Convention 2004

November 4, 2004

55 Policy Resolutions for Whistler Convention

Thanks to Webster Award winning journalist, Sean Holman, the 55 policy resolutions that will be put before BC's governing party in Whistler over the weekend are available to the public. You won't find them on the BC Liberal website, but you will find them on Holman's site, http://www.publiceyeonline.com/.

Criticisms of the Campbell government's policies are scattered throughout the resolutions. Resolution C-18, submitted by West Vancouver-Capilano, starts by saying "Our need to exercise fiscal restraint and accountability has challenged the social support Network of The Province." Challenged is a bit of an understatement. The majority of the cuts were made to social services.

The resolutions are supposed to be grouped into topic areas but those on fish farms are split between Tract B, "Economy and Government Operations", and Tract C, "Cross Government Operations". Resolution B-4 calls on government to fast track approvals for new fish farms and to take no more than six months to resolve "all critical issues" for any application. Resolution C-6 starts with the premise "Currently fish farms located at inlets and tributaries to salmon bearing rivers expose juvenile and migrating salmon to excessive quantities of sea lice." Even that resolution turns out to be weak as it merely calls for better site location of commercial fish farms.

Resolution A-2 calls on the government to stop cutting long term care beds until adequate alternatives are put in place. The resolution notes that "the Northern Health Authority plans to cut our long terms care beds, in Terrace by one third."

The folks in Richmond Centre might want to talk to Lorne Mayencourt. Richmond's resolution A-12 says that "There is a need for increased funding at all levels of government for both affordable and supportive social housing." Many resolutions are listed with "source not provided", but Richmond Centre appears to have originated over 10% of the convention's resolutions. Maybe their MLA, Greg Halsey-Brandt, is helping his card carrying members send a message to the Premier.

November 2, 2004

Campbell Convention 2004

The Campbell Clan will gather in Whistler between November 4th and 6th for their convention. A week after their byelection defeat, is not too late for the Premier and his colleagues to congratulate the winners, Jagrup Brar and Carole James, and to tell voters that they are listening. Don't hold your breath waiting for such graciousness. You can expect Campbell and his clones to blame unions, the Indo-Canadian community, and the voters for not understanding how wonderful he is.

Behind the scenes, 30 or 40 of his caucus members will be terrified that they will also lose their seats. The brave souls are speculating that they have an advantage over Mary Polak because Gordon Campbell and his cabinet will have difficulty spending as much time in their ridings as they did in Surrey-Panorama Ridge. Some may say they can get by with no visit at all in 2005.

Fifty days from Christmas, the convention hall must be abuzz with rumours on what surprise awaits them this festive season.