Category Archives: BC Votes 2024

#VanPoli | Humility | Critical, Yet Missing, in Our Municipal Electoral Politics

#CdnPoli | Canadian Politics, #VanPoli Civic Politics, BC Politics, BC Votes 2024, canadian politics, Essay, Politics, Vancouver, VanRamblings

In the era of Donald Trump and Pierre Poilievre, humility has become so out of fashion as to almost have been forgotten. Nonetheless, it is worth articulating why humility is an essential attribute of civic life.

Genuine humility and good governance is defined by grace and an intense interest in the lives of others. The perspective of the public, our neighbours, must always be taken into account in the taking of decisions in the public realm.

In the fabric of democracy, humility will always stand as a cornerstone that fortifies the integrity and efficacy of electoral processes and the governance that ensues.

At the municipal level, where governance directly touches the lives of citizens in their communities, the significance of humility becomes even more pronounced.

Humility plays a critical role in the electoral process and among elected officials at the civic level, in fostering trust, co-operation, and effective leadership.

If we in Vancouver have suffered in the civic domain for most of the past quarter century, bereft of an otherwise recommendable civic administration of conscience, the central failure of governance in our city has occurred as a consequence of an unremitting arrogance, and a certitude that what is being done is right and in the collective interest, whether or not community consensus has been achieved.

Humility in the electoral process serves as a linchpin in maintaining the democratic ideals of fairness and equality.

Municipal elections are the bedrock of local democracy, where individuals come together to choose representatives who will voice their concerns, make decisions, and shape policies that directly impact our day-to-day lives.

Humble candidates prioritize the needs and aspirations of their constituents over personal ambitions, engaging in genuine dialogue and actively listening to the diverse voices within their communities. They eschew grandstanding and instead focus on authentic connections and constructive discourse, thereby fostering an electoral environment that is characterized by respect, civility, and inclusivity.

Once elected, those persons who are elected to City Council, Park Board or School Board bear the weighty responsibility of representing the interests of their constituents, while navigating the complexities of policy making and administration.

In this capacity, humility serves as a guiding principle that grounds officials in a recognition of their fallibility and the limitations of their knowledge.

Humble leaders understand that they do not possess all the answers and thus remain open to diverse perspectives, expertise, and feedback from both constituents and fellow stakeholders.

By embracing humility, elected officials cultivate an environment of collaboration and collective problem-solving, transcending partisan divides and fostering innovative solutions to the myriad challenges facing their communities.

Furthermore, humility engenders trust and credibility among constituents, essential elements for the legitimacy of municipal governance.

In an era marked by heightened skepticism towards traditional institutions, humility offers a powerful antidote to the erosion of public trust in government.

Humble leaders prioritize the common good over personal gain, earning the respect and admiration of their constituents through their humility, authenticity, and commitment to serving the public interest.

The challenges confronting municipalities require leaders who possess the humility to acknowledge the complexity of these issues and the willingness to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to address them effectively.

Fostering trust and cooperation to promoting effective leadership and governance, humility serves as a guiding principle enriching the fabric of local democracy.

Let us be very clear here: we as a voting public in Vancouver do not want more arrogance in civic governance of our city.

We do not want holier-than-thou elected civic officials, whether they are with the so-called “progressive coalition” or the nominally right-of-centre ABC Vancouver civic party dictating what is best for us, and ignoring our voices. We’ve had a quarter century of that, and that is more than enough.

In Vancouver, to be a respected, successful and admired politician, one must know what one stands for and what one is fighting for, to know how to work with others, to listen to the public and be a voice for change for the better.

If you’re an elected official, you better darn well listen to the public, bring them along with you, and not find yourself sitting back on your high horse telling the public …

“Oh, deary, I know what’s best for you. Oh sure, I know you think you know what’s best for you, but believe me, I know better than you what’s good for you. Just trust me. And even if you don’t trust me, I’m going to go ahead and do what I damn well please, anyway.”

That’s a recipe for electoral disaster, and a very pissed off public — and if you’ve got any caring, compassion and humility at all, you don’t want that.

Take heed elected officials. Should you fail to do so, you proceed at your peril.

#BCPoli | Premier David Eby’s 2nd Worst Nightmare Unfolding

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Mario Canseco’s Research Co poll released on January 31, 2024 places the BC NDP in first place

Premier David Eby’s second worst nightmare continues to unfold less than nine months before the 2024 British Columbia provincial election.

David Eby’s worst nightmare, of course, would be a repeat of the 2001 British Columbia election, when voters went to the polls, leaving only two seats from the NDP majority government that held power from 1991 through 2001. From 2001 through 2005, Joy McPhail & Jenny Kwan held the fort for B.C.’s New Democratic Party. Failure on that scale in 2024 would be unimaginably devastating.

In fact, there is a 2001 provincial election scenario that is, at present, unfolding in British Columbia, but it is a redux version of 2001, where the B.C. New Democratic Party has gained the confidence and largesse of British Columbia voters — seeming to give David Eby, and the BC NDP, an overwhelming majority — and where the renamed name B.C. Liberal Party — now inaptly named, B.C. United — look to be wiped out as a political force in our province, as they seem set to retain a mere six seats in the Legislature, in a house where 93 Members of the Legislature will sit.

Below, we’ll get to why the above scenario is Premier Eby’s 2nd worst nightmare.


Sonia Furstenau, Green Party of British Columbia leader, changing ridings before the 2024 election

On the last day of January 2024, Sonia Furstenau announced to the world that she is giving up on British Columbia politics, that she’s frustrated, fed up, worn out, is devastated that British Columbians have failed to support her tenure as leader of the Green Party of B.C.,  her integrity, her hard work and that of her Green Party colleague, Adam Olsen, and that a very centrist British Columbia electorate have thrown their support to a centrist British Columbia New Democratic Party under the leadership of David Eby, and cast her and her Green Party of British Columbia aside, and no longer want her in place to challenge a B.C. NDP government.

Did Sonia Furstenau voice the (fictional) concerns raised above, yesterday?

No. But she might as well have.


Beacon Hill Park, in Victoria

For, you see, Ms. Furstenau announced Wednesday that in the upcoming 2024 provincial election, rather than run again in the very safe Green Party supporting riding of Cowichan Valley, which she has held comfortably since 2016, instead Ms. Furstenau has chosen to devastate her Green Party supporters and the voting electorate in the Cowichan Valley, by announcing that come this autumn, she will run for office in the riding of Victoria-Beacon Hill — perhaps the safest NDP seat in the province — where she will challenge popular incumbent, Grace Lore, the current Minister of Children and Family Development in the David Eby government.

Note should be made that due to redistribution, Ms. Furstenau’s riding was divided in half, statistically giving the B.C. NDP a three-to-one advantage in the new ridings should she decide to run in either of the two new ridings. Pulling out of the political fray in the Cowichan Valley where she believes she cannot win, in favour of certain defeat in Victora-Beacon Hill, to VanRamblings seems to be a Hobson’s choice.

The above said, we wish Ms. Furstenau well in her political “retirement”, because most assuredly she will not win re-election come this Saturday, October 19th.

VanRamblings imagines after clearing her office she will take some time off, vacationing with her husband, perhaps returning in the spring to supply teach in her Cowichan Valley school district, where the administration will be over the moon to have her back in the fold, given the dire shortage of teachers in our province.


Vancouver Island University, entrance to the Cowichan campus administration office

Returning to teaching will also afford Ms. Furstenau to put in the time necessary to raise her pension to 80% of her annual average teachers’ salary of $90,000+ — whether she resumes her teaching career in the Cowichan Valley, or her “new home” in British Columbia’s capital city, where she would be closer to family.


The University of Victoria

Upon retirement at age 65, Ms. Furstenau will live in comfort financially, her home paid off, her teachers’ pension  paying handsomely, supplemented by her Member of the Legislature / leader of the Green Party of BC provincial government pension. In addition, we also expect Vancouver Island University’s Cowichan campus, or should Ms. Furstenau remains in Victoria, the University of Victoria will want to bring her on staff as an instructor, to conduct an evening class or two.

If seeing his current 57-member strong New Democratic Party caucus reduced to two seats, as was the cataclysmic case in 2001, is the nightmare electoral scenario that David Eby fears most (an event unlikely to unfold), as we’ve written previously, securing 80 seats in the Legislature is certainly a nightmare electoral October 19th scenario that our Premier is hoping against hope will not unfold.

Why? As we’ve written previously, and will write again many times in the months to come: with 57 seats in the Legislature, including the Premier’s own Vancouver Point Grey riding seat, British Columbia’s beloved, soon-to-be-a-father for the third time (come June!), the Premier is perfectly content with 57 seats, a comfortable majority, just the right number of seats in the House to portion out Ministers, Parliamentary Secretary and House Speaker jobs,  keep his caucus members busy, keeping them happy, as well, as this “extra work” affords each of the members of the NPD caucus additional salary to their $115,045.93 annual MLA compensation.

Much more than a 57-seat win, and the Premier faces undesired “trouble”, cuz there are no more additional, well-paying jobs for him to give out, leaving the “extra NDP MLAs” largely disenfranchised, and at loose ends with themselves.

Next thing you know, a rump group of B.C. Dippers will hive off from the provincial party to form their own — say, five member, environmentally-minded, opposed to LNG and fracking — B.C. political party, affording them the “extra monies” they heretofore had been denied. Politics, lemme tell ya, it ain’t for the faint of heart.


Kevin Falcon, leader of B.C. United, and decidedly on the right, B.C. Conservative leader, John Rustad

Politically in British Columbia, we seem to be living in a redux period.

In 1991, as “Premier” Rita Johnson — when disgraced Socred Premier Bill Vander Zalm  resigned from office, the party chose Ms. Johnson as their leader, and Premier — championed the Social Credit party during that year’s provincial election, she not only lost government and 47  legislative seats, the Social Credit Party came in a distant third, the Social Credit Party finis / the Socreds dead, far from phoenix-like, after nearly 41 years in power, the party wiped out, and gone forever.

Once the cabal who run this province removed 1991’s Liberal leader, Gordon Wilson — who secured 17 seats for the B.C. Liberals, a revived B.C. Liberal party became the political standard-bearer for our province’s capitalist forces, an all-too-willing Gordon Campbell made leader, who in 2001 went on to become Premier.


Global BC’s Richard Zussman reports on B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon + the Greens’ Sonia Furstenau

Kevin Falcon, once a well-thought-of activist Minister in the Gordon Campbell government, will soon become the undertaker for the B.C. Liberal renamed B.C United Party, as this capitalist, free market party — whatever it’s name — will soon be but a fading memory on the political landscape of British Columbia provincial politics.


British Columbia’s Legislative Assembly

As for B.C. Conservative Party leader, John Rustad, as the far right gains power across the globe — in Canada, that would be federal Conservative Party leader, Pierre “The Destroyer” Poilievre (“Canada is broken. It’s all Justin Trudeau’s fault,”), as well as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs — steps gingerly into the political vacuum left by a mortally wounded B.C. United Party, Rustad would seem to be on track to become, perhaps, the Leader of Her Majesty’s official loyal Opposition, in the post election, post October next session of the British Columbia Legislature.

#SaveOurParkBoard | Park Board History & Mandate

BC Politics, BC Votes 2024, Environment, News, Park Board, Politics, Vancouver Votes 2022

Vancouver Park Board History + Commissioners’ Mandate & Compensation

Established by an 1889 amendment to the Vancouver Incorporation Act, 1886 (later the Vancouver Charter). The Vancouver Park Board is unique not just across Canada, but across North America, as well (and the globe, for that matter), as the sole elected body of its kind, and as British Columbia’s Attorney General, Niki Sharma — herself, a former celebrated Vancouver Park Board Commissioner — recently told VanRamblings, “the Vancouver Park Board is a cherished institution.”

Vancouver Park Board has seven elected commissioners who are charged with determining the policy direction of the institution. The Board’s mandate: “provide, preserve and advocate for Vancouver’s parks and recreation system … to the benefit of the citizens of Vancouver, the many neighbourhoods that comprise our beloved home, the City of Vancouver, and to advocate for the environment, as our parks represent the lungs of our city, contributing to the health of the community.”

Commissioners are elected at large every four years, with a chair and vice-chair elected by the Commissioners each December, their term to begin at the first meeting of Park Board Commissioners, in January, following the holiday break. At present the Vancouver Park Board Chairperson is Brennan Bastyovanszky, the Vice-Chairperson Scott Jensen, Park Board Committee Chairperson (the body which hears public presentations, and where all the “real” work of the Commissioners takes place), Laura Christensen, with Scott Jensen Vice-Chair.


Vancouver Park Board Commissioners | L-R: Jas Virdi (ABC), Marie-Claire Howard (ABC), Tom Digby (Green), Angela Haer (ABC), Independents: Scott Jensen, Brennan Bastyovanszky, Laura Christensen

Park Board Commissioners served without remuneration until a 1972 amendment to the Vancouver Charter allowed them an annual honorarium of $1000. At present, for a not unusual 45-hour work week (this apart from the Commissioners’ regular employment in their professions), the Park Board Chairperson earns $23,428.65 per annum, with Commissioners earning $18,743.38 annually, or about 12.5% of the compensation afforded the average City Councillor at Vancouver City Hall.

The Vancouver Park Board oversees 242 parks and gardens, including major park “attractions” such as  the 1,000 acre / 406 hectare Stanley Park, the VanDusen Botanical Garden on Oak Street, and the Bloedel Conservatory atop Queen Elizabeth, 24 active community centres located in each neighbourhood across the city, the Park Board also responsible for Vancouver’s pools and water park system, and well-maintained skating rinks and playing fields, as well as three non-profit, well-used-and-enjoyed public golf courses, Langara, McCleery and Fraserview.

Today and tomorrow, we’re taking a break from the politics of Vancouver City Councillors making the horrendous, anti-democratic decision to eliminate the elected 133-year-old Vancouver Park Board, the last bastion of civic democracy in Metro Vancouver, where members of the public are listened to and respected, and have a direct impact on the setting of public parks and recreation policy.

On Wednesday, we’ll write about tender moments around the Park Board table — involving past Park Board Chairpersons John Coupar and Aaron Jasper, once on opposite sides of the political spectrum and avowed “enemies”, but who thanks to the shocking decision of the ABC Vancouver Councillors at Vancouver City Hall to attempt to abolish Vancouver’s elected Park Board have, in common cause, become new best friends, with John Coupar saying to VanRamblings recently ..

“I can’t believe how skilled Aaron is at organizing. Each and every time we get together I am more and more impressed with his intelligence, his dedication, and his love and commitment to Vancouver’s parks and recreation system, and the preservation of Vancouver’s elected Park Board. Working with Aaron is a joy!”

As you can see from the commentary above, some good is coming out of the Ken Sim-led fiasco to eliminate Vancouver’s elected Park Board. In addition to John Coupar and Aaron Jasper’s newfound friendship, former Vancouver Park Board Commissioners Sarah Blyth (a city hero, and founder of the Overdose Prevention Society) and Melissa De Genova, a two-term Vancouver City Councillor, have also now become new best friends, working together in common cause to ensure going forward, and long into the future, Vancouver will enjoy an elected Park Board.

Click / tap on the graphic above to sign  the Save Our Park Board Petition started by Sarah Blyth

Save Our Park Board GoFundMe Display Campaign
Click / tap on the graphic above to donate to the Save Our Park Board GoFundMe display campaign

#BCPoli | British Columbia Goes to the Polls on October 19, 2024

BC Politics, BC Votes 2024, Politics, , , , ,

Two hundred and eight-five days from today, British Columbians go to the polls to elect a new government.

Will the citizens of British Columbia return the government of David Eby to an unprecedented third term in government for the British Columbia New Democratic Party? The polls seem to think so — but if you follow politics, you know that a day in politics can be equivalent to a year in the political realm. Whatever the polls may say, it is not until the votes of citizens have been counted that determines the “winner”, and who will form government in the succeeding four years.

As is the case in every election, much is on the line.

Health care, housing, and the cost of living feature as primary issues.

Which of the four main provincial parties do British Columbians believe is best fit to serve the public interest?

If David Coletto’s Abacus poll is any indication, the BC NDP — with its prohibitive lead in the polls — has the confidence of British Columbians, the citizens of our fine province seemingly set to return David Eby’s competent, hands-on, activist administration to government, come the late evening of Saturday, October 19, 2024.

Regionally, the BC NDP is ahead by 22-points in Metro Vancouver, by 27-points on Vancouver Island, and statistically tied with the BC Conservatives in the Interior and in northern British Columbia.

According to Mr. Coletto …

Interestingly, the BC NDP is ahead by 30 points among those aged 45 and over but only ahead by 3 among those under 45. The BC Conservatives do 12-points better among younger BCers than older ones.

The BC NDP leads by 24 among women (49% to 25% for the BC Conservatives) and 12-points among men (40% to 28% for the BC Conservatives).

The Abacus poll found that British Columbians are generally more optimistic about the direction of our province than Canadians in other provinces.

In the Abacus survey, 34% of British Columbians indicated they felt the province is headed in the right direction, 10-points higher than polling taken in Ontario, and 11-points higher than Canadians across Canada feel about our own country.

On October 21, 2021, the Government of British Columbia appointed Justice Nitya Iyer, Linda Tynan and Chief Electoral Officer Anton Boegman to serve as the 2021 commissioners on British Columbia’s Electoral Redistribution Commission. Justice Iyer was appointed the chair. In February 2022, the commission opened public consultations for the redistribution of provincial electoral districts. The Commission’s report, published on October 3, 2022, proposed a total of 93 electoral districts, up from 87 districts. Six new ridings were proposed for areas with rapid population growth, with an additional 71 ridings having their boundaries adjusted to accommodate for geographic, demographic, and other concerns.

According to David Coletto, were an election held today, based on the polling conducted by Abacus Data, the BC NDP would win an unprecedented 80 seats in the Brltish Columbia legislature, with Kevin Falcon’s BC United Party (formerly BC Liberal party) winning a mere 6 seats (including Mr. Falcon’s home riding of Vancouver Quilchena), the newly formed BC Conservative Party, under the leadership of John Rustad set to win 6 seats, with Green Party of BC leader Sonia Furstenau left as the sole member of her party in the next term of government.

Believe us when we write the projected Abacus Data outcome — and attendant seat count — of the October 19, 2024 British Columbia election is not something any of the provincial party leaders want, or in any way, shape or form hope for.

At present, David Eby’s BC NDP government holds a comfortable 13-seat majority, holding 57 BC NDP seats out of the current 87 seats in the legislative assembly. As such, each elected member of the BC NDP is either a Minister, a Parliamentary Secretary, the House Speaker, or a Deputy Speaker, keeping themselves out of trouble, hard at work, and earning significant monies on top of their annual $115,045.93 salary as an elected Member of the British Columbia Legislature.

Ministers earn a $57,522.97 salary top up, as does the House Speaker, with the Deputy Speaker and Assistant Deputy Speaker earning an extra $40,266.08, and Parliamentary Secretaries taking in an extra $17,256.89 annually.

Were the David Eby government to elect 80 members to the B.C. legislature come Saturday, October 19th, an Eby government would find themselves with 23 MLAs, who — over time — would become disenchanted, unfulfilled and ready to either break with the party over environmental or other issues — to form their own party —  while creating havoc within the BC NDP, leaving the government in disarray.

One can only hope that B.C. United Party leader Kevin Falcon is correct when he says that BC United is the choice for any British Columbian who wants change.

By election day, Falcon told The Tyee, the Conservative support will return to his party, making it competitive again with the NDP. That kind of turnaround has happened before, he added, giving the example of Christy Clark’s poll-defying BC Liberal victory in 2013 and Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim’s ABC winning in Vancouver with a new party and an unfamiliar name.

For British Columbians of conscience, let’s hope for a victory and a comfortable majority for the British Columbia New Democratic Party come October 19, 2024, with a sizeable B.C. United opposition, a smattering of elected B.C. Conservative MLAs, and a sizeable Green Party of B.C. contingent of progressive, hold the BC NDP government’s feet to the fire, members of the B.C. legislative assembly.


Jordan Leichnitz, the NDP member of the Curse of Politics podcast, in the Oddball Predictions category, has a prediction on the outcome of the 2024 BC provincial election, and how each of the parties will do.