British Columbia New Democratic Party leader Carole James delivered a speech this morning that focused on B.C. Liberal government deceit, the need to bring British Columbians together and for party members to work towards winning in 2013.
“The Liberals are more than a government of miscues and mismanagement,” she said, citing the HST and the budget as examples. “The Liberals are a government of betrayal. Most British Columbians have concluded the Liberals lied to them.”
The NDP are planning a series of community meetings throughout the province, she said. “I'll be engaging you and a broad range of British Columbians from all walks of life, and experts in their field—including concerned business leaders—on how we tackle the big challenges that face us and move beyond the conflicts that hold us back.”
She talked about finding common ground and using a strong business climate to increase social justice.
"This morning, I've placed education at the top of my agenda to build a sustainable, new modern economy," she said.
“I ask all of you to leave this hall more determined, more resolute in your heart than ever to take our great party to victory,” she said. “To renew our commitment to progressive change, to building a just, dynamic and prosperous province for all our citizens.”
UPDATE: Read reaction from former MLA David Cubberley who wanted more attention to climate change here, view Carole James' post-speech scrum at Public Eye here, and Liberal Attorney General Mike de Jong's reaction here, and Tyee columnist Bill Tieleman's disappointed reaction here.
Andrew MacLeod is The Tyee’s Legislative Bureau Chief in Victoria. Reach him here.
Ms.James has been searching
Ms.James has been searching for "common ground" through a couple of elections. If she hasn't found it by now, maybe she can step aside and let someone else finish the search
Begone you foolish woman
This is a golden opportunity for James to resign.
In about two years, British Columbia has a chance to remove Canwest/Gordo from office with a serious recall campaign. To do it the party and the people of British Columbia need an inspirational media savvy leader that can get folks out to vote - a leader with spunk, strength and charm. Somebody Bill Good will be be terrified of. Jim Sinclair, Jenny Kwan maybe.
First the NDP needs to get rid of the entire incompetent bunch of weasels in the party backrooms that put the up the worst leader in its history driving union members to stay home on election day and progressives to join the Green party.
Carole James has the personality of a wet noodle, a voice that grates on anybodies nerves, refuses to and is incapable of even showing in a one and one fight, has lost two elections because of her incompetence, and has the brain of nat. If she won't leave she needs to be fired for cause.
Pussy whipped gurley men like Farnsworth, Simpson and Horgan who because of Carole James's be nice policy refused to stand and fight a single time in the campaign, need to be sent to rehab to see if they can get their cojones reattached.
You morons had the election in the bag and more ammunition than the US Army had in Iraq but you refused to attack and kill Gordo so vulnerable on economic issues because Carol James was to stupid to understand those issues much less debate them. This when all the polls were telling you it's the economy stupid.
Now everything Rafe Mair and your online and talk show call in supporters were telling you, begging you to get into the fight with. is coming true. BC Hydro is now effectively privatized with 90% of its expenditures directed towards Pirate Power, rates about to triple, by 2013 will be the highest cost power producer in North America, and with the exodus of all BC business's using electricity bankrupt. The economy is in shambles, the Salmon are gone, and people are living on the street in their cars.This is the price BC residents have to pay for your incompetence.
Get rid of James, get some new management and maybe with a recall vote in two years, you can help fix the disaster you had a big part in causing.
A 2010 leadership race is essential.
wrong turn
The first step is to drop this fixation that NDP needs to woe business in order to win a majority.
All you need to promise business to be more fair than Gordo has been to the working slaves.
James represents the wrong platform for a party that should be for the lower income part of the population.
We have the results of supporting business already, both on the federal and provincial level, and it is a disaster!
I Finally Get It...
Yep.
Source: Public Eye Online
Brad
What did you finally get?
That you don't like the NDP? I guess I'll have to call the CKNW news line with that nugget.
The Liberal Convention!
Oh right, the only convention they have is when business calls up the premier to let him know the agenda.
The NDP were sleepwalking
The NDP were sleepwalking throughout the last election.
I am not sure that they have got it even yet.
The message should have been stop the sellout of our province. Quit selling off the provincial assets to Gordo's friends. Lets build up the province instead of selling it off. Lets build a province that we can be proud of.
The NDP has shown that they are not capable of governing, because of the way that they have mismanaged the election campaign. If you cannot manage a campaign, you cannot run the government.
Carole James said "using a strong business climate to increase social justice."
BC has the lowest taxes in North America. The provincial tax Corporate rate is approx 2.5 percent on the first 500,000 of income and they province wants to decrease it to zero percent. The tax burden is therefore shifted away from business to workers. The HST will decrease the burden on business and increase the burden on the general population. As a small business owner I will benefit, but I would not call it social justice.
Whether one likes Ms. James
Whether one likes Ms. James or not, she is not electable. She is the Liberal Party version of Iggy.
If she stays on as leader the NDP might as well start planning for 2017 and kiss 2013 away, especially if Gordo is replaced.