Medical Firms
Vancouver MP raised bulk of his funds in Ontario in 2004.
Memo to Layton: Game Has Changed
On debate day, Liberal slide creates opportunity for New Dems.
Trudeau's Ghost Haunts BC
Liberals still fighting the backlash he caused.
Let's Harness ICBC's Great Success
Rebates? Small thinking. How better to invest all that profit?
School Stalemate: How We Got Here
Verbatim, nearly two decades of politicians' wrangling in the Legislature.
Too Many Teachers?
One factor in BC's conflict may be educator 'overpopulation'.
Pam for Next Governor General!
Don't laugh. (Well, ok, do.) But here's why.
Biz to BC Libs: Thanks a Billion!
Corporate windfall hits milestone. And why the pre-election budget wasn't truly balanced.
Thank You Ottawa!
The entire BC budget surplus, and more, is due to federal transfers.
Budget Battlers Ready to Rumble
It's been five years since a muscular opposition swung hard at a BC budget.
Campbell's Big Promises This Time
This session, his party aims for the tax code and a lot more.
Last call! Liberals, 51 seats; NDP, 28 seats
Now is your chance to bet against McMartin and win a prize.
McMartin Gives BC Libs 51 Seats
Tyee analyst finalizes his projections, invites readers to bet against him.
Remember the NDP’s Supposed $5 Billion 'Structural Deficit'?
The story behind the big headlines that served their purpose four years ago.
Polak's One of Three Seats Now Solidly Liberal
Langley, Penticton-Okanagan, and Vancouver-Point Grey upgraded from 'likely'.
The New Democratic Party and 'Polarization'
Lots of parties running, but this election is a two-party tilt.
The New Democratic Party: A Look Back
Will traditional NDP supporters who’ve abandoned the party return in 2005?
Two Kootenays Seats Go Opposite Directions
Columbia River-Revelstoke moves 'likely NDP' while East Kootenay is 'solid Liberal'.
Tight Vancouver Races Diverge
Vancouver-Burrard now 'likely NDP', Vancouver-Fairview is 'likely Liberal.'
Three Ridings Moved in Vancouver Island North Coast Region
No longer ‘up for grabs’: Powell River-Sunshine Coast, Alberni-Qualicum, Comox Valley
Poll Shifts Odds for Kamloops Area Libs
Krueger's seat downgraded to 'likely' while Richmond's solidifies.
The Green Party in BC: Provincial Elections
Carr is making a spirited but likely doomed run for a first Green seat.
The Green Party in BC: Reading the Federal Elections
Scant evidence to expect a breakthrough on May 17.
Okanagan-Vernon and Shuswap Shift 'Solid' for Libs
Unity Party not around to siphon off conservative voters this time.
Surrey-Panorama Ridge Now 'Likely Liberal'
NDP’s big byelection win probably won’t be repeated.
More on the North: Three Seats Go 'Likely Liberal'
Skeena, Prince George North and Prince George-Omineca no longer 'up for grabs.'
More on the North: Cariboo North, Cariboo South and North Coast
Two seats move to 'Solid Liberal' and one to 'Solid NDP'.
The North: Liberals Hard to Dislodge
The Greens and NDP got whipped in this region in 2001.
Vancouver Eastside Go 'Solid' NDP
Kensington and Kingsway move over from 'Likely'.
Maple Ridge tilts toward Liberals
Rising incomes push Frasier North ridings to the right: Port Moody-Westwood and Maple Ridge-Mission
NDP looks solid in New West, likely in Burnaby-Willingdon
Tax cuts, hospital closure help New Democrats
Two Victoria Area Seats Moved to ‘Solid NDP’
Victoria-Beacon Hill and Victoria Hillside firm up for the New Democrats.
Vancouver Island South: Household Incomes and Vote Shares
Last election, Greens’ strongest showing was in this region.
Two Surrey Area Ridings No Longer ‘Up for Grabs’
Surrey-Newton is now ‘likely NDP,’ Delta North shifts to ‘likely Liberal’.
Two Surrey Ridings Solidify Liberal and NDP
The Tyee is moving Surrey-Tynehead into the ‘solid Liberal’ column while Surrey-Green Timbers goes ‘solid NDP’.
North-Central Surrey: Pocketbook Voting Patterns
Wealthier zones of this region go Liberal, poorer go NDP.
Nanaimo and Nanaimo-Parksville Moving Left, Right
The Tyee is shifting Nanaimo into ‘solid NDP’ and Nanaimo-Parksville into ‘likely Liberal.’
Vancouver Island North-Coast: Pocketbook Voting
In this region, like most others, average household incomes correlate strongly with vote-shares.
Campbell Misled Public on NDP Finances
In 2001 the incoming premier called NDP finances “worse than we anticipated.” His briefing binders, gained by The Tyee through an FOI, told him the opposite.
West Kootenay-Boundary and Nelson Creston Move into ‘Solid’ NDP column.
Two NDP strongholds firm up.
Looks Bleak for Third Parties
Don’t Expect Minor Parties to Elect an MLA
Vancouver Island South: Carole James Territory
For the first time in decades, the NDP was shut out here in 2001.
Vancouver Island North-Coast: Leaning Left Again
But Alberni-Qualicum, Comox Valley, Nanaimo-Parksville and Powell River-Sunshine Coast are up for grabs.
Feeling Polarized
The May 17 vote is likely to reveal a clearly split BC electorate. To read our political future, gaze into the past.
Richmond: Solidly Liberal
Last time the NDP won anything here: 1972.
North Shore: Another Lib Sweep?
Looks like it, but North Vancouver-Lonsdale might be interesting.
Vancouver Westside: Premier’s Stomping Ground
Two seats nailed down for Libs, but watch Vancouver-Fairview.
Home Values: Pricing the Voters’ Neighbourhoods
North Coast homes are, on average, a half million dollars less than in Vancouver-Quilchena.
Vancouver Eastside: The NDP Stronghold
But Mayencourt vs. Stevenson makes a close race in Vancouver’s West End.
Seeking Shelter: Campaigns Scrutinize Home Ownership
Voting patterns can be tied to whether citizens own or rent their abodes.
Fraser North: A Wild Ride
New Dems likely to re-take New West and two more, Libs to get one, and six up for grabs.
North-Central Surrey: A Key Battlefront
Traditionally left-leaning, swept by Libs in 2001, six ridings in serious play.
Fraser Valley South: Nine Liberal Seats Likely
Social conservative Mary Polak should find a warm embrace this time in Langley.
The Kootenays: Good Hunting for NDP
Liberals swept all four seats in 2001. Not likely this election.
Big Gap between Rich and Poor Ridings
Voting patterns tend to reflect household income. It’s three times higher in some ridings than others.
The Okanagan, a Liberal Stronghold
Region anchored by Kelowna is fast growing and right-leaning.
Seniors with Clout: Ridings Where Elderly Voters Hold Sway
You’ll find them in the sunny parts of the province.
BC’s Electoral Regions: Skewed Populations
Attempts to even out voter numbers haven’t succeeded.
The Thompson-Coquihalla, Lali Returns
Liberals likely to hold at least three, but NDP has prospered in the past.
The North, a Huge Opportunity for NDP
Economy, BC Rail deal are big factors.
Not All Ridings Created Equal (in Population)
And that makes it hard for pollsters.
Let the Battle Begin
Election Central’s riding-by-riding predictions to be posted daily.
Un-Spinning the B.C. Budget
Having shielded their budget from debate, the B.C. Liberals are free to spin madly on the campaign trail. Some facts to bear in mind.
Election Plan Gives Liberals Cash Windfall
By shutting down the legislature instead of debating the budget, the party can campaign on the taxpayers’ millions.
Liberals Set to Run from Their Own Budget
Finance minister’s vague answers suggest party will sell the document but won’t actually pass it.
Running for Premier of Oz
In which our hero Dorothy makes Green, Liberal and NDP friends on her way down the yellow brick road.
Premier Shuts His Cabinet
Gordon Campbell's election promise of cabinet meetings open to the public? Never mind.
Alberta's Posse in B.C.
Albertans once tried and failed to rope in B.C.’s government. Now a small herd, some with ties to big energy firms, hold key positions in B.C.’s public sector, thanks to Premier Campbell.
How Bad for Liberals Was Surrey Loss?
Dismally bad is the answer. The worst defeat in a government-held riding in fifteen years, in fact.
We Paid Record Sales Taxes This Year
Liberals shifted burden from income tax to sales tax; in effect, from wealthier citizens to poorer.
Liberals Bluffing on By-Election
They tell us it won't mean much if they lose Surrey. History says otherwise.
NDP and U.S. Dems Share Election Challenges
Both James and Kerry are bucking history, battling one-term governments without recession or vote splits to help.
Why James Isn't Running in Surrey
The odds were a no-brainer, so why did the NDP leader wait so long to decide?
Why Silence on B.C.'s Groaning Debt?
Nobody seems to want to mention the fast growing $38 billion elephant in our living room. Each of us owes $9,003, sharply up under the Liberals.
Why Didn't the NDP Catch Fire?
Gains, yes, but some tough questions for Layton's New Democrats as they weigh the returns.
