Welcome to 2013!!

Welcome to 2013!

As I think back to 2012 - it was certainly busy and I expect 2013 to be no less busy with the BC Election in May, a possible Ontario Election and other political issues, be local, provincial or federal, will keep us political junkies busy in 2013

In 2012 - we saw on the local scene the resignation of Brian Carruthers as the City of Williams Lake CAO to take a new job as CAO of the Regional District of Central Kootnay in Nelson, the fight over the WL Community Forest between CRD Area 'F' Director Joan Sorley and WL Mayor Cook over consultation with Big Lake residents' and finally a fight taken very public over the funding of rural fringe fire protection between the City of Williams Lake and the Cariboo Regional District.  Tomorrow - I'll provide an update on this topic and why the City's press release on this subject in late December was perhaps a little too 'rosy'

In 2013 - Williams Lake/CRD will need to resolve rural fringe fire protection, come up with a new arrangement for managing the local Recreation Complex and sign off on a new 'Memo of Understanding' for joint local gov't services for the period of 2013-17.  Meanwhile in Quesnel - the challenge will be on to get the $15 million + to build their local 'West Fraser' Multi-centre before Nov of 2013... at which point, if the money isn't there, Quesnel Council and the CRD Directors for Areas A, B,C and I will have a difficult question to decide - abandon the project, split it in phases or ask for an extension to the $15 million taxpayer funded guarantee for the $30 million Multi-centre project...

In provincial politics - we saw the rise and near fall of the BC Conservative Party where the BC Conservatives' enjoyed as much as 23% public support from March - September 2012 but crashed in the 10-12% range after the September BC Conservative AGM where an internal party fight went very public and saw two people defect from the BC Conservatives to the BC Liberals in John Martin and Ben Besler.  I've met both people personally and contrary to statements from BC Conservatives' like Alan Forseth - they are very decent people and truly want what is best for British Columbia.  As well, BC Premier Christy Clark muddled through 2012 as the BC Economy showed improved job numbers and did better than other jurisdictions in Canada and hopefully 2013 will showed continued improvements in the jobs department

I expect a big fight to retain the Cariboo-Chilcotin provincial riding and this was equally confirmed by sitting BC Liberal MLA Donna Barnett.  I also expect that Duncan Barnett, if confirmed as the Cariboo-North NDP MLA candidate on Jan 20th, will give Bob Simpson a run for his money.  This could allow the BC Liberal candidate Coralee Oakes an opportunity to walk up the middle and take the riding.  Stay tuned, 2013 will be an interesting ride for BC Politics.  Could we see a NDP majority gov't.  Last one was in 1996 or a 4th consecutive BC Liberal majority gov't or worse case scenario... a minority gov't in BC... the last one (I understand) was in 1952....

View below a 'New Year's Day' Message from BC Premier Christy Clark:

Finally on the federal scene - we saw Stephen Harper and his Federal Conservatives' used their majority gov't status to ram through not one but two omnibus bills in one year - we haven't see this even with the Federal Liberals.  I expect this to continue in 2013 where we'll see Harper to flex their majority status in both the House of Commons and Senate to advance their agenda.  But I expect Harper and his political advisers to watch the Federal Liberal leadership race closely.  Should Justin Trudeau be elected - they could potential concern them.  Anyone else and if could easily allow Harper to retain majority gov't status until 2019....

On a personal note - I thank everyone for taking the time to read my blog posts and I look forward to your comments here in 2013

Thanks and God Bless!

SBF