A Vote for the BC Governing Coalition Today?

Scott Ross makes a good point on his blog.  No matter how great Christy Clark has been, she is really up against it.  Even closing the gap with the NDP in the last few days is a monumental achievement (and she should be lauded for that - even accomplished as it was without the help of many in the "coalition").  Winning beyond 15 seats, in the political morass created by Gordon Campbell (and some of his caucus colleagues - who continue to work against Christy), will indeed be an effort worthy of praise.

The BC Liberal Party is really the "BC Center-Right Coalition".  That coalition has been strained for years.  Hard right-wingers of the old Reform Party "Guard" variety formed their own "BC Conservative Party". Deals which were surely made during (and after) the last leadership were attempts to keep the governing coalition together.  Some of those deals apparently involved the types of people who had to surround Ms. Clark.

Many true Liberals were indeed upset with those conditions.  Many felt that Ms. Clark did not stand and kick the Reformers out, or didn't go far enough policy-wise.  One could argue that she did make some strong moves.  Moves like standing up to Alberta on the pipeline situation.  Christy went as far as she possibly could without having federal support cut off (and far as she could without being reigned in by he former Harper PMO "advisory team").

For a good - real - Liberal/liberal in BC, what are the real choices?  One could "park" a vote with the Greens, but that could really be a waste in most cases.  One could consider the NDP too.  However, with a leader who has been found to be doing some pretty questionable stuff in the Leg, a history of absolutely horrible economic performance, and some rather nefarious left-wing connections, this is no "moderate" Roy Romanow-type NDP.

A good liberal can't really fathom parking a vote with either of the obvious alternatives.

Besides, the BC Liberals have been stalwarts of an economy that has come under fire, but survived.  Sure the Harper Government's poor economic choices have made it hard for the Provinces.  Certainly the Harper housing bubble is going to have a HUGE impact on one of BC's top employers (construction).  Still, considering all that, this Province has remained one of Canada's top growth areas.  WITHOUT pipeline jobs.

The likely result of today's election is indeed an NDP victory.  Probably a slim majority.  Still, we hope that Christy will stay on to purge the party of those who don't adhere to centrist principles, and lead the charge to replace the NDP when they inevitably crash the economy, in what will surely be a 3-way race in 2017.  Social Conservatives in the BCLiberal caucus will begin to move over to the BC Conservatives in the months ahead.  Some fiscal conservatives with progressive social values MAY join them.

BC may wake up to find Dix in charge, but it likely won't last much more than a term.  Liberals must be patient, and focus on building a strong "center" in preparation for the 3-way race  that is sure to evolve in 2017.  To position for that eventuality, the BCLiberals should focus on attacking the right wing, while preparing to be a fiscally responsible, SOCIALLY responsible alternative to the NDP.  Christy "unleashed" may be exactly what the BCLiberals need to that end.


VICTORY FUND

New Angus Reid Poll Puts Trudeau at 45% - Strong Majority Territory

I don't put much value in polls, as they are often created with some sort of slant in mind (by most organizations)... Still, it's great to see the recent trends in polling in Canadian federal politics.  Justin Trudeau is seeing growth in popularity.

This new Angus Reid poll indicates 45% of Canadians feel he will be Prime Minister.  That's a really strong number.  Typically only supporters will respond in such a way, with other party partisans responding in the negative.

Good news for Liberals, however, as Mr. Trudeau says, there is plenty of hard work ahead for the party of the Center.

VICTORY FUND

Harper Acting Insecure - Look For Con Blue Camaro Next

The PM has indeed been acting strange lately. First, his own insecurities about his own qualifications for the PM role led him to attack the personable young Liberal leader... Then he moves on to other interesting things (as Mr Goodale explains below)...

One would think he'll show up in a cold blue sports car next - as he tries to appear more ... Human?


RALPH GOODALE'S REPORT
A commentary by the Member of Parliament for Wascana

April 30th, 2013

MR. HARPER BEHAVING ODDLY

Stephen Harper seems a little shaky lately.

He's been lashing out at school teachers, university professors, sociologists ... even camp counsellors.

With apologies to a great Canadian author, Mr. Harper is acting a bit like Stephen Leacock's character, Lord Ronald, who "flung himself on his horse and rode madly off in all directions". Such behaviour does not convey a sense of maturity, confidence or seasoned judgment.

The most recent examples started two weeks ago at Margaret Thatcher's funeral in London. It's hard to know what was running through Mr. Harper's mind as he sat in the pews in St. Paul's Cathedral, but apparently it wasn't the Iron Lady. Right after the service he quickly summoned a news conference to offer a gratuitous, trans-Atlantic insult aimed at newly-elected Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau.

So what prompted such an outburst? In the wake of the bombings in Boston Mr. Trudeau had noted that, among many other things, it would be useful to find out what actually caused the perpetrators of this evil to do what they did. That seems like common sense -- if you want to prevent similar terrorist activity in the future. But Mr. Harper disagrees.

That puts him offside with both President Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron who made much the same comment as Mr. Trudeau, as did many journalists and anti-terrorism experts around the world. Back in 2011, even Stephen Harper himself launched a $10-million research project to better understand the root causes of terrorism.

So what has changed? Why are the Harper Conservatives abandoning the search for hard facts and clear insight, further isolating Canada internationally, and contenting themselves with numbskull pronouncements like "the root cause of terrorism is terrorists"? If this is what they truly believe, they are exposing Canada and Canadians to greater, more complex and repetitive risks.

We can only hope that the RCMP, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the security section within National Defense are more astute and effective than their current political masters. In this regard, it's not reassuring to see the RCMP being forced recently to submit to over-reaching political influence. The Force has doubtless had its problems in recent years, but the answer is not more interference from this Prime Minister's Office.

Many Canadians say the reason for Mr. Harper's superficial, erratic conduct lately has nothing to do with terrorism or national security, but everything to do with the public impact of Justin Trudeau.

People are finding Justin likable and inspirational. They agree with his focus on the success of the middle-class and all those who are working so hard to join the middle-class. They appreciate his constructive, positive approach -- giving Canadians reasons to vote FOR something once again, not just AGAINST -- and his remarkable ability to rally people around a more ambitious vision of what our country has the potential to become.

What truly shakes Mr. Harper is a hopeful, informed, engaged electorate who won't be content with manipulation or mediocrity anymore!

Exclusive! SunNews Poll Finds Trudeau Ads More Effective!

A new Sun News poll finds Canadian voters think Justin Trudeau's positive and constructive ads are much more effective than Harper's low-blow, deceitful attack ads...  Poll had a very large sample size, although it would likely have been frequented more by pro-Conservative voters.  This leads one to believe that even Harper's so-called "base" is beginning to waver on his unhealthy fixation on the Liberal Party of Canada...

(screen capture from Sun New website from user's computer).

VICTORY FUND

The Magic of Justin

Ralph Goodale on the JT victory.

RALPH GOODALE'S REPORT
A commentary by the Member of Parliament for Wascana


Special Edition: Sunday, April 14th, 2013

TRUDEAU'S LEADERSHIP BUILT ON HOPE & HARD WORK

Justin Trudeau has just been elected Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.

The process to select him attracted the democratic participation of more Canadians than any political party ever has. But bigger challenges lie ahead, like earning the trust of millions of voters and motivating them to get to the polls in a general election in 2015. How will that be done?

As a starting point, Justin has tapped into Canadians' deep desire for something better in our politics, something to vote FOR, rather than never-ending abuse telling you what to vote AGAINST.

Over the past seven years, a great many people have grown weary of perpetual campaigning, instead of governing. They’re tired of ugly, scorched-earth partisanship and political polarization driving wedges of fear, greed, envy, anger and hate.

Most Canadians are searching for something more hopeful -- and that's where Justin stands out.

He has a special ability to rally people around a happier vision of what this country has the potential to achieve. Perhaps his most telling criticism of the Harper regime is that they’re so unambitious – their goals for Canada are so mediocre. And this country deserves better.

But inspiration is only part of what's needed. The other part is perspiration -- i.e., plain hard work. And much of that work has to be done, not in the rarefied political bubble that envelops Parliament Hill, but instead, in the town halls and church basements and community centres across Main Street Canada, right where Canadians really live, far from Ottawa's madding crowd.

In authentic places like these, as Justin said recently, he has met and learned from more Canadians over the past six months than Stephen Harper has allowed near him in the past six years. And those encounters have shaped Justin's priorities.

Job #1 is bolstering the well-being of the middle-class and all those who are working hard to join them. That includes a relentless focus on higher education, advanced skills, scientific research and the deployment of new technology. It includes expanding trade, especially with emerging economies, and attracting investment on terms that create good-paying Canadian jobs.

With respect to Canada's rich natural resources, Justin has called for a smart marriage between sound economic policy and sound environmental policy. The two are inextricably connected. The economy, he says, is just too important to ignore the environment. And he makes this critical point -- no federal politician should try to use western resources to buy eastern votes.

Building a more prosperous, inclusive, fair and decent Canada also involves strengthening our democracy. In Parliament, that means less power in the hands of Party bosses, and more authority and responsibility in the hands of individual MPs.

MPs must be the voice of their constituents in Ottawa and not just mouthpieces in their ridings for an all-controlling Prime Minister. That’s the kind of democracy that Justin wants to nourish.



-- Post From My iPhone

Sun News Poll Finds Trudeau Ready To Lead Nation!

Since its inception, the pro-Conservative Sun New has done anything it can to prove it is a purveyor of "open and honest news", and carriers of "the full story".  Sun readers are open-minded intellectuals with a penchant for - often random - displays of empathy.  

This is why, we are very impressed with Sun News readers' overwhelming support for Justin Trudeau - saying - in a clear majority of voters - that JT is ready to lead this great nation of ours!

This is truly a great moment in this nation's history... A moment when even the right-wing media and their readership can support the moderate centrist as the best choice for leading Canada.

(Image is a screen capture directly from Sun News' website)

VICTORY FUND

Liberal Vision - Canada Pension Plan

Ralph Goodale discusses new options and ideas to help strengthen the Canada Pension Plan.

RALPH GOODALE’S REPORT

A commentary by the Member of Parliament for Wascana

March 11^th, 2013

TIME TO EXPAND PENSION POSSIBILITIES

Reciting spin-lines from the Prime Minister’s Office, Conservatives claim they’re open to good ideas for their now long-delayed 2013 Budget, but they just don’t get any from other Members of Parliament.  Nice spin, but not true.

There’s no shortage of constructive suggestions.

For example, to support job creation, Liberals have urged the Harper government to stop their annual $600-million increases in job-killing EI payroll taxes.  To promote fairness, we’ve called for sensible changes in family tax credits and disability savings plans to include those who most need this kind of help.  We’ve suggested practical measures to tear-down barriers to higher learning and to bolster innovation and infrastructure.

The Conservatives have only one response – more austerity. 

Their only priority is further cuts to federal programs and services to reduce their self-inflicted deficit.  They’re not concerned about economic inequality.  They have no agenda for growth and productivity.  In fact, their mindless cutting could actually shrink aggregate demand and make growth more difficult.

Seriously deficient retirement incomes are another issue this government ignores.

Indeed, they’ve made things worse.  One of Mr. Harper’s first major moves was to kill Income Trusts, thus destroying about $25-billion in the savings accounts of some 2-million Canadians.  More recently, he undermined Old Age Pensions by delaying the eligibility age by two years, thus taking about $30,000 from the most vulnerable seniors.

Significantly, Mr. Harper had solemnly promised he would never do either of these things.  Somehow, integrity seems to have slipped his mind.

But the 2013 Budget could take constructive steps to help the 70% of Canadians who don’t have adequate pensions. They could be allowed to make “voluntary supplementary” contributions to the Canada Pension Plan to top-up their savings. 

The CPP is sound and strong (thanks to far-sighted changes initiated by former Finance Minister Paul Martin).  It is well-managed, generating one of the best rates of return.  Canadians should be able to build on this expertise – all at no cost to the government.  It would also provide some much needed competition for private pension plans.

This good, practical Liberal idea has earned the support of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and even the Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.  It’s time has come!

VICTORY FUND