Adrian Dix will raise your taxes...

Courtesy of the BC Government Caucus:

Adrian Dix’s recent visit to Toronto for a Globe and Mail editorial board chit-chat and online comments by Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall are leading to more questions about how high taxes will be raised under and NDP government, asserts B.C.’s finance minister Michael de Jong.

In an editorial this week, the Globe and Mail states, “Mr. Dix has yet to say how he would generate greater revenues without raising taxes, nor did he fill in the details about his industrial strategy and vision for economic development, including the conditions under which he would support future pipeline developments. That is a concern.” (Globe and Mail, Oct. 16, 2012, Online)

“We’re no longer a point of debating if an NDP government will raise the taxes of British Columbians, it’s now a question of how much will they raise them by,” said de Jong, MLA for Abbotsford West. “Given Mr. Dix’s refusal, once again, to spell out his spending plans he’s running out of excuses. Taxpayers should also share the Globe and Mail’s concerns.”

Adrian Dix has already repeatedly stated an NDP government would raise taxes on financial institutes which included credit unions, potentially increasing costs and fees for British Columbians who are members of institutes including Prospera, Island Savings, Central 1, and VanCity.

More questions were raised when Nelson-Creston MLA Michelle Mungall stated via Twitter that, “Canada is #3 in the world in giving up revenue via tax cuts.”

“Cutting taxes is not the government giving up revenue as Mungall likes to think, it’s called making life more affordable for B.C. families. We believe that individuals and families are best at managing and deciding what they should do with their money – not governments. It’s clear B.C.’s New Democrats have never left their tried-and-true roots of taxing working British Columbians in order to curry favour with their big union friends.

Latest Provincial Political Poll from Ipsos-Reid

Recently - Ipsos-Reid did a poll on support for provincial political parties.  You can review the particulars of that poll here

Overall - the NDP hold a 36-45% support lead over the reigning BC Liberals who have between 30-38% and voter support for the BC Conservatives' between 9-12% and 16% who are undecided.

But - on support for provincial political leaders:

Christy Clark - 45% support with 46% non-support and 9% saying "Don't Know"
Adrian Dix - 43% support with 36% non-support and 21% saying "Don't Know"
John Cummins - 23% support with 33% non-support and 45% saying "Don't Know"

Finally - by sub-region:

Metro Vancouver:

NDP - 45% support
BC Liberals - 35% support
BC Conservatives - 14% support

Vancouver Island:

NDP - 54% support
BC Liberals - 31% support
BC Conservatives - 8% support

Interior/North:

NDP - 39% support
BC Liberals - 46% support
BC Conservatives - 9% support

Final Comments:

While the NDP have support in Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island, the reigning BC Liberals have comfortable support in the Interior and Northern BC.  Meanwhile - the BC Conservatives have just enough support to play "spoiler" in Interior/North and Vancouver Island to the BC Liberals' but could have enough support (if developed over time) to elect a few MLA's in Metro Vancouver.  Also - if John Cummins converts his 45% "don't know" into "support", things could get really ugly for the BC Liberals as we approach 2013

Overall - the BC Liberals have a ton of work to do in Metro Vancouver/Vancouver Island to get rid of the NDP's lead in these sub-regions while watching the BC Conservatives behind them, with little time remaining to do so (with just under 2 years before the next election)

Finally - while not part of this poll - if the NDP/Liberals and BC Conservatives run candidates in Cariboo-North - I wonder if a 4 way race for this riding could spell doom for Independent MLA Bob Simpson come April of 2013...given when he ran in 2009, it was a two way race with only the NDP/BC Liberals...but on the other hand - BC Conservatives could, in a 4 way race, play "spoiler" to the BC Liberal candidate.  But it would come down to how many "NDP" supporters back Mr. Simpson as an independent and not back the local NDP Candidate.  This riding may end up being one to watch - given the only other independent MLA in BC is in Delta South (Vicki Huntingdon)

SBF

Culture Guard takes exception to gay/lesbian education in BC Public Schools

Editor's Note - I have received a press release from a group called "Culture Guard" this morning and I'll publish it, in its' entirety and let my blog readers' judge their message for themselves


NDP MLA Spencer Chandra Herbert’s “spouse”, Romi Chandra, is the author of OUT IN SCHOOLS—a gateway program used to sexualise students and introduce them to homosexualist “culture”; OUT IN SCHOOLS is endorsed by the BC Teachers’ Federation and heavily funded by BC taxpayers.

Kari Simpson, former Executive Director of the Citizens Research Institute, and now President of Culture Guard—a new national organization that works on behalf of civil, common-sense Canadians—said today: 

“I believe parents will be shocked and righteously angry when they find out what their children have been subjected to.  I hope parents sue their local school boards! I doubt that the OUT IN SCHOOLS ‘Youth Resources’, which direct students to hard-core pornography, including ‘gay’ porn and homosexist propaganda, fits within Section 2 of the School Act, which mandates that ‘the highest morality shall be inculcated’.”

The OUT IN SCHOOLS “Teachers’ Guide” states that it is a secondary school resource; but Culture Guard has obtained pictures of OUT IN SCHOOLS facilitators Ross Johnstone and Jen “Jenderfuck” Sung presenting it in elementary schools.

“The scandalous problems associated with the program don’t stop with the OUT IN SCHOOLS-recommended ‘youth resources’ or the political and homosexist left-wing propaganda that fill its pages,” says Simpson. “There are serious and possibly criminal activities involved with this program.”

A news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 13, 2011 in front of the BC Teachers’ Federation Offices, located at 100-550 West 6^th Avenue, Vancouver.

A video, OUT IN SCHOOLS is No Picnic, is available for viewing now at www.cultureguard.com; Part 2, Scammed, Swooned & Corrupted, will be available after the news conference. Viewers should be warned that portions of the video are explicit, and not suitable for younger viewers—including those of the target ages of the in-school program, OUT IN SCHOOLS.

Members of the media who attend will be given password-limited  access to details of the Police complaint to be filed earlier the same day. At the news conference, Kari Simpson will disclose shocking details that Culture Guard has exposed involving the OUT IN SCHOOLS program, and will name some of its major corporate sponsors.

For more information please contact Kari Simpson 604 514-1614 or by e-mail: cultureguard@gmail.com

                             

Breaking News: Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton passes away

At 4:45am this morning (Ontario time) or 1:45am our time, Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton passed away with friends and family surrounding him.  This was due, of course, to Mr. Layton's fight with cancer

See a story announcing Mr. Layton's death from CTV here

For myself - Mr. Layton was full of conviction and passion, even though I didn't share his political ideals and I wish to express my deepest sympathy and prayers to the Layton family and the wider NDP family at this time. 

SBF

Update at 6:17am - Official Statement from Olivia Chow:

We deeply regret to inform you that The Honourable Jack Layton, leader of the New Democratic Party of Canada, passed away at 4:45 am today, Monday August 22. He passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. Details of Mr. Layton’s funeral arrangements will be forthcoming

2nd Update at 10:33am - Letter from Jack Layton to Canadians:

Saturday, August 20, 2011
Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,
Jack Layton

Provincial News Wrap - July 26th edition

In Williams Lake:

* Miss Canada International Anna Dell meets with the public, after her win - see here
* Local Provincial NDP Riding Assoc holds nomination meeting on Wednesday, July 27th at the Longhouse - meeting open to the public at 6:30pm - see here.  The meeting is to confirm Charlie Wyse as the NDP Candidate for Cariboo-Chilcotin in the next provincial election, whenever it comes
* Man assaulted in Boitanio Park on July 18th and RCMP asks for police help - see here
* Local 7-11 robbed on this past Saturday - see here
* Federal Environmental Assessment Office faces budget/staff cuts - see here
* Think-tank in Smithers, BC looks like Provncial/Federal Environmental Review Processes, as they relate to the failed Prosperity Mine bid - see here
* Total expenses for local MLA's in 2010-2011 Fiscal Year released - see here
* Columnist Diana French looks like crime issues - both at a local and international level - see here
* MLA Donna Barnett reviews her time at the "Alexis Creek Daze" - see here
* Lots of letters to the editor: one from myself on fluoride education (see here), one from Micheal Jones on crime and WL Mayor Kerry Cook (see here), and one from a previous Donna Barnett supporter on the HST and dishonesty (see here)

In Kamloops:

* Newly adopted Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Management Plan will be a body-blow to the Village of Cache Creek - see here
* Fight HST Lead Organizer for the current HST Referendum Chris Delainey expresses his confidence that the voters' of BC will vote to kill the HST by August 5th (last date to vote in the HST Referendum) - see here

In Vancouver:

* Global TV Victoria bureau chief Keith Baldrey looks at the 2 cent gas tax hike and the impact on both municipal and provincial politics - see here
* Province political columnist Mike Smyth looks at yesterday's announcement by Federal NDP Leader Jack Layton to take time off to fight a new cancer - see here

Also - the Winnipeg Free Press is citing a APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network) Report that Ottawa is set to table a "take it or leave it" offer with Canada's First Nations, with regard to land claims.  See here.  If this report turns out to be true - then it may signal the beginning of a fight between Canada's First Nations and Ottawa and we, as a country, province and region, need to signal compromise, rather than "drawing the line in the sand" if we have any hope of prospering as, again, a country, province and region

Update - Globe and Mail reports on this story here

Bill C-6 Filibuster by Federal NDP (Updated)

True to their word, the Federal NDP have started their filibuster on Bill C-6 which will effectively order all Canada Post workers' back to work with lower wages than offered by Canada Post for a new collective agreement and binding arbitation.  Don Davies (NDP MP for Vancouver-Kingsway), as at 10:48 BC Time or 1:48am Ottawa time - Friday morning was speaking to Bill C-6.  Jack Layton (Federal NDP Leader) started the 2nd Reading debate off, for the opposition, after Lisa Raitt (Minister of Labour) explained to the House why Bill C-6 was necessary.  (Note - Leader of the Opposition/Prime Minister gets unlimited speaking time but 20 mins for all other members)

If the NDP puts all of its 102 members at 20 mins each to speak at 2nd Reading Stage for Bill C-6 and with debate starting at 8:00pm Thursday (5:00pm BC time), it could be until 10:00pm Friday (7:00pm BC time) before the Bill could go to Committee of the Whole for consideration and then after that stage, 3rd Reading is a formality

UPDATE at 12:37 Friday, BC Time or 3:37pm Ottawa time: NDP have now proposed a hoist motion (Bill C-6 be not read a 2nd time but in six months) so the debate will be on the hoist motion until all opposition members (103 NDP, 34 Liberals, 4 Bloc and 1 Green) have exhausted their speaking rights which could easily occur well late this evening or even early Saturday.  If the hoist motion fails - then debate resumes on 2nd Reading which puts a vote on 2nd Reading and referral to Committee of the Whole sometime Saturday am with Bill C-6 being sent to the Senate sometime late Saturday or even Sunday, depending on how many amendments are proposed by the Opposition NDP, Liberals, Bloc and Greens

UPDATE #2 at 1:30pm Saturday afternoon (BC Time) or 4:30pm Saturday afternoon (Ottawa time) - House of Commons to vote on a motion, in 18 minutes, of "That this question be now put".  Should it carry, then the Speaker will put the question on 2nd Reading of Bill C-6 and should that carry, then it shall be referred to a Committee of the Whole House for consideration where amendments to clauses of Bill C-6 can be proposed and voted on with 20 minutes per member to speak to clauses or amendment(s) to clauses with a total of 22 Clauses to be debated - stay tuned as Commitee debate could get real interesting after 40 hours of debate, just to get to the 2nd Reading Vote

UPDATE #3 at 4:12pm Saturday evening (BC Time) or 7:12pm Saturday evening (Ottawa time) - House of Commons gave 2nd Reading to Bill C-6 and currently is before Committee of the Whole and 21 of the 22 Clauses have been approved and all amendments proposed have been rejected.  At present - NDP House Leader (and MP for Outremont) Thomas Mulcair is speaking on Clause 22 with now David McGuinty (Liberal MP for Ottawa South) speaking on Clause 22

UPDATE #4 at 4:22pm Saturday evening (BC Time) or 7:22pm Saturday evening (Ottawa time) - Committee of the Whole rises to report the Bill C-6 complete without amendments and the House is now voting on a motion of "That Bill C-6 be concurred in (adopted) at report stage" with the vote result being 158 yeas and 133 nays. 

UPDATE #5 at 4:31pm Saturday evening (BC Time) or 7:31pm Saturday evening (Ottawa time)

House of Commons begins 3rd Reading Debate on Bill C-6

UPDATE #6 at 5:10pm Saturday evening (BC Time) or 8:10pm Saturday evening (Ottawa time)

House of Commons adopts C-6 on a vote of 158 yeas and 112 nays.  Bill C-6 is now off to the Senate for approval, starting Monday.  House of Commons is now on its' summer break until Monday, September 19th