BC Conservatives Rising
Upstart party aims to capitalize on Campbell's collapse, but NDP should worry too.
Tory MP John Cummins addresses BC Conservative AGM as Randy White looks on. Photo: B. Tieleman.
"Doesn't it make you feel a bit like the early days of Reform?" -- Former Reform Party MP Randy White to BC Conservatives
When has a Conservative politician publicly said he voted for a provincial New Democrat MLA, wants to appeal to unionized workers, supports the role of government in the economy and backs environmental critics of run of river projects?
It happened in Vancouver on Saturday when veteran federal Conservative member of parliament John Cummins addressed the provincial BC Conservative Party's annual general meeting.
And Cummins got strong applause for his views from the almost 200 delegates in attendance, including former premiers from two provinces and several ex-MPs.
Cummins gave a campaign-style speech making clear the BC Conservatives are going to target not only disgruntled BC Liberal voters but also the NDP's traditional support bases.
With Premier Gordon Campbell facing a disastrous nine per cent personal approval rating in a new Angus Reid Public Opinion poll while his party sits at just 24 per cent thanks to the hated Harmonized Sales Tax, past BC Liberal supporters are looking for a new centre-right home.
The NDP are pleased to hold 49 per cent in the same poll, but leader Carole James has only a 27 per cent approval rating and faces internal party issues highlighted by caucus chair Norm Macdonald's resignation last Friday over James' expulsion of MLA Bob Simpson without any discussion or vote by her MLAs.
The two major parties' problems helped create an ebullient mood among delegates, perhaps unrealistic for a party that has no leader, no elected members, only ran 24 candidates in the 2009 election and garnered just two per cent of the vote, but that optimism is not totally misplaced.
The same poll shows the BC Conservatives rising to eight per cent and positioning themselves as the go-to alternative for voters angry at the BC Liberals but afraid of the New Democrats.
That's why the BC Conservatives -- who are not connected to the federal party -- have been able to attract a collection of senior ex-politicians to advise them on how to build the party.
Right-wing veterans
Led by former Conservative and Reform MP Randy White, their "Tactical Advisory Group" includes ex-BC Social Credit premier Rita Johnston, ex-Newfoundland Conservative premier Brian Peckford -- now a long-time resident of Qualicum Beach, and other former Reform MPs Darryl Stinson, Jim Hart, Andy Burton and Reed Elley, along with former Cowichan Lake mayor Jack Peake and party president Wayne McGrath, a three-term Vernon mayor.
But it's sitting MP Cummins who has the highest profile -- and who may well be the front runner for leader in 2011, though he has to date denied any interest.
Cummins' speech may change that perception.
'People are environmentally conscious'
"You don't want people voting for you simply because they don't like the other guy -- we need to stand for something," Cummins, a commercial fisherman and teacher, told members.
"British Columbians believe there is a role for government," he said, extolling the actions of former Social Credit premier W.A.C. Bennett in nationalizing BC Electric to create publicly-owned BC Hydro and creating BC Ferries as a Crown Corporation.
But the BC Liberals have removed the role of government and ignored environmental concerns with their controversial independent power projects across the province, Cummins said, a mistake the BC Conservatives must not repeat.
"People are environmentally conscious -- this party has to be seen as a protector of the environment -- if not, we're not going to make it to government," he said.
And Cummins reminded BC Conservatives that in past federal elections the right wing Reform, Alliance and Conservative parties had all gained workers' votes to win seats, despite the NDP having strong ties to organized labour.
"The union guy voted for us -- don't ever forget that," Cummins said forcefully and to a round of applause. "Those are the people we need on our side."
"There are voters, some of whom have voted for the NDP -- and I've done that in the last year," Cummins said, referring to his public endorsement of NDP Delta North MLA Guy Gentner. "The NDP MLA in my riding was helpful on some fisheries issues, so I gave him my vote, because I can't vote Liberal."
Cummins also reminded the audience that Bennett was premier for 20 years because he always won votes from union workers, many of whom supported his championing of major infrastructure projects like the BC Hydro dams that opened up the province.
Cummins didn't shy away from some of the BC Conservatives' chequered history either.
"The party has a bit of a coloured past -- now we're a new Conservative party," Cummins says.
"As [former Reform leader] Preston Manning said -- bright lights attract flies. In the past year this party has been the bright light in politics and yes we've attracted flies, but now we have the flypaper up," he said to laughter.
And perhaps anticipating a rough ride from journalists in days ahead -- although surprisingly I was the only media person present at the event -- Cummins told members not to fear scrutiny.
Shifting issues anticipated
"How do you deal with the media? They aren't ogres. They're people like you and me who go home at the end of the day to their families," he said. "Tell the truth as you see it. If you do that you will be well served."
And likely referring to the HST -- which Cummins voted for in parliament as a Conservative MP and has said in a recent interview is "necessary" -- he advised the audience that the "issues of the day seem big but don't really matter in the long run."
"Nobody really knows the issues which will be fought over in the next election," he said.
Cummins also fired both barrels at the BC Liberals, whose MLAs have accused the upstart BC Conservatives of vote splitting of voters on the right-centre which could lead to an NDP victory, as it did in 1972, 1991 and 1996 with the social democrats taking around 40 per cent of the vote but a majority of the seats.
"As to the question of splitting the vote -- who is splitting the vote?" Cummins asked, pointing out that with the record low turnout in the 2009 election of just 51 per cent, the B.C. Liberals' 46 per cent winning vote came from less than 23 per cent of all eligible voters.
"We're coming up like gangbusters. We're going to be the party to beat in the next election," Cummins said to applause, before delivering his punch line. "Then it will be the Liberals splitting the vote!"
"I see this meeting today as the start of a great Conservative movement in this province. We are going to win the election in 2013!" Cummins concluded to a standing ovation.
Campbell not welcome: McGrath
Earlier at the AGM, party president McGrath answered questions from members in a sometimes overly frank way.
McGrath said that if recall attempts organized by Fight HST, which I support, were successful in removing BC Liberal MLAs the BC Conservatives would contest subsequent by-elections.
But he warned that the party's lack of constituency associations in several ridings would be a problem.
"It could be that we have a by-election through recall in a riding were we don't have a C.A. -- that would be unfortunate but it could happen," he said.
While McGrath also said sitting BC Liberal MLAs were welcome to join the BC Conservatives, they would have to apply and go through a process to be accepted.
However, he added to loud applause: "If Gordon Campbell were to apply, I as a board member would vote no!"
McGrath was also asked why Fight HST organizer Chris Delaney had quit the BC Conservatives in September to join a new political party, BC First.
"Chris Delaney was very opposed to the HST -- as we were, as we are. He formed his own party and said we were in favour of the HST -- a total fabrication," McGrath claimed. "But I don't want to be negative today, only positive."
Confusing stances on taxes
While the BC Conservative policy online clearly states that it opposes the "totally unfair BC Liberal HST" on several grounds, it also proposes to eliminate the Provincial Sales Tax, lower the corporate income tax, end the Property Transfer Tax and double personal income tax exemptions -- all at a cost of billions in government revenue without any explanation of how public services would be maintained.
And with Cummins defending his vote in favour of the HST in parliament, while White recently said it wouldn't be possible to now remove it, the HST may be the biggest challenge for the party to overcome.
One solution -- despite Cummins' stated advice to simply be truthful with the media -- came from the BC Conservatives' communications director, Nanaimo city councillor and retired newspaper publisher Merv Unger.
"There are people out to discredit us. It's always important to control the message," Unger said. "If there's anything you need to disseminate to the public, send it to me first."
White also addressed a question about how the Tactical Advisory Group would be accountable to the members.
"None of us want to be elected. Our job is to keep these people out of the minefields -- just ask my wife," White said to laughs. "We have a limited shelf life until the new leader is elected in 2011."
Leadership contest not scheduled
McGrath said that leadership contest will "hopefully" take place in the first half of 2011 but definitely take place later in the year if not.
"Perhaps some of the answers have been a bit nebulous but I believe they have to be," McGrath concluded.
Nebulous indeed. But the potential for the BC Conservatives to strike fear into BC Liberal MLAs is very clear.
Less certain but not to be discounted is the potential that BC Conservatives may have to appeal to traditional BC NDP working class voters -- especially if led by a populist like John Cummins.
For any who doubt that, take a good, long look at the results of the federal election of 1993.
That was the election when Reform wiped out the federal Conservative government as English Canada's right wing party and took 24 of B.C.'s 32 seats by devastating the NDP, which lost 17 of its previous 19 seats.
NDP MPs going down to defeat at Reform hands included former B.C. premier Dave Barrett and current New Westminster NDP MLA Dawn Black.
How many B.C. seats did the Reform Party hold before that 1993 election? Exactly none, which is just as many as the BC Conservatives have today -- for now. ![[Tyee]](http://thetyee.cachefly.net/ui/img/ico_fishie.png){kind=small}
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49
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Frank
1 year ago
NDP not picking up BC Liberal supporters
I guess all these ex-BCLiberal, now Conservative, voters were just itching to join the NDP if only they would have had a more left-wing leader?
El Orso
1 year ago
The Explanation is Obvious
"all at a cost of billions in government revenue without any explanation of how public services would be maintained."
The explanation is obvious - these are Conservatives: they won't maintain public services at all.
Camero409
1 year ago
LIbERalS/CONServatives
The difference is indistinguishable. If the fools that believed in the LIbERalS believe the CONServatives will offer something different, just look at Randy Whites record while in Parliament. This guy is a right wing wingnut. Do we need more of them governing BC? I think not. We've been led down this garden path by the Randy White/Gordon Campbell ilk long enough.
Fiat lux
1 year ago
Just another version of the
Just another version of the Reform gang and they make no secrets about it. Of course, the union towns may, or will, just vote for them, as we have here in the Cariboo with Reform fossil Dixck Harris elected time after time in 4 union towns.
The question now is, which party will the corporate mafia support and pay off for the sale of BC? Is this the sign of another planned change of the name of Socred/Reform/CRAPP from BCLiberal to BC Conservative?
What the hell does Campbell care, with all the directorships waiting for him, as his rewards ?
The interesting fact about "fiscally responsible conservatives" is that they always rack up the biggest deficits and debts, as excuses for cutting services for the public, to fill the pockets of the owners of their parties.
Ed Deak, Big Lake
Cool Hand
1 year ago
2009 Election Analysis
Interestingly enough, in the ridings where the Cons did run candidates during the 2009 election, the Cons took just as many votes from the NDP as the Liberals compared to the 2005 election.
The reason? Those 2005 NDP voters were not pro-NDP but rather anti-Gordo/anti-Liberal.
Makes sense in some respect. The provincially held NDP ridings of:
1. Cariboo North;
2. Columbia River Revelstoke;
3. Fraser Nicola;
4. Nanaimo;
5. Surrey Fleetwood;
6. Maple-Ridge Pitt Meadows;
7. Delta North
8. Port Coquitlam;
...for example, all voted strongly Con during the 2008 federal election.
With Carole at the NDP helm, the political vacuum is certainly there for the Cons, with a John Cummins at the helm, to eat into both the NDP and Liberal vote.
Fiat lux
1 year ago
Those federal voters don't
Those federal voters don't realize that the Conservative and BCLiberal parties are the same Reform gang under different names.
Ed Deak.
shepsil
1 year ago
The Conservative "Old Guard" is an understatement! LOL.
John Cummins, Randy White and the others are all over the hill and are hoping beyond hope that a young conservative messiah will come charging over the hill on a white mount.
I think there are enough bright British Columbians who can tell the difference between these old Conservatives (read BC Liberals) and the Progressive leaders we will need to lead us out of the mess
the conservative mindset has now put us in thanks to the BC Liberals.
Jerry Munro
1 year ago
Burning Cajones...
Nah Frank, that's what y'all can't understand, it seems. They aren't going to vote for you anyway. You come from the wrong side of the class divide tracks, and so despite all your kissing their ass and sucking up, they aren't going to vote for you anyway. Never were. Never will, barring a perfect political storm.
Meanwhile, you are rapidly losing even your traditional base amongst the intelligentsia and petite bourgeois, and the working class never really has trusted you (or the current trade union brass.)All for good reasons, in my view.
Now, all the other parties to the ruling class system are starting to smell your blood on the pavement too, the Socreds, and now it would appear, The Conservatives. You folks are hemorrhaging badly, and ALL the sharks are circling.
And what it would take to pull your cajones out of the fire, you are not prepared to do, 'cause you still want to be business/investor class friendly more than anything else in the world. Too bad, because the only real alternative out there that would give you any relevance at all would be... a sharp turn to the Left, and take the bastards on, bare knuckle style, down in the mud, the blood and the beer.
It could be a good fight too. But like I say, you don't have your cajones anymore. They are burning up in the coming firestorm.
You guys and gals just don't get it. The times... they really have changed. Ideological social democracy, or Blairism, has lost its relevance.
shepsil
1 year ago
Coyoteboy dreaming in technicolour
The only issue for voters is integrity in gov't and that is something both the Federal Conservatives and the BC Liberals have precious little of.
Cummins is the only Conservative with any apparent credibility around this province, but not for anything in particular other than his staying power. Here in Delta, people all say he's a nice guy, but when pressed about what he has done for them, they all go blank!
He's a backbencher who only gets elected because he stands up against his own party and votes for the BCNDP. Maybe its time he joined the NDP so he can really accomplish something meaningful.
John Greg
1 year ago
Bad mojo
shepsil said:
"I think there are enough bright British Columbians who can tell the difference between these old Conservatives (read BC Liberals) and the Progressive leaders we will need to lead us out of the mess the conservative mindset has now put us in thanks to the BC Liberals."
If that were true, where the hell were all those "bright British Columbians" during the last two elections?
coyoteman said:
"You guys and gals just don't get it. The times... they really have changed."
I think this is profoundly true. But the problem is, I don't think anyone (including myself) really has a handle on how just dystopic a state of affairs we are very soon going to find ourselves in. I suspect it's going to be about as bad as it can get, and that those of us in the poor to erstwhile middle class and even upper-middle class are about to see the bottom really drop out of the barrel.
All hail the plutocratic gods.
Not!
Jerry Munro
1 year ago
Re-Connecting ...
"Maybe its time he joined the NDP so he can really accomplish something meaningful." sheepdip. :-)
ROFLMAO!
That doesn't even need a response. Everyone gets the joke right away.
The certitude with which the Blairites persist in their losing cause direction is admirable if foolish. Technicolour defined.
The NDP has likely lost the next election in any case. Though two years is still a long time in politics, I grant. Which in the NDP case is likely to only see a worsened situation, given the way it is, like I say, hemmorhaging its life blood away out onto the pavement. Your own members and potential voters are turning away from you all over the place, leaving you to bleed on your own.
And likely having lost the next election already, in my view, your only hope of turning it around over time, like I say, is a radical change of direction and really opening up the fight. And it's not that I think that even would turn your fortunes around that quickly. You likely have more time yet to flirt with the edges of the political wilderness... along with the likes of myself. But what you would be achieving is re-instilling real "everyday working folks" content back into yourself, closer to your roots and your heyday... when you at least got some respect.
Which is something to build on at least, and to re-connect yourselves with real people's lives. And you do that well enough and honestly enough, with courage that doesn't back down from a fight and really challenging ideas that strike to the core, you will at least have more hope than your current strategy of seeking to replace the Liberal Party... of which we already have one to capitalism.
Right now, y'all are just twisting there in the wind.
Frank
1 year ago
coyote
"Nah Frank, that's what y'all can't understand, it seems. They aren't going to vote for you anyway. "
Actually if you've been following along, that's exactly what I've been saying. Its your side (CanadianLatitude ring a bell?) that says the NDP hasn't been picking up BC Liberal supporters because James isn't left-wing enough.
As for losing support, its never been higher.
Gidget
1 year ago
SHAME ON YOU TIELEMAN!
The BC Liberals would never, ever fight an election by forcing the division of its opponents. It wouldn't be honourable.
The BC Liberals are known for fighting campaigns in an honourable manner.
Camero409
1 year ago
What will the Conservatives look like?
Just take a look at Stevo and Gordo. If that don't scare you, you don't have brains. Gidget, what planet are you from?
Jerry Munro
1 year ago
On Drinking Kool-Aid I
"Its your side (CanadianLatitude ring a bell?) that says the NDP hasn't been picking up BC Liberal supporters because James isn't left-wing enough." Frank.
There's BC Liberal "supporters" Frank, and then there's those who just vote for them "'cause" they felt the need to vote for somebody, after Glen was perceived to prove your "incompetence" again. And who are generally reluctant most times to vote for you guys anyway because of the confusing nature of the times, and a tendency to go to the tried and true at least initially, in such times... but also because the NDP comes across as such a zero anyway.
Most of these voters aren't really anybodies firm and committed "supporters". They are more like surfers who want to rife the wave of a winning side, as they perceive it.
Other than you have the support of "the union bosses" whom nobody including the working class trusts, you don't seem to have any kind of a programme, or a vision of the direction in which you want to move society, if you want to move it at all, or to really articulate anything other than homilies and platitudes. Ever since Tommy Douglas certainly, the NDP has basically just been a series of caretaker governments for capitalism at best. (Pretty much like all the others, except maybe the Conservatives, who at least seem to know what they want and are able, within the limitations of minority governance, to go after it.)
You don't really do anything, just kind of "manage" with perhaps good enough intentions but varying degrees of skill. And I think that is more or less the gist of the public understanding of the NDP.
continued next post
Jerry Munro
1 year ago
On Drinking Kool-Aid II
from previous post...
At least a turn to the Left, with some fire in your belly, would wake folks up and give them something to think about. As it is, your ONLY hope is that the other side will fuck up enough, that you can "sneak" into power. Which seems to me, and pretty much everyone I think, including yourselves, to be the sum total of the current NDP strategy coming out of certainly "the provincial office".
As for the "national office", their Big Plan is to shift shape into the Liberal Party... with which y'all more or less seem fine as well. Except for those folks as seem to not be renewing their memberships or giving you cash donations anymore (self included)-, who clearly seem to think that the party has gone too far to the right as much as I do. Somewhere out there, you guys crossed the line that was the limit of our tolerance... as capitalism as a whole is inching toward, in my view.
The NDP has drank too much of the Moe Sihoto/ Carole James/ Jack Layton and Ed Broadbent "Seeking Respectability and Establishment Acceptance" Kool-Aid.
And your choices are... continue on your current course, and be content with MAYBE another return to the caretaker management" office in the ruling class controlled system, OR strike off on a new course, in a direction that more reflects your real labour-farmer-socialist roots, and carry through an at least more "honourable" fight than this making with the suck suck.
Frank
1 year ago
coyote
I don't think Glen Clark was incompetent at all. I voted for him and would again. As a finance minister and premier he has a pretty good record.
As for those that think the NDP are "zeroes", I don't care. Those people aren't the people the NDP tries to represent and acts as a vehicle for. They have their own party.
As for the NDP meaning nothing, we've been the government, our record is clear, what we stand for is obvious to both our friends and our enemies as the Tyee comment section shows. After all, Bobby Peru has no problem figuring out what the NDP stands for. Most people don't.
A turn to the Left wouldn't "wake up" anyone because there is no one to wake up. At 49% the NDP has the support of pretty much everyone inclined towards the party. We can't rise higher than 49% because the other 51% wouldn't vote NDP no matter what. They have no history of doing so.
On the subject of election strategy being based on waiting for the Right to screw up, well, that is the only way for the NDP to gain power in this province. Other tactics have been tried since the creation of the CCF and they all failed including the strategy that many claim would work. It didn't before.
Federally I just don't understand what you mean. Jack Layton is no Liberal and has never expressed an interest to be one.
You state that the fall in members means the NDP has abandoned the Left? I would say it means the Left has abandoned the NDP. First at the ballot box and then by not helping out financially. I think anyone that doesn't support the NDP should have little to complain about if the NDP takes the hint and gives up trying to represent people that don't support the party. Electoral history shows the far Left abandoned the NDP long before the NDP abandoned the far Left. Even in the days when Tommy Douglas was our leader the Left didn't support the NDP on election day.
Farmers don't vote NDP. Haven't for half a century. The NDP shouldn't return to any perceived "roots" because the people there wouldn't support the NDP anyway just as they don't support any other left-wing party.
Cool Hand
1 year ago
Calgary's Mayoral Race - Now There's An Example
Typically turnout for Calgary's mayoral race is 15%+, dismal at best. Yesterday was different - 52%! Even higher than the turnout for BC's last election.
The candidates:
1. Rick McIver (right-wing, supported by Wildrose Alliance and right-wing PC's);
2. Barb Higgins (centrist, supported by urban PC's and Liberals - even NDP candidate Bob Hawkesworth dropped out of the mayoral campaign to support her);
3. Naheed Nenshi (centrist - sustainable development/urban candidate and relatively pro-business with support from across political spectrum).
And in red-neck, conservative Calgary Naheed Nenshi won decisively with his campaign that brought out voters that usually stay home. He had a certain gravitas, charisma, a positive vision, etc. that drove momentum his way from an initial 5% poll standing to over 40% on election night. No mean feat.
Look at our provincial leaders - dismal Carole and dismal Gordon. Both parties are hemorrhaging party members and financial support as people get turned off by both.
Again, OTOH, the only politician in BC today that has that same gravitas as Naheed Nenshi is Surrey mayor Dianne Watts IMHO. No wonder she is short-listed for the 2010 World mayor prize. No wonder she was at the top, by far, in an Angus Reid Strategies poll from last fall as to whom would make best BC premier. No wonder when her name is placed alongside another party that party takes first place in polling:
Which of the following political leaders and parties associated with each, do you support most in terms of how much you like them and would support them?
1. Surrey mayor Dianne Watts and B.C. Conservatives- 47%
2. B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and B.C. Liberals - 24 %
3. Carole James and B.C. New Democrats - 17 %
4. Jane Sterk and B.C. Greens - 03 %
Whatever party Dianne Watts will hang her shingle with will take the top prize in 2013. Betchya it's with the Libs.
Frank
1 year ago
Luke
Do you have to brush the cobwebs off that poll before you post it here? Isn't it like 50 years old?
jnewcomb
1 year ago
TEA PAARRTAYY!
NOT JUST CONSERVATIVES, BC NEEDS REALLY RADICAL REVOLUTION - A LIBERTARIAN, FREEDOM-LOVING REVOLUTION. Flat taxes? Sure, at 15% max. Stop the bureaucracy! Fire the tons of civil servants who push paper. Stop subsidizing business and all the flacks who just exist as drones. Half of BC comes from Hong Kong, so they know what low taxes and entrepreneurship are really about. Bring in the Hong Kong advisors!
dustytrails
1 year ago
Drawing Flies
John Cummins has one thing right that the BC Conservative Party has drawn flies and they are all coming from the federal Conservative Party members who ran the BC Liberal party. They are looking to regroup under the BC Conservative Party banner to protect their HST investment.
Chris Delaney left for good reason. The BC Conservative Party only pretends to be against the HST. The real proof is the party brass refuses to allow for the membership to vote on a policy to abolish the HST.
dustytrails
1 year ago
Polling on the BC Conservative Party shows a loss
The last poll conducted by Ipsos Reid has the BC Conservative Party at 8% that is down from 11% that Evi Mustel had a couple months ago. Now with Chris Delaney gone the party has lost credibility with the public with the fight over the HST. It also doesn't help that Christy Clark kicked Cummins butt live on the radio over his clearly hypocritical position on the HST. How can the man claim that the BC Liberals were deceptive on the HST file yet then go and vote in favour of the deception. Randy White was also quoted as saying the Fight HST people were nothing but NDP supporters and should be discounted.
I hope the people of BC will not get fooled again.
morechatter
1 year ago
Calgary Mayor wins big approval
Calgary has a new mayor and he did it at one third of the cost as facebook and tweeter and networking paved the way for his win. It makes the mayor very attractive as he is innovative, creative and a real friendly guy.
This will change politics and will have people joining the race who would have never been able to come up with the money to campaign.
morechatter
1 year ago
Liberals play low down and dirty
Basi and Virk hired to play dirty tricks on radio talk shows and getting misinformation out and lets not forget the recent scandal of the top cop MLA under scrutiny because his campaign manager had a bag of dirty tricks. Heed read the brochure but thought they were talking about him. Apparently the Liberals aren't the brightest because the rail case payoff is like rubbing the premier's dirty laundry in the publics face while forcing public to pick up Basi and Virk payoff. Because what else could it be as these guys said Campbell was the leader of dirty deals. Then after 7 years of delaying the trial amd Basi and Virk add up millions of dollars of legal bills the province picks it up as Basi and Virk forget about the premier's involvement in the whole dirty deal.
alive
1 year ago
Cool Hand
Naheed Nenshi openly supports business by promising to cut red tape, meaning speedy approval of whatever they might propose.
That is hardly centrist, but ultra conservative business at any cost!
SharingIsGood
1 year ago
Yet another Correction for Luke's assertions
"And in red-neck, conservative Calgary Naheed Nenshi won decisively with his campaign that brought out voters that usually stay home."
The 2010 voter turn-out in Calgary is but 21.48 per cent of eligible voters. Total number of eligible voters for the 2010 Election is 665,045.
He got 40% of 21.8% of eligible voters. Only 8.4% of eligible voters voted for him. The vote was split 3 ways: 40%, 32%, and 28%. I wouldn't call this a huge vitory. 60% of the voters didn't vote for him. more than 91.6% of the eligible voters didn't vote for him. He does seem charismatic, and he seems to have charmed many uber-conservative and disenchanted Calgarians into believing in him. He took a page from the Obama campaign in using Twitter and Facebook. We'll see how things go for him and Calgary over the next few years to gain a better sense as to what this Calgary election holds.
The Blackbird
1 year ago
Here comes the spill ...
If this gang gets in, you can kiss BC's pristine shores goodbye when supertankers start navigating Hecate Strait on their way to load up on tar sands crude.
brg61
1 year ago
Very dim advisory group
Randy White, Rita Johnson, Darryl Stinson, Jim Hart, Brian Peckford providing advise???
Are these the brains behind a NEW party???
Somehow I don't see throngs of inspired new voters beating a path to the voting booths.
CanadianLatitude
1 year ago
Don't we have a
Don't we have a 'conservative' government with Gordo anyways? These guys like Harper and Gordo are nothing but low wage conservatives.
Cool Hand
1 year ago
Just the Facts Maam
Fiction:
Reality:
Yep, I was wrong at 52% voter turnout - it was actually 54%!
Cool Hand
1 year ago
Just the Facts Maam
Fiction:
Reality:
Yep, I was wrong at 52% voter turnout - it was actually 54%!
SharingIsGood
1 year ago
don't trust the Internet
Here was my source of misinformation, Luke.
http://www.metronews.ca/edmonton/article/666250--nenshi-rides-his-revolution-to-win
Here was the quote:
"The 2010 turn-out represents 21.48 per cent of eligible voters. Total number of eligible voters for the 2010 Election is 665,045."
I have since checked other sources and found quotes like yours.
However: 40% X 54 = 27%
27% of the electorate voted for the new guy.
SharingIsGood
1 year ago
new math
40% X 54 = 21.6%
21.6% of the electorate voted for the new guy.
More than twice as many people (46%) didn't vote at all when compared to those who voted for the new guy.
Jerry Munro
1 year ago
Calgary's Culture Changing Event...
"new math
40% X 54 = 21.6%
21.6% of the electorate voted for the new guy.
More than twice as many people (46%) didn't vote at all when compared to those who voted for the new guy." SharingIsGood
These rwingers keep getting caught out in their basic math and use of statistics. It's because of course, like all the parties to capitalism, they are under pressure to use it to their own party interest.
Again, I would draw everyone's attention to the most important aspect of this media so-called "city culture changing" election... which is in fact, NOT the election of another small c or big C conservative, muslim or mason, how e'er charming or of what diversity, but that again, another near majority of citizens DID NOT even bother to vote.
I know that it's because NDPers as well as others like to delude themselves that it is mere lack of interest and laziness, pure and simple. But it might just also be that such is in turn a further manifestation of the fact of lack of real choice. The new guy, with perhaps a quicker smile and wit, beneath that is pretty much like the other business guy, who is like the other business guy.
Borrrreing. I think I'll take a snooze instead of going to vote.
I mean dahling, even I lie all the time :-)_ to these pollsters that are ever phoning here, just to toy with their heads and skew their results. If I don't hang up without so much as a grunt.
You might almost think that there is a serious problem with what passes for democracy in capitalism. Which there is, of course.
alfman55
1 year ago
Christy Clark / John Cummins interview
I am sure we can all pick our favorite quotes / interviews. I think however that a far more 'balanced' interview took place Sunday morning on CFAX radio from Victoria -- including a discussion on the HST (http://www.publiceyeonline.com/archives/005356.html)
samuidave (not verified)
1 year ago
wolves in sheeps clothing
Frank ~ I don't think Glen Clark was incompetent at all.
Incompetent as a politician? or as an honest and ethical human-being in all that he undertook?
~ I voted for him and would again. As a finance minister and premier he has a pretty good record.
Keep polishing that NDP turd, Frank.
As the corruption bar of government excess gets pushed successively higher, most all past government's look good in comparison. But this does not mean they were de facto good governments. Yet, Frank, this is your dogma on politics: we are duty bound to vote for the least offensive regardless of the ultimate conduct.
RickW
1 year ago
Y'all might take into consideration.....
....that if money buys elections, the provincial CONservatives might more easily tap into business donations than the NDP ever would. That is one reason why Carol has been accused of "courting" business. The NDP's traditional base (i.e. citizens) are cash-strapped, and consequently, so is the NDP.
Frank
1 year ago
samuidav
And you're duty bound to claim you're from Krypton and are the only man who can behold the truth.
Whatever.
samuidave (not verified)
1 year ago
I'm sorry, Frank,
to see you think you can make a difference in this world by voting. Maybe if you knew and saw the sorts of things our tax dollars support around the globe, you might think your endorsement for these political shells of corporatism was not such a good idea.
http://documentaryheaven.com/the-doctor-the-depleted-uranium-and-the-dying-children/
But one of many examples your vote endorses as it certainly does not denounce such acts.
RickW
1 year ago
samuidave
Such as (for instance) the Harper government lobbying for the continuation of exports of asbestos to "developing nations"?
Frank
1 year ago
samuidave
Not voting endorses the status quo far more than my voting NDP.
Although there's lots of problems in the world none of them will get solved by tuning out and dropping out.
plg
1 year ago
poll results
What was left out of the article was the entire results of a recent poll by the Mustel Group, September 2010...
BC NDP 42%
BC Liberal 33%
Green Party 12%
BC Conservative 11%
Although the BC cons popularity is increasing where was the Green Party poll results in Tieleman's reckoning?
The top three issues, as BC residents saw it, in May 2010 (05-10) and September 2010 (09-10):
Economy 05-10: 18%
Economy 09-10: 20%
Taxes/HST 05-10: 21%
Taxes/HST 09-10: 18%
Health 05-10: 13%
Health 09-10: 17%
It will be interesting as time passes to see how BC residents will view the political parties in BC at the end of this year. Will BC Cons continue to rise in popularity? Will the spread between the NDP and Liberals get closer and will Taxes/HST continue to drop as a top issue as the Economy continues to rise as the top issue?
We are somewhat insulated from the difficulties many BC residents outside of the "Golden Triangle" (Metro Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler) are facing as the economy in their areas of BC continues to slide.
samuidave (not verified)
1 year ago
Frank ~ Although there's
Frank ~ Although there's lots of problems in the world none of them will get solved by tuning out and dropping out.
Again, Frank, you put words in my mouth or take what I say out of context to make your own point. Nowhere have I ever said one should be "tuning out and dropping out".
I state the problem is we are 'not' tuning into the reality of our political system; in not doing so, we think a vote is bringing substantive change. You can endorse the ring-leaders if you want, Frank; I prefer to try to make a difference in another manner, and not acquiesce to the crimes.
Frank
1 year ago
samuidave
Don't twist what I said.
You've been clear that you want us all to ignore elections. I've been clear that I think that is a recipe for disaster.
I don't see places where voters are apathetic as being model societies.
Elections don't fix all problems but if we didn't have them the problems would be far worse.
samuidave (not verified)
1 year ago
Frank, get off the pot
there is not a single word or thought of yours mis-stated by myself.
You seem to see a vote as something that must be cast regardless of what it supports.
I see my vote as something too precious to waste on the prostituting political parties offering services inside the darkness of the political brothel.
Frank
1 year ago
samuidave
If your vote is so precious to waste then why do you waste it? Its not like if you don't vote that you get two votes next time around.
Which means you have wasted your vote every time you didn't vote.
I know what my vote supports and I see nothing wrong with voting for a party that isn't perfect but is better than the one I don't want to see elected.
I don't subscribe to "revolution", incremental change is fine with me if that's what people are most comfortable with. I vote in the hopes things will get better, I don't vote for the sudden creation of a perfect society.
samuidave (not verified)
1 year ago
Thanks, Frank, for finally getting on point. :)
As I have been saying, this is an ethical question about public and private crimes.
So when you ask, Frank, "If your vote is so precious to waste then why do you waste it?" my answer is simple, by analogy: I do not hand my bullet to the shooter when I can simply throw it in the river.
Doing this does not mean I "have wasted my vote every time I didn't vote"; it means I did not give the government authority, even tacitly, to act criminally by participating in the fraud.
And here is the significant difference between how we view matters, and it it the crux of your opinion against mine - both equally defensible I believe:
Nor do I expect perfection, but I do demand honesty and ethically sound behaviour. I have never witnessed, nor had it drawn to my attention, how any electable party in a corporate-democracy can provide either.
In the end, and on the balance, you choose the lesser of the evils; I choose neither because none of the parties even pretends to be desirous of moving the political model in a direction of betterment. Stealing less from me doesn't make your supporter.
Frank
1 year ago
samuidave
"Bullets" and "stealing from me"???
Geez, that's just way too out there for me.
If it all comes down to you thinking you pay too much in taxes then why not just say so?
Driftwood
1 year ago
Them ain't meatballs!
If this new conservative lot ever gets elected they're going to put pay toilets in libraries, hospitals, schools; you name it!
They'll call it somehing like 'Same Shit, Different Pile' and give the contract to somebody called Gordo who will promptly up the price of dumping to somewhere around $10 a load. BCers will respond by airmailing paper bags of the stuff at the 'new' neocon. Free of charge because we are socialists. Rain wear will become the new 'radical chic' among the rich. Filthy rich will take on a whole new meaning! Bring it on.