There is, as I see it, only two directions we can go in this situation of ethics, accountability, and integrity.

Call me Don Quixote if you like, (others have),
but I am going to continue in my belief that
there is indeed positive change about to begin

I find it interesting to see the following from Nik Nanos (Few see positives in currentpolitical climate), after my comment, posted to Facebook yesterday, on the federal Conservative party:

There's a bit of a pox on all your houses, so to speak, from all the parties.  Canadians are seeing dysfunction in Parliament and in government from all parties when it comes to politicians focusing on positive solutions to problems affecting Canadians.

But these numbers are particularly troubling for the Conservatives. If you're the sitting government, you're looking at numbers like this and Canadians are saying, 'you know what — you're not doing much for me right now in terms with helping me in my day-to-day life'.  

 

 

So what did I post yesterday?  Well it was one short simple comment, which I was delighted to see engaged a few people in conversation, which I now share with you:

My growing disappointment in the federal conservative party is continuing ... and I know I am not alone in this. 

 

"Merv":  Yes, but what's the alternative?  

 

Me: I think that an alternative / shakeup will be inevitable, IF the federal party does not find its roots once again. 

 

"Sandy":

My Conservative/conservator roots go a long way back. I even ran as a Conservative candidate in the 1993 Kim Campbell election debacle and was steamrollered by the Reform candidate in this riding. 

 

I only mention this so that you can understand my own disappointment in the performance of Duffy and Wallin but I am still a firm supporter and believer in Stephen Harper's leadership. 

 

Before anyone runs screaming into the darkness, think of the alternative - Canada under the domination of eastern Liberals led by a Trudeau. In British Columbia and Alberta we should always remember what Trudeau Liberalism can do to our economy. 

 

Duffy and Wallin should be thrown out of the senate, along with anyone else found in conflict with ethical standards. That would include the Liberal senator also facing an inquiry into his expense claims.  

 

Me:

Thanks for your comments Sandy --- I posed this today to see what thoughts and ideas would come from others. As I say, I am sure I am not the only one with growing concerns.

 

The federal Conservative Party must, in my opinion, begin to look at why it's own supporters are beginning to question if it is losing its way, and how that should be addressed. If not, then it's future may be in jeopardy. 

 

"Damir":

Sure, I'll dog pile here. As a former PC/C voter who is quite concerned with the current situation in Ottawa, my 2015 vote is now completely up for grabs. What was done with the parliamentary budget office is, IMO, no better than the shameful way Victoria dealt with the auditor general. And what the heck ever happened to Senate reform?

 

Since the merger, the leadership is increasingly not walking the talk. Time for a change, either internally or externally.

 

No free pass just because the ghost of Trudeau is back in charge of the Liberals.

Wouldn't you agree? Is this a legitimate expectation we should have?

Once upon a time a popular opposition firebrand named Christy Clark, stood up in the BC Legislature, to rip the NDP government for spending tax dollars on shameless, self-promoting advertising. 

“People don't want the government to spend 700 grand of their money so they can find out how to access services; people want this government to spend their money so that those services are there for them to access. That's what British Columbians want,” Clark railed. “How many firefighters, how many police officers will not be on the street because [the Finance Minister] is spending… on her advertising campaign?” 

The above is from an opinion / editorial piece by BC Taxpayers Federation Director Jordan Bateman (November 2012) entitled, "Government Ads Use and Abuse Taxpayers’ Money".  

For month prior to the May 14th provincial election campaign, the BC Liberals took hits from all quarters, on this clearly wasteful and partisan adverting campaign.  

Sadly, during the four week election campaign, it was all but forgotten ... even by former radio co-worker Bill Good who on November 16th, over the airwaves of CKNW had stated:  "Those are very partisan ads. They should be bought and paid for by the Liberal Party of BC." 

The election is of course ended a week ago, but perhaps the major political commentators such as Keith Baldrey, Vaughn Palmer,  Bill Tieleman, Michael Smyth, etc, will now ask this question which I now pose: 

"Will the Premier comment to ending this kind of self-promotion and stick to truly informative ads providing BC residents with 'needed' information?"  

I believe if she does this, it really will help to put her on a more solid footing with a large number of British Columbians who still sit in two distinct camps; those who didn't vote for her ( over 55%) ... and those who again for a number of reasons(including a belief it doesn't make any difference) didn't cast a vote at all (approximately 48%).  

By the way, this is equally a fair question to ask of Adrian Dix and the NDP, as he himself had also pushed for a ban on partisan information being presented in government advertising being paid for by taxpayers, and had indicated that if elected he would put forward legislation to stop this from happening again.

So I put the question forward to both leaders then; are you against partisan political advertising which is paid for by taxpayers, and will you put forward legislation / support legislation, that would see this in place and enforced?

It's fair question to ask this, and the taxpayers of BC should have every right to know the answer ... wouldn't you agree? 

Is this a legitimate expectation we should have of government?

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.  The floor is now being turned over to you ... and I welcome your thoughts on this.

The time to lick wounds is over --- the time to show we still BELIEVE in BC begins right now!

I

For those who have never met me (July 2012)

am cheating -- a bit -- with todays Conservative Thoughts blog post.  It's an email which I sent out to BC Conservative members in Kamloops South, part of the existing Kamloops South Thompson Constituency Association Board of Directors, some people who contacted us during the election campaign, or who are on my contact list of people from around the province ...

The other day I made a comment and post stating: "People may say they are concerned about the kind of representation (or lack of it) they are receiving -- but it seems we can be led to support a political party that paints the other as the lesser of two evils -- no matter what options may be available from choices available across the political spectrum. Thus, in my opinion, the momentum for the downward spiral continues ... "

It was the start to my first Conservative Thoughts post (http://kamloopsthompsonbcconservatives.blogspot.ca/2013/05/yes-i-am-disappointed-in-results-of.html), since taking a break over 11 weeks ago now, to be directly involved in the election campaign for the BC Conservatives in Kamloops South Thompson.  I also stated, in that post, that I did not want it to be considered sour grapes as it was NOT my intent; it was just my observation after watching all of the work and efforts put in by a number of great candidates and campaign workers, in individual riding's, right across the province.

I have been asked for my thoughts on why we were not able to connect with voters ... my thoughts on the campaign ... where we went wrong ... did we attack the Liberals (and / or the NDP) hard enough.  One of the best comments posed however, at least in my opinion, was as follows: "Define the ballot issue then define your opponent - a recipe for victory every time."

My response was:Again I can only speak for what we tried to do here in Kamloops ... that 'was' to define an issue which we felt everything else flowed from.

Specifically that issue was: "Do BC Liberal Todd Stone, or the NDPs Tom Friedman, have the full authority of both party / leader to truly represent the interest of the people of Kamloops South Thompson on issues of concern to them? Or when push came to shove, would they have to follow the party line?".  Whether it was hospital care, Ajax Mine, the Carbon Tax, new / increasing fees, rising debt, educational needs, or a multitude of other things, we wanted to know that answer, and felt that voters should as well. 

Call me Don Quixote, but I still believe it was the right question / issue to raise; it simply did not get heard ... and for whatever reason, it was not something which the media (which I was part of for 25 years) chose to ask and get a direct answer to.  In the end, this campaign again boiled down to 'fear' of one party over the other. That was, at least in my opinion, the only issue that defined this campaign.

Was I wrong?  Lots of people I am sure will think so, and there's nothing wrong with that.  There will likely be as many reasons why we lost, as there are individuals. 

Regardless however, we DID increase our popular vote.  People DO want our voice to be heard, and they DO want to have BC Conservatives on the ballot ... WE DO have a message that is important.

So now, we get down to the nitty-gritty. 

Yes, I am disappointed in the results of Tuesday night; but are my thoughts sour grapes? I hope not!

I'm back ... after a two and a half month long absence to take on the role of Campaign Manager for Peter Sharp, and BC Conservatives in Kamloops South Thompson. 

I'll start off my first Conservative Thoughts blog post saying I have wrestled with the material for this first one back, as some will say this is sour grapes.  That is NOT my intent however. 

This is just a personal observation, after having previously run as a candidate in a provincial election in 1996 --- and now 17 years later being just as intensely involved. 

People then (1996) indicated that a large concern they had was for government to be more open and accountable to them -- they were also concerned about rising debt -- and respect / integrity by elected representatives to the people of BC.  The turnout of registered voters was 71.5% of the population. 

In 2001 that dropped to 70.95 ... in 2005 it dropped again to 62.36 ... and in 2009 a huge drop to 55.14% again of registered voters occurred.

Tuesdays turnout apparently was 52% but that was likely of those estimated to be eligible to vote -- not of those who were registered.  I think is probably safe to assume that there was no change in voting patterns.  

Given this, I would like you to consider the opening comments of a Royal Commission study of Voter Turnout in Canada (Bakvis, 1991: xvii): 

The act of voting in an election is perhaps the single most important form of political participation in modern democracies. It remains the most direct means available to citizens of signaling their interests and preferences to government and of controlling those who seek to govern them. 

The extent to which citizens exercise this most fundamental right can be seen as an indicator of the health of democracy. 

A low level of voter turnout can be taken as indicative of political alienation among a good proportion of the populace; as a consequence, elected leaders may not be seen as fully legitimate.  

A lack of confidence when manifested through low voter turnout may also affect the legitimacy of basic political institutions. Conversely, high voter turnout can be construed as evidence of both a high level of commitment to the political order and existence of a citizenry interested in the welfare of their nation. 

*** I have added the BOLD font

So now back to the wrestling I have been going through with my thoughts and observations from this campaign, and others, including the one I participated in as a candidate in 1996. 

TAKING A BREAK ... for next 10 weeks

Greetings friends ...

I just wanted to let you know that with the BC Provincial Election just 10 weeks away, and the active role I am taking in the Kamloops South Thompson election campaign, I will be signing off for the next 2 and a half months.

As I am sure you are all well aware, I am very much involved with the BC Conservative Party.  This means I am joining to be taking an active role, as part of the team, putting in everything we can to see Peter Sharp elected.

Thanks for being part of the Conservative Thoughts journey -- I'll be back right after the May Provincial General Election.

Meantime, if you are a small 'c' conservative, I hope you will consider lending a hand in our campaign to elect Peter Sharp as our BC Conservative MLA for Kamloops South Thompson.  

We can use every person that has election experience -- those with office and management experience -- and those that can and will offer to take on a task they feel they can handle.

To find out more about Peter Sharps, campaign, please CLICK HERE.

I'm Alan Forseth in Kamloops ... inviting you to not only follow the campaign ... but to be a part of it by joining the campaign team. 

PETER SHARP: BC Conservatives release "Spending Smarter" policy paper

"Change for the better, with how the Legislative Assembly operates, will only begin when individual MLA's can once again have greater say in the role of government."

BC Conservative Party candidate Peter Sharp

So said BC Conservative Kamloops South Thompson candidate Peter Sharp, after reviewing the parties just released position paper, "Spending Smarter".  

"For all intensive purposes, it honestly seems that our BC Liberal government has abdicated its' role in ensuring taxpayer financial resources are wisely spent."

"While the government would like us to believe this recently introduced budget is balanced, most are understandably suspicious." 

Highlights of the "Spending Smarter" policy paper include specifics on how Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) can once again ensure taxpayers get full value for their money.  These will include: 

1) Allowance for a thorough look at the financial outlays of government before they are made. 

2) The creation of a Legislative Budget Office, with the role of providing independent analysis for MLA's, helping them with complex financial and economic data. 

3) An improvement to how the Fall sitting of the Legislature functions.  Rather than a focus on passing or amending legislation, the Legislature will instead have opportunity to review the expenditure of taxpayer resources by the government, Crown corporations, as well as schools, universities, colleges and hospitals.

"Ongoing deficits, and ever increasing debt, is a financial plague that must end.  Our Spending Smarter position paper will be the start of making that actually happen", concluded Sharp.

NOTE:
The BC Conservative Party "Spending Smarter" policy paper is available to review at: http://www.bcconservative.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Spending-Smarter.pdf

Meet Ed Fehr, BC Conservative Party candidate for Kamloops North Thompson

Kamloops North Thompson BC Conservative
Party candidate Ed Fehr

I was born in Beaver Lodge, Alberta. My family moved to a small community called Takysie near the Lakes District community of Burns Lake, BC.  At Takysie, my family bought and operated a small sawmill.

Three years later, we moved to Fraser Lake, BC, where my parents bought a 160 acre farm on which our family raised 200 head of sheep.  At an age of 12, this helped me learn the importance of being responsible, and knowing the value of hard work. 

Ed Fehr is; “A guy that’s willing to have boots on the ground, go door-to-door and talk to people and bring their issues back to Victoria."

Over the course of my life, I have worked in several industries including operational aspects mining; and  like our party leader John Cummins,  I have taken pride in being able to see the end results of hard work. 

I cut my teeth in politics with the Saskatchewan Party while living there between 1997 and 2004.  I held the role of Vice-President in Saskatoon Center, and then went on to become President of the Riding Association a year later. 

Ed Fehr sees increasing access to doctors as a major priority for the next provincial government; "We need to have more doctors, and the health-care system needs to be completely revamped.”

I returned to BC in 2007, and in March 2012, I was elected as president of the Kamloops-North Thompson Constituency Association for the BC Conservative Party.

I married my lovely wife Naomi in 1996. 

Throughout my life people like late Cyril Shelford (BC rancher and Social Credit MLA), have made a lasting impression on me, to be a voice for the people of British Columbia in the provincial legislature.