BC Election 2013

[dinosaur]

Originally Posted by Traum

I am surprised by how much people absolutely dread the NDP and their economic policies, to that point that they are still willing to stick with the Liberals despite their obvious incompetence.

Yeah, Glen Clark reeeeeeeeaaally did a number on the party and a lot of people fear socialism. Furthermore, there is a well funded anti-NDP campaign.

However, at the end of the day, exercising your right to vote it the most important thing and I thoroughly enjoy respectfully discussing politics.

[7seven]

B.C. economy stagnates under NDP rule, University of Calgary report warns

Republish Reprint
Jen Gerson | 13/05/07 | Last Updated: 13/05/08 12:47 AM ET

CALGARY — British Columbia’s economy tends to stagnate when Canada’s westernmost province indulges its left-leaning impulses at the ballot box, according to research recently compiled by the University of Calgary.

Relative to the rest of the country, B.C.’s economy weakened throughout the 1990s under previous NDP leadership, a trend only marginally improved under Gordon Campbell’s Liberal government, said Jack Mintz, director of the school of public policy at the school.

“B.C. has lost a lot of large corporations [since the ’90s], but there are a few still headquartered there,” Mr. Mintz said. “You know, there were a lot of start-ups there and if I were a start-up, I would seriously start to think about whether B.C. is the place I’d want my headquarters.”

NDP leader Adrian Dix, who is set to topple Christy Clark’s Liberal government next Tuesday according to polls, has proposed a rash of economic policies ranging from tax hikes on corporate income and the wealthy, to a tax on banks, to the expansion of the province’s carbon tax.

Meanwhile, a business group in B.C. said workers are already trying to expand union membership in hopes of an NDP government that would make it much easier for unions to form and organize.

If all this comes to pass, Mr. Mintz said he expects the province will continue its trend toward economic irrelevance compared with the rest of the country.

“If we see corporate tax hikes and opposition to projects being contemplated, Alberta can take out its well-trodden mat and invite people to set up business here,” he said.

A punitive tax structure and high property prices make a trip across the mountains — a move that becomes easier for companies as technology progresses — ever more attractive.


Postmedia News filesJack Mintz: “Alberta can take out its well-trodden mat and invite people to set up business here.”
“I think it’s going to be a very serious problem for B.C.,” Mr. Mintz said. “I don’t think this election is going to help in the least bit.”

The economist compiled data from Statistics Canada comparing relative private investment for the past two decades. In 1994, B.C. and Alberta were about equal, each claiming just over 16% of the country’s annual private capital and repair expenditure. In 2011, the difference was stark; Alberta had almost 27% of the share of the Canada’s private investment, B.C. had just 12%. And although some of the difference can be traced to Alberta’s booming oil and gas sector, certain trends are becoming apparent.

At one point, Ontario boasted 36% of Canada’s investment. In 2011, it claimed only 29.5% — barely more than Alberta’s, even though Ontario has more than three times the population.

Quebec’s share of investment has also recorded a steady decline.

“The interesting story is that if you look at private-sector investment in Canada today, it really is all about Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta,” Mr. Mintz said. “And Ontario’s share has dropped.”

At its lowest point in 2001, B.C. claimed only 11% of Canada’s share of private investment for that year, a figure that steadily improved, but never entirely recovered under Mr. Campbell, premier from 2001 until 2011.

“We lost a lot of our head offices in the ’90s,” said John Winter, the president and CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce. “They haven’t come back and we’re not doing anything to attract them to come back.”

While relative share of investment can be affected by factors beyond politics, such as recessions or trade disputes, the impact of previous governments’ policies continue to be felt, he said.

“B.C. became a non-starter. It became a have-not province,” Mr. Winter said. “It was the only economy in North America to experience a recession in the ’90s.”

Ideas such as expanding B.C.’s carbon tax would do little except make the province less competitive than Alberta, he added. However, even Premier Clark raised taxes in a bid to balance the budget.

“We are looking at tax policies going in the wrong direction, there’s no two ways around that. You can’t grow economies based on increasing taxes,” he said. “Frankly, I can’t see anybody in Canada choosing B.C. over Alberta or Ontario at this point.”

National Post

B.C. economy stagnates under NDP rule: University of Calgary report | Canadian Politics | Canada | News | National Post

Did advanced voting today, was surprisingly busy, at least when I went, which IMO is a good sign, whatever party you're behind, its just nice seeing people get out there to vote instead of the usual apathy.

No Conservative party candidate in my riding so it was an easy choice for me to vote for the BC Liberals. Personally I really detest Dix, having a few past interactions with him and really do not agree with NDP public spending policy, if I had it my way, I prefer massive cuts to welfare and other social programs and entitlements, but thats me as I also lean towards the Republicans in the US (being a dual resident).

[Soundy]

Well, we had a fun little discussion on my FB status this evening... anyone else care to chime in?? 238 comments and counting!

https://www.facebook.com/soundy/post...t=feed_comment

[dinosaur]

hey man...we have a common friend!

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

hey man...we have a common friend!

Not surprising - Facebook Small-World Syndrome is all-pervasive Who is it?

[MG1]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Yeah, Glen Clark reeeeeeeeaaally did a number on the party and a lot of people fear socialism. Furthermore, there is a well funded anti-NDP campaign.

However, at the end of the day, exercising your right to vote it the most important thing and I thoroughly enjoy respectfully discussing politics.

The right to vote is pretty important. I try to get out each time. Once in a while, I end up spoiling the ballot, because there aren't any really good choices out there - at least I show up. Also, IIRC, each vote does count. Every vote a political party gets, brings in money for that party. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...... could be federal election, but a party gets like 2 bucks per vote.

[Anjew]

i still have no idea who to vote for right now.

[murd0c]

Originally Posted by Anjew

i still have no idea who to vote for right now.

Not voting for the Liberals is a vote for the NDP

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by MG1

The right to vote is pretty important. I try to get out each time. Once in a while, I end up spoiling the ballot, because there aren't any really good choices out there - at least I show up. Also, IIRC, each vote does count. Every vote a political party gets, brings in money for that party. Someone correct me if I'm wrong...... could be federal election, but a party gets like 2 bucks per vote.

I heard a stat the other day, that in the last BC election, some of the more tightly-contested ridings were won by only two or three dozen votes. So yeah, every vote really can make a difference.

[dinosaur]

Found this today....I forgot about a lot of this shit although I think it a lot of the info and "facts" should be taken with some cautions.

100 + reasons the BC Liberals must go. | No Strings Attached : Laila Yuile on politics and life in B.C.

Trying to find and NDP one...

[Soundy]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Found this today....I forgot about a lot of this shit although I think it a lot of the info and "facts" should be taken with some cautions.

100 + reasons the BC Liberals must go. | No Strings Attached : Laila Yuile on politics and life in B.C.

Trying to find and NDP one...

So many of these kinds of things are generally of the "Well they didn't do anything to help ME PERSONALLY, so that obviously means they're no good for anyone else either" variety. People are so fucking self-centered.

[tiger_handheld]

has anyone come across a "comparison" like you do for buying products at futureshop/bestbuy but with the parties?

if there is such thing - please link. I'd like to see what each candidates stand on major issues are.

[dinosaur]

Originally Posted by tiger_handheld

has anyone come across a "comparison" like you do for buying products at futureshop/bestbuy but with the parties?

if there is such thing - please link. I'd like to see what each candidates stand on major issues are.

yes. read the thread.

i posted a link to the voting compass by cbc. once you are done the test (or i assume direct link to it somewhere else on the page) you can cross compare on various topics....anything from pot to education to carbon tax.

OR

Google

[gars]

I don't understand why some people would vote for the conservative party. I guess if you truly believe that their candidate would do a good job, then sure - but I haven't really met any conservative party candidates who could convince me that.

my friend is running as a bc lib, and the conservative candidate in his riding is completely useless. He went to a debate, and couldn't answer half the questions. People would say something to him, and he would respond, "yep, you got me there, I don't know what to say."

and Soundy, we have 2 common friends :P

[dinosaur]

Actually, our dude here is New West is pretty good....I am not voting for him, but he is a good candidate and VERY qualified. In fact, I'd say he is better than Cummings. The worse thing the BC Cons did was pick a bad leader.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Forseth
Paul Forseth - BC Conservative Party - New Westminster | Think It Through

[Soundy]

I listened to Ian Tootill interviewed on NW after he got turfed out of the Conservatives... man, I wish he was in my riding.

[MindBomber]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Actually, our dude here is New West is pretty good....I am not voting for him, but he is a good candidate and VERY qualified. In fact, I'd say he is better than Cummings. The worse thing the BC Cons did was pick a bad leader.

Paul Forseth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Forseth - BC Conservative Party - New Westminster | Think It Through

I'd love to have a conversation with Paul Forseth, he strikes me as the type of politician elected because he was a member of xxx party rather than personal merit.

Given Forseth's prior political experience, he certainly presents as highly qualified. The "vote4paulnw" page, however, absolutely does not indicate a strong candidate. I'll grant the page's extremely poor grammar a pass, but the basic errors in word usage, false dilemmas, straw mans, and most importantly, the reliance on generalized rhetoric over detailed explanations of positions is outright embarrassing. I would expect the level of quality presented from a teenager running for student council, not from a MLA candidate and former MP.

On another note -

I think I've narrowed by decision down to BCNDP, Excalibur (they have quite a good platform), Green, or writing in my own name.

[Gridlock]

Originally Posted by dinosaur

Actually, our dude here is New West is pretty good....I am not voting for him, but he is a good candidate and VERY qualified. In fact, I'd say he is better than Cummings. The worse thing the BC Cons did was pick a bad leader.

Paul Forseth - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Paul Forseth - BC Conservative Party - New Westminster | Think It Through

SRS...you need to pick leaders with charisma to really get anywhere.

John Cummins reminds me of that last conversation you might have with a grandfather on his deathbed-it counts as saying goodbye, but not a highlight of the relationship you reflect upon.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

My vote goes to whoever keeps property prices high.

fuck NDP.

[Gridlock]

Originally Posted by Ulic Qel-Droma

My vote goes to whoever keeps property prices high.

fuck NDP.

Honestly, I think this election is going to turn out a lot closer than anyone expected.

I think there is a LOT of resentment towards Liberals, and in polls were more likely to say they were voting for NDP.

Fast forward a bit, and we're a day away from the election, and everyone has had a chance to look up the NDP's skirt, and see a failed administration forming before it even starts.

Our politicians have failed us. It's time for a new group to sweep the old ones away.

[Ulic Qel-Droma]

LOL, i usually don't vote at all, but this time it's in my interest for the NDP not to win.

I'd rather give my vote to some random independent that I have no background info on, than give it to the NDP.

[bcrdukes]

Historically, my riding has been a Liberal riding. The odd chance it became NDP, things stagnated.

[saveth]

I did the advanced voting on Saturday. I was surprised it wasn't busy at all when I got there. What I also noticed was that everyone working at that polling station was over 65 and was extremely happy that I was voting for the first time and I'm 27.
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[Not really racist!]

hope you guys are heading out to vote...I'm at elections and its been a really really slow day...
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[quasi]

Picking up my son and taking him with after work, this will be his first Provincial election. I make it a point to take him with me, my parents did the same it makes sure he learns the importance of the vote and teaches through monkey see monkey do.