BC Politics in 2013

This past year - I saw something I don't recall seeing, a political party (BC NDP) having a big 20 point lead advantage going into an election and completely watching it collapse due to strategic political missteps and now instead of the BC NDP being in power today, the NDP now find themselves back in Opposition again until 2017.  That will be 16 years in Opposition - a very long time for any political party across the country

The top 3 BC Political Stories in 2013 for me were...

1) BC NDP blow a 20 point lead and allow BC Liberals to secure a 4th term as Government
2) Adrian Dix flips position on Kinder Morgan project and says NDP against it after saying no position on it would be announced ... and NDP support goes downhill from there...

3) 1st BC Green MLA in BC Legislature

More closer to home -- The NDP's Charlie Wyse may have cost himself the Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA seat in this past May's provincial election by 'misspeaking' on Fracking & a possible moratorium (Mr. Wyse was later 'corrected' by his Leader Adrian Dix), in addition to be opposed to 'New Prosperity' while Donna Barnett on being in support of resource development projects like 'New Prosperity'.

Meanwhile - Cariboo-North saw the typical vote splitting of a 3 way race as Coralee Oakes was able to squeeze up the middle while Bob Simpson/Duncan Barnett split the centre-left vote base

In 2014 - we'll see new leaders in the BC Green Party, BC Conservative Party and BC NDP Party.  And these parties will take the time to craft their party platforms between 2014-16 in time for the run-up to the May 2017 Provincial Election

Meanwhile - the governing BC Liberals' will have a balanced budget in 2014 and the mood at this May's BC Liberals' party convention in Kelowna should be one of excitement with a 4th consecutive mandate and how to move the province for jobs/growth throughout all of BC....

The BC Liberals' are off to a good start with new labour agreements with the various unions with a new negotiating mandate which talks about 'profit sharing'.  More on this here

2013 was certainly busy for BC Politics and it will be busy in 2014 but will take a 'break' to this fall's local government elections...

~SF