BC Liberals sing a new song ... We will, we wil, tax you, tax you (with appologies to Queen)

July 8, 2011 – Vancouver – John Cummins, Leader of the BC Conservative party, challenged the Liberal government to hold real and meaningful consultations on raising the gas tax in the lower mainland by 2 cents per litre.

“Minister Lekstrom claims that the government will hold consultations of Lower Mainland residents on raising the gas tax before the government introduces the enabling legislation. But he has released no details – will these gas tax consultations be a sham?” asked Cummins.

“Christy Clark promised consultations on raising the minimum wage, but held none. Will that pattern repeat itself on the gas tax?”

“Minister Lekstrom met with the Mayor’s Council and proposed the gas tax hike as the number one option to the Mayors.

Does anyone seriously believe this is not a done deal?

Would the Mayors really have approved such a controversial measure without assurances the Liberal government will make it law?” asked Cummins.

“BC families make less and pay more in taxes than any province west of Quebec. Vancouver already has the highest gas taxes in Canada. The Liberal government keeps taking from the people and making it more expensive to drive. Enough is enough – taxes should be going down not up.”

“BC Conservatives believe that this municipal portion of the funding for the Evergreen Line should be paid for without raising taxes. Translink and municipalities should find efficiencies and savings to raise funds rather than relying on the Liberal government’s plan to gouge drivers with a new gas tax. A new BC Conservative government would be willing to explore alternative funding options including municipal bonds and other non-tax measures.”

Revisiting some recent poll results by Ipsos Reid

Yesterday I brought up a topic of politics and policies being too much the same, and stated that;

“If car companies died because of … boredom, lack of uniqueness, no originality, poor quality … could the same be in line for politics.”

I concluded by saying;

“They (NDP and Liberals) have become so much the same that indeed, many in BC are now able to say there is a lack of uniqueness and originality.  And given the number of MLA’s who have been forced to toe party line, regardless of constituent or personally opinion, there is also an ever increasing thought we are also suffering from ‘poor quality’.”

“My hope is that they will take a stand against boredom … lack of uniqueness … no originality … and poor quality. If the BC Conservative Party continues to bring forward the best common sense of British Columbians, then the BC Liberals and the BC NDP will be relegated to the trash heap of history where old and out-dated ideas eventually end up.”

So that was yesterday in a nutshell.  Today I decided to revisit some recent poll results that were done by Ipsos Reid two months ago.   

A lot was made back then of the fact that the BC Conservative Party was making great strides with increased popularity.  I think however there are several things that are of far greater importance … and if what I wrote yesterday is of any value, a lot of information from that poll needs to remain foremost in the mind of John Cummins.

Take a stand against … Boredom … Lack of Uniqueness … Lack of Originality … Poor Quality

Today on my way to the mailbox I happened to really notice something that normally only gets a passing glance -- it was a vehicle by Eagle called a Summit.

Now I am indeed old enough to recall that at one time Eagle was its own company.  Then as things were getting bad financially for them, they were taken over by American Motors. 

Does any of this sound familiar to anyone???

What happened to American Motors?  Well they in turn went through a decline only to be swallowed up by Dodge / Chrysler who out of the deal ended up with the Jeep brand, the last thing of value in American Motors.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

As I looked at that old Eagle Summit I was reminded that there is also no longer the Pontiac brand … or Oldsmobile … Hummer is gone … as is Saturn.  Other than Saturn, which for the life of me I am unsure why it did not continue, I think I know what happened to the others.

Boredom … lack of uniqueness … no originality … poor quality … etc, etc.  They all became too much the same!

Okay so this is a political blog … what do a few old car companies, that no one remembers anyways; have to do with anything today.

Will she or won't she ...

As Keith Baldrey has pointed out, the window for Christy Clark to call an election is shrinking if she plans to call one for this Fall.

She has the fate of the HST vs. the PST / GST, which has been delayed now, as voters will getting a few extra weeks to get ballots in.

That plus she has to be concerned with where John Cummins will be taking the BC Conservative Party -- as they put the finishing touches to a new policy platform -- in readiness for a possible Fall election.

Neither the NDP or the BC Liberal Party is gaining ground on the other ... meantime the BC Conservatives have been continuing to make ground with voters in the province.

Will we have an election this Fall??? ... right now I think it's a 50 / 50 shot.

Read Keith Baldrey's full story -- click HERE

If you are looking for a bit of serious Summer reading, here are a few books some may wish to consider

Beginning this Conservative Thoughts blog, and continuing to write it, has been an interesting, and at times frustrating, endeavor since I began late last year.

Those who know me would tend to say I go into new ventures with a full head of steam.  On this project I did ... and I have.

Since then it has on occasion been a challenge finding the time to write --- but rarely has it ever been a challenge to find things to write about.

Along the way some of you have also taken the time to write and encourage me … to have a comment pro or con … or to offer a fresh point of view.  Thank you to all who have done that as it has been appreciated.

Today one of these folks, a medical doctor I have had an ongoing email dialogue with over the past several months, gets to have the floor.  Wally is a strong believer in the democratic process – and obviously a strong reader on concepts and ideas around democracy and its application.

I am waiting to see when the actual Families First policies start taking effect.

When Christy Clark announced she was running to become leader of the BC Liberals, and by extension, the premier of BC, her campaign focus was centered on a slogan of “Families First”.

Since then as all of us are aware, Christy Clark went on the win the leadership, become Premier, and to win election as an MLA in the riding of Vancouver Point Grey.

She is now the premier … she has announced her cabinet which includes Mary McNeil as the Minister of Children and Family development … and one would think work would be well on its way on the mandate she declared most important.

Let’s look at the word of Christy Clark … Mary McNeil … and the media; then you can decide if that priority is being met.

Odds and Ends

Just a couple of things of note from the past week.

One story you may have missed was that fat juicy pay raise some at Powerex have received.  Never heard of Powerex??  Well it's the power export arm of BC Hydro.  Seems that several of the top management people there are in line for pay raises of hundreds of thousands of dollars!

In story in the Vancouver Sun it said that Thomas Bechard will now be making $432,950 a year (a 65% increase since 2008-09) ... Mark Holman's pay has jumped by 70% and he will now be earning $678,898 ... while get this, Robert Campbell will be going from an annual salary of $196 thousand, to nearly $630 thousand ... an increase of 320%.