Category Archives: canadian politics

VanRamblings Makes Its Triumphant Return, Again

#CdnPoli | Canadian Politics, #VanElxn 2026, #VanPoli Civic Politics, BC Politics, canadian politics, Politics, Vancouver, Vancouver Votes 2026, VanRamblings

After an interregnum of some 284 days since VanRamblings published last, today — Monday, August 18th, 2025 — marks VanRamblings inglorious return.

In the coming days, weeks and months, as per usual, most Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, we will publish our thoughts on all things municipal, provincial and federal politics, interspersed with columns on cinema (such as this Friday’s column on film festival season), and on the occasional Saturday, return to our semi-regular feature, Stories of a Life, and on Sundays, Sunday Music, where we will continue writing about our favourite 100 albums of all time.

Most of the next two weeks will be given over to writing about Vancouver’s municipal political scene, this week and part of next focusing on the probable Mayoral aspirants seeking office in order that they might install themselves in the spacious offices and luxurious living quarters located on the third floor at Vancouver City Hall (thank you, Dr. Penny Ballem), a home away from home for the Mayor.

In tomorrow’s column, VanRamblings’ focus will be on who, only a month ago, seemed to be the serious-minded Mayoral aspirants. Much has changed, though, over the past month, and the list of Mayoral aspirants has winnowed considerably, although a few of the usual suspects for Vancouver Mayor remain serious about making a bid for office on Saturday, October 17th, 2026.

A major focus of VanRamblings’ writing beginning next week through until October 12th will be, what for us, is the première arts event of the autumn season, the 44th Vancouver International Film Festival, which this year will run, in a somewhat truncated form, from Thursday, October 2nd through until Sunday, October 12th.

As far as we are able, we’ll attempt to keep the columns short, pithy, informational and full of our somewhat out on the edge opinions, bound to make some folks (usually the ones being written about) unhappy, while enlightening others in what we hope is an entertaining and provocative manner. As far as possible — given our advanced age (we’re 75 years of age now) and our general ill state of health (alas) — we’ll try to stay away from what once was our stock and trade: hyperbole, always fun to write but, perhaps now, a thing of VanRamblings’ ignominious past.

With the exception of Friday, September 5th — when, in the first person, we’ll write about our various health travails — we’ll continue to employ the third person voice on VanRamblings, which we know drives some people crazy, but there it is.

We look forward to your return tomorrow, and in the days, weeks and months hence, as we once again seek to build our loyal, and just plain great, readership — who want to know just what is going on in our municipal, provincial and federal governance, and the who, what and why of the decisions that impact our lives.

#BCPoli | Who Will Eby Appoint to His Cabinet?

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As Premier David Eby prepares to announce his new Cabinet on November 18th, the selection process is particularly dynamic, especially pending judicial recounts in three British Columbia ridings that will take place this upcoming weekend.

With a significant reshuffle required due to retirements, re-election losses, and a pressing need to address evolving provincial issues, David Eby’s appointments will shape the next phase of the B.C. New Democratic Party’s (NDP) governance.

Premier Eby must balance geographic and gender considerations following an election in which a record number of women were elected — but the government lost considerable ground outside of the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.

The Premier must also find MLAs to replace Cabinet ministers who either retired before the election or were defeated.

Education Minister Rachna Singh; Minister of Water, Land and Resources and Minister Responsible for Fisheries, Nathan Cullen; Agriculture Minister Pam Alexis; Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, Dan Coulter; and Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation, Andrew Mercier, lost their re-election bids.

Finance Minister Katrine Conroy; Forests Minister Bruce Ralston; Indigenous Relations Minister Murray Rankin; Transportation Minister Rob Fleming; Minister of State for Child Care, Mitzi Dean; Labour Minister Harry Bains; and Environment Minister George Heyman are the big names to retire at the end of the past term.

Nearly half of the 27 Cabinet members Eby had before the election are not returning to government.


Former NDP Premier Glen Clark says he’s concerned that Premier David Eby will struggle to give rural B.C. a voice because the party won only five seats outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Photo by Jason Payne / PostMedia Group

Glen Clark, NDP Premier from 1996 to 1999, told PostMedia’s Alec Lazenby that he’s concerned that Eby will struggle to give rural B.C. a voice because the party won only five seats outside the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. All 15 returning ministers are from those two regions.

Clark said at least two or three of the five NDP MLAs outside the major urban centres will need to be given a role in Cabinet. The five are Steve Morissette of Kootenay-Monashee, Harwinder Sandhu of Vernon-Lumby, Brittny Anderson of Kootenay Central, Tamara Davidson of North Coast-Haida Gwaii, and Randene Neill of Powell River-Sunshine Coast.


Former NDP Premier Mike Harcourt expects Premier David Eby’s Cabinet will be much smaller than his last one. Photo by Arlen Redekop / PostMedia Group

Another consideration has to be the reduced size of the NDP majority, says former NDP Premier, Mike Harcourt, giving Eby a smaller number of MLAs to work with.

Mike Harcourt, who was Premier of British Columbia from 1991 to 1996, said it will be important to place the experienced ministers in key portfolios such as finance, health, public safety and the attorney general’s office.

Harcourt cited Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth as a prime example and believes Jobs Minister Brenda Bailey would make a “very capable finance minister.”

Based on political signals and Eby’s policy priorities, here’s a look at some of the most likely and impactful Cabinet appointees.

Key Appointments in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland

David Eby’s Cabinet will likely reflect Vancouver’s strong support for the B.C. NDP, where they won 12 out of 13 seats.

A probable first-time appointee is Christine Boyle, who captured a decisive 62% of the vote in Vancouver-Little Mountain. Boyle, with deep ties to the Eby family and significant experience in climate advocacy, is poised to become Minister of Climate Change and the Environment. This would align her environmental background with the B.C. NDP’s efforts to address climate-related challenges.

In Vancouver-Yaletown, retired Vancouver Police Department Inspector Terry Yung secured his seat and is an anticipated addition to the Cabinet as Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Yung’s experience in law enforcement is likely to align well with Eby’s agenda on community safety and public order. Veteran MLA Mike Farnworth, who previously held this role, may take over as Minister of Finance, a shift that would leverage his decades of experience in government.

In Vancouver-South Granville, incumbent Brenda Bailey has proven herself as an effective Minister in Eby’s prior government and is likely to retain her Cabinet position, or become the NDP’s new Finance Minister, as Mr. Harcourt suggests.

Health, a demanding and highly scrutinized Ministry, is expected to see a shift, with longtime Health Minister Adrian Dix moving to another post after overseeing the Ministry since 2017. Bowinn Ma, who has significantly bolstered the B.C. NDP’s presence in North Vancouver, is widely anticipated to take over Health, bringing fresh energy to a complex portfolio.

Regional Diversity and Inclusion of Rising Stars

Beyond the immediate Vancouver area, Eby’s Cabinet will reflect strategic regional representation. In the Interior, Harwinder Sandhu, one of the five BC NDP MLAs to be elected outside the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Island, and the Sunshine Coast, is almost guaranteed a Cabinet role. Her appointment would emphasize the BC NDP’s commitment to rural regions, showcasing representation in government.

Of course, as Glen Clark suggests, consideration must also be given to Steve Morissette (Kootenay-Monashee); two-term MLA for Kootenay Central, Brittny Anderson, who we think may have an inside track to becoming a junior Minister, or Minister of State; newly-elected B.C. NDP MLA, Tamara Davidson, who represents the riding of North Coast-Haida Gwaii; not to mention, retired, high profile broadcaster Randene Neill (Powell River-Sunshine Coast), who we think is a lock for an important portfolio in the first full-term of a David Eby government.

Burnaby, a steadfast NDP stronghold, will likely see several (re)appointments.

Anne Kang, re-elected in Burnaby Centre, could remain as Minister of Municipal Affairs. In Burnaby North, Janet Routledge has a chance to join the Cabinet, while Paul Choi, newly-elected in Burnaby South-Metrotown, could also be considered as Premier Eby aims to add fresh perspectives.

In Delta North, Ravi Kahlon will almost certainly continue as Housing Minister, an area of critical focus for the Eby government given the housing crisis across British Columbia. Housing remains a top issue for Eby, who himself made housing reforms a central part of his platform. A stable and experienced presence like Kahlon will be crucial to advancing these policies, especially in urban centres.

Focusing on Surrey and the Broader Metro Vancouver Region

Surrey, a key battleground in the recent election, remains strategically important to Premier David Eby, especially given the loss of some NDP seats there.

Should Garry Begg retain his seat following the judicial recount in Surrey-Guildford this weekend, he is expected to be a top pick for Cabinet to strengthen representation in this fast growing city. Additionally, newly-elected MLAs Amna Shah in Surrey City Centre and Jessie Sunner in Surrey Newton are strong contenders for Cabinet appointments. Eby’s attention to Surrey signals an understanding of the city’s growing political and economic influence in the province.

Reappointments and Strategic Shifts on Vancouver Island

On Vancouver Island, Grace Lore, who held the Minister of Children and Family Development portfolio, is highly likely to be reappointed given her success in Victoria-Beacon Hill and experience in child welfare issues. Lana Popham, a veteran minister, is also expected to retain a Cabinet position, either continuing in her tourism and cultural portfolio or perhaps taking on a new challenge.

Sheila Malcolmson, who has effectively led the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, is another probable reappointment following her victory in Nanaimo-Gabriola Island. Jodie Osborne, in the Mid Island-Pacific Rim riding, will likely be reappointed to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, continuing her work on sustainable energy initiatives in British Columbia.

Gender Parity and Representation in Eby’s New Cabinet

With 31 out of 47 elected B.C. NDP members being women, there is a strong case for gender parity within the new Cabinet — with the possibility that two-thirds of the members of his new Cabinet will be women, reflecting their strength within the B.C. NDP caucus — a principle Eby has consistently championed. If the projected appointments proceed, Eby’s Cabinet will reflect a representative cross-section of the province, with an emphasis on female leaders in key ministries.

This commitment to gender parity aligns with Eby’s broader goal of promoting inclusivity within his government, thereby setting a standard for future Cabinets.

Notable Exclusions and Potential Surprises

While Vancouver-based MLAs dominate many of the Cabinet roles, some veterans may be left out. Spencer Chandra Herbert, who has represented Vancouver’s West End since 2009, and veteran B.C. NDP MLA Mable Elmore, representing Vancouver-Kensington, may not secure Cabinet spots due to the high concentration of Vancouver representatives. These omissions may underscore the difficult balancing act Eby faces as he strives to achieve both gender and regional representation.

Langford-Highlands’ Ravi Parmar, a relatively newcomer into the MLA ranks, elected from John Horgan’s former riding, might also be considered for Cabinet. Parmar’s inclusion would help strengthen Vancouver Island’s representation and honour Horgan’s legacy, which remains influential within the BC NDP.

A Cabinet for a New Political Era

In crafting his new Cabinet, Premier Eby aims to assemble a team that can tackle B.C.’s most pressing issues, from housing and health care to environmental sustainability and public safety. The mix of experienced veterans like Farnworth and Popham with rising stars such as Boyle and Ma reflects Eby’s commitment to balancing continuity with innovation.

The emphasis on regional and gender representation, coupled with a focus on critical ministries, positions this Cabinet to address the complexities of governing a diverse province. Moreover, by incorporating leaders from various backgrounds — public safety, municipal governance, environmental activism — Premier Eby’s Cabinet can approach these issues from fresh perspectives, creating policy solutions his government aims to resonate with a broad swath British Columbians.

#BCPoli | Good-bye John Rustad We Hardly Knew Ya

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Buh-bye, so long, adios: John Rustad, “interim leader” of the Conservative Party of British Columbia

One year from today John Rustad will no longer lead the B.C. Conservative Party.

How to explain VanRamblings’ late 2025 B.C. Conservative leadership projection?

  • B.C. Conservative Party infighting. In his interview with This is Vancolour’s Mo Amir, former BC NDP Premier Glen Clark referred to 20 of the newly-elected B.C. Conservative Party MLAs as “whack jobs” — this adjudication arising from a series of racist, misogynist, homophobic QAnon conspiracy theorist comments made by these, now, sitting B.C. Conservative Party members of the B.C. Legislature.

    From what VanRamblings’ sources tell us, these 20 newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLAs are far from happy with their leader, John Rustad, for having roundly denounced several of their number during the course of the recent provincial election campaign. VanRamblings is told there is a movement afoot to remove Rustad as leader, in favour of a member of the QAnon conspiracy theorist contingent who more rightly align with their “the whole system is rigged and oughta be brought down” far right, People’s Party of Canada, anti-vaxx, Freedom Convoy-loving “philosophy”.

Meanwhile, Premier Eby has drawn what he calls a “bright line”, stating that his NDP government will refuse to work with newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLAs who have expressed “offensive” views on racial and other matters.

Vaughn Palmer, in The Vancouver Sun, has called the …

 “Bright-line test a proverbial line in the sand. It establishes a clearcut, easily recognizable boundary between the right and the wrong, the good and the bad, the pure and the tainted.”

Eby singled out Brent Chapman, newly-elected B.C. Conservative MLA for Surrey South, and author of some deeply offensive social media posts in past years.

“Brent Chapman (is) a hateful man promoting hate and racism in our province,” Eby told host Vijay Saini of CJCN radio last week. “We have a very bright line around that and it is a non-starter for us. We need to fight hate and racism every day. So there are definitely restrictions on our willingness to work with the Conservative party.”

The BC NDP leader has suggested that B.C. Democrats are preparing a list of Conservatives whose utterances have consigned them to the dark side of the line.

“I’ve seen them speaking out with concern on issues that I share concern about — open racism from Conservative candidates, open homophobia, anti-Muslim sentiment, anti-woman sentiment — and those are bright lines. That is non-negotiable for us.”

Premier Eby has created a ‘no win’ situation for B.C. Conservative leader John Rustad: defend his MLAs who have expressed intolerant and hateful views, or denounce them. Smart, divisive NDP politics, set to create much trouble for Rustad.

Elenore Sturko celebrating her B.C. United Party by-election win in 2022, with Kevin Falcon.

  • Elenore Sturko. VanRamblings has been told by our B.C. Conservative Party sources that former B.C. United MLA for Surrey South, now the newly-minted B.C. Conservative MLA representing the riding of Surrey-Cloverdale has formed an exploratory committee to challenge John Rustad for leadership of the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Elenore Sturko: thy name is ambition at all costs, the person in which such picayune considerations such as loyalty will never be vested. Just ask former B.C. United Party leader Kevin Falcon; he’s got a story or two to tell ya.

And, finally, why John Rustad won’t be the leader of the Conservative Party of British Columbia, and His Majesty’s loyal Opposition, twelve months from now.

The venerable and exclusive Vancouver Club, on West Hastings in Vancouver.

  • Powers that be who rule our province. The same group of folks who just weeks ago — billionaire developers, and their ilk — convinced, under threat, B.C. United leader Kevin Falcon to fold his and his B.C. United tent in favour of supporting John Rustad’s far right B.C. Conservative Party — never for a moment wanting to see the conspiracy theory amenable Rustad continue on as B.C. Conservative Party leader should he “lose” the election — even as you read this, are meeting behind closed doors deep within the inner sanctum of The Vancouver Club, developing plans to oust John Rustad as B.C. Conservative Party leader — as they did with then B.C. Liberal leader Gordon Wilson, in favour of their hand-picked choice and oh-so-amenable, Gordon Campbell — to be replaced by Ms. Sturko, or Brad West or another potential B.C. Conservative Party leader, who would be acquiescent to their entreaties, a leader not wedded to conspiracy theories, someone more acceptable to the general populace.

So there you have it.

In the face of the chaos that will be wrought in the United States with the (re) election of Donald Trump as President, in British Columbia some degree of sanity will prevail, with the Nuremberg 2.0-compliant John Rustad set to be removed as B.C. Conservative Party leader, in favour of someone more balanced and palatable to a broad swath of the British Columbia electorate. With David Eby at the helm of a progressive British Columbia New Democratic Party, we can look forward to enjoying a government committed to empowering women, empowering members of our Indigenous community, and building the economy, an oasis of political sanity in this crazy old world of ours where stability, in British Columbia, is our friend.

#BCPoli | An Autocrat No More | 2024 Election | Eby Emerges As a Humbled and Chastened Politician

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David Eby: chastened, humbled, reflective, willing to listen, refocusing his government’s priorities.

Barely scraping by with the slimmest of majority governments, Premier David Eby has emerged from the bruising 2024 British Columbia election campaign a humbled and chastened man, a provincial leader prepared to change his government’s legislative priorities, to listen more, to be more collaborative in his approach, and to refocus on the priorities identified by the British Columbia electorate.

In the two years since assuming power in the Premier’s office, David Eby proved to be the provincial equivalent of the energizer bunny, going off in 10,000 different directions at once, unfocused, taking on far too much with little prospect of changing anything at all, Eby’s imperious, autocratic, top down approach alienating broad swaths of British Columbia’s citizenry, at odds with municipal administrations across the province, all the while racking up debt and ill will, and a cry to please just slow the merry-go-round down a bit, the change David Eby sought to achieve dizzying and disquietening in the breadth and depth of its unachievable scope.


British Columbia’s 31st (BC NDP) Premier, Glen Clark, pictured above in 2024, at 66 years of age.

During the course of the election, broadcaster Mo Amir conducted an extensive, thoughtful and engaging interview on his This is Vancolour podcast with British Columbia’s 31st Premier, the original B.C. political energizer bunny, the British Columbia New Democrat’s Glen Clark, now a senior citizen at the ripe old age of 66 (soon to be 67, given that his birthday is coming up on November 22nd).

This is the advice that the older, and now wiser, Mr. Clark has for David Eby …

“David tried to accomplish too much in his two-year term as Premier, with little in the way of definable outcomes that people could see and feel. In the coming term, my advice to the Premier would be to refocus his government on four or five achievable goals: fulfill the government’s promise of $10-a-day child care; when it comes to health care, make a firm commitment that by 2026 the Interior region of the province will no longer experience emergency room closures, all while committing to reducing wait times and ensuring every B.C. citizen has a family physician.

Focus his government’s priority on achieving public safety, while ensuring that the indigent population are well-housed; and build social housing, high quality co-operative housing constructed on Crown land, a commitment to opening the doors on 10,000 units of housing for families, by 2027, in every region across our province.”

In the 2017 British Columbia election campaign, the BC NDP committed to building 100,000 units of affordable housing by 2025. In point of fact, the government has achieved only 20% of that goal. British Columbia’s NDP government has got to stop making promises that they have no real and palpable intention of fulfilling.

Throughout the course of the recent 28-day election campaign, David Eby championed his government’s near fulfilled commitment to achieving $10-a-day child care for families who live in every region across B.C., when in point of fact his government is a very long way from achieving that goal. Most irritating to VanRamblings was the Premier’s championing of how his government had cut child care fees in half during their term of government (note: not $10-a-day child care), when David Eby’s government had no role to play in halving child care fees: doing so was entirely a federally funded initiative of the Trudeau government.

The key to a successful, full-term David Eby-led British Columbia New Democratic Party government is, as we write above, collaboration, consultation, respect for the municipal partners in the change movement to build the much needed housing the public has demanded, an ability to listen and to act, and be seen to act, on the input that will be provided by the stakeholders in the movement for change (read: citizens), who desire change as much as David Eby wants change, but change reflected in the wants and needs of the populace, rather than the autocratic imposition of a “I know best what you need” British Columbia provincial government.

Now for the good news — good news, that is, if you’re a fan of Premier David Eby (as is the case with VanRamblings) and the B.C. New Democratic Party government he leads with vision, and an unwavering commitment to the public good.

If Premier Eby can hold onto government for the next three years — for which the prospects are good, given that negotiations between Green Party leader Sonia Furstenau and David Eby, to work collaboratively, are moving ahead well for both concerned parties — a number of salutary events will unfold for the BC NDP …

  • The Broadway Millennium Line Skytrain extension to Arbutus Street will open in late 2027, along with the 13-storey social housing seniors facility at 7th and Arbutus. Governments that get things done always wears well with the public;

  • The new Pattullo Bridge, connecting New Westminster to Surrey, will also open, as yet another feather in the cap of the B.C. New Democratic Party government;
  • And, best of all, a far-right, chaos driven, extremely unpopular Pierre Poilevre government will have been in power for two years come late 2027, which will have a number of salutary impacts: the re-birth of a renewed B.C. Liberal Party, a very unpopular B.C. Conservative opposition following on the coattails of a hated Pierre Poilievre, a Trumpian nightmare of a Prime Minister — you wonder why Nova Scotia Conservative Premier Tim Houston is going to the polls early, as will soon be the case with Ontario Conservative Premier, Doug Ford … cuz they know, even if you don’t, that Pierre Poilievre will be held in such disrepute that their respective chances for re-election would be fatally wounded with Poilievre in power. And what does this have to do with the cost of tea in China, and the prospects of David Eby being re-elected to a second full term, with a much increased majority, in 2027-2028? An upstart B.C. Liberal Party garnering 23% of the vote, a B.C. Conservative Party also registering at 23% in the polls, and our beloved David Eby-led British Columbia New Democratic Party government coming up the middle in 2027-2028, in a B.C. provincial election that will give them a comfortable majority in the British Columbia legislature.

And, yes, we’re aware that we’re driving you nuts with our criticism of the BC NDP, while touting their majority government re-election, three or four years hence.

All part of the invaluable service we provide to you, most days, at VanRamblings!