Christy Clark Brandishes the Whip to Make Friends in Ottawa: Has the Conservative Government Gone Mad?
Just when you think that Premier Clark couldn’t possibly fall lower than any immediately past stunt (feel free to choose from the exponentially growing list), she exceeds your expectations with a magnificently executed blunder, so mind-numbingly dense that words fail.
Almost.
After reading and listening to her messaging on the negotiations between Victoria and Ottawa regarding the HST, I must assert how incredibly wooden-headed the Premier is being–even for her.
Let’s have a look at just two of her repeated quotes.
Here’s the first:
“I’m hoping they’ll look at our tight fiscal circumstances and recognize it’s going to be tough for us to balance our budget if we don’t work things though.”
Translation: While Christy Clark (and, sadly, Kevin Falcon) think we’re all stupid for voting against the HST (I happily did so, as did many of you) they don’t want to take any responsibility for their government’s actions. No! They want the feds to cut them some slack because the BC Liberals rammed through a bad tax for the most needy in this province. After, among other financial boners, allowing their closest friends and top donors to turn the province into a ‘Monopoly’ board, the BC Liberals are going to use the HST as a whipping post to mask their fiscal failures. The BILLIONS to pals through IPP/’Rape of River’ trickery is enough to sink an entire economy, never mind BC Hydro. But Victoria will use the HST as an excuse, despite the generally buoyant IQ level of most British Columbians. Makes perfect sense doesn’t it? Ms. Clark wants to turn the tables on Ottawa and make it seem like it was JUST the federal government that pushed for the HST and absolve her of any blame. Despite her comments to the contrary, she was the chief salesman of the HST after her ascension to Premier and it was she that spent most of that time threatening British Columbians with their own money.
Now, she’s targeting the federal government.
Does she honestly think Ottawa will let her get away with it?
Let’s have another look. Here’s the Premier again on that relationship she’s trying to build with the Prime Minister and his Conservatives:
“I think we’re building a good relationship because I see benefits in working together as opposed to picking fights publicly.”
Translation: After Kevin Falcon, quite rightly, insisted that negotiations with Ottawa wouldn’t happen in public (a tenet espoused by any reasonable, intelligent, savvy negotiator) the Premier injects herself–in public–pretending she might save the day because she cares about you, your families, etc. The problem, of course, is that she’s offering rhetoric specifically designed to perhaps corner the federal government while mitigating her own government’s hurt. SHE sees the benefits, not of “working together,” but of shoveling such drivel in public, knowing full well that Ottawa won’t budge on the amount (nor should they). They told the province that much months ago, but that’s irrelevant to Clark, who simply wants you to believe she’s batting for you. Synchronously, Ms. Clark’s a threat to the very same negotiations she claims to want remaining collegial.
In addition, those of us that voted to extinguish the HST were threatened with worse–by the very same Christy Clark. For months on end she was forecasting a catastrophe that would have shaken Moses himself. We knew, going into the vote that we’d be on the hook for the money and it bothered us so much that we still voted to get rid of the absurd tax.
So, why is the Premier playing off a narrative she knows is false?
Because this is how she has operated since time immemorial. It’s how she’s fooled voters for her entire political career. It’s how she manipulated listeners while she was a talk show host. This is how she plays the game–and rest assured, it’s a game to her.
This whole HST mess isn’t going to end well if she isn’t immediately removed from the process, I assure you. She is out in front of the cameras on this (and every!) issue and it won’t resolve any problems that might exist between the two levels of government. In fact, it’ll make things considerably worse and only exacerbate any contretemps, minor or otherwise.
Is the Conservative government utterly mad to allow her any quarter as she dances across yet another serous federal issue? Senate reform wasn’t enough? Trying to take claim for a strictly bureaucratic decision on the warships contract wasn’t another? Have the Tories lost it, to allow such malodorous frivolity to continue?
I think not.
Christy Clark is, once more, demonstrating that her on-the-job training is truly a farce and she’s so incredibly unqualified to be Premier of this once proud province.
Amateur hour abounds.
Christy Clark might be able to fool some of the public and most of the (willing) media.
But she doesn’t fool me. Whipping Ottawa, while offering up congenial narrative, won’t save her.
Not a chance.
Would it have been cheaper and more cost effective if Crusty and her gang had her meetings via teleconfrence?
To me that is truely cheaper and more cost effective that flying 1st class to Ottawa on the taxpayers dime and you know what they say “a penny saved is a penny earned”.
Alex as you know the HST shifted 1.9 Billion dollars from business to consumers. Why can’t they simple reverse what they did, what is so complicated about this?
Are they paying there business buddies?
I don’t understand the B.C. Lieberal party, since they formed government, why have they been so arragant? They never listen!
Keep up the good work.
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Believe me not even the Liberals in Ottawa want to see Christy. They recognize that she was part of the Martin crew that buried them. And the Tories, quite rightly, believe she’s an airhead.
As for the $1.9B, they had that spent before they collected it!!! There’s nothing there to give back, believe me.
I appreciate your kind words, thanks.
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It would be cheaper and likely more effective Robert, but not nearly as much fun! Perhaps she is thinking of running federally when she’s out of work here, (as she knows she will eventually be) and is checking out the lay of the land. After all, her ego is as big as all outdoors.
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After i wrote this, i thought twice and came up with the same conclusion.
She’s going to kiss some @ss in Ottawa, I just hope she brought $nee pads.
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She’ll need two sets, at least.
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Should have used the passive voice?
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To have Christy follow up Gordo and threaten us with what was the biggest con job in BC political history is even more despicable. I would not be surprised to see a major uprising in the Liberal ranks by spring with her ouster as her numbers continue to sink. How long will the rest of them allow themselves to be embarrassed by this photo opp ho with zero substance ?
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They won’t wait till then I assure you.
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Um, Larry…
Christy?
Lay of the land?
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Hawgwash – No I didn’t mean that as a double entendre; honest. But there are some out there who have an ear for irony that is sharper than my own. Good on ya!
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C’mon it’s completely over the top to just accept the comment that the $1.9 b was ‘paid’ to ‘business buddies’ and now to solve the problem we just need to ask for it back. The fact is that it no doubt has been spent, and no doubt in some ways that people here don’t like but also on other things we would generally all support.
Nowhere on this blog do I see any serious advocacy FOR the PST system that we are now about to reintroduce. I think in fact that few people do advocate for it, and fewer still propose policy alternatives that can help us pay the bills around this place. We are re-introducing a substandard system, plain and simple. Is there any other jurisdiction anywhere on earth implementing such a system at this time ?
I realize that this is a political blog but this really was one issue where politics should have been put aside by all parties concerned. I do agree that the Premier’s continuing political rhetoric on this is useless, but so too is much of the reaction here.
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I disagree. My readers run to gamut from rich to poor, young and old. But they are EDUCATED, if not in a classroom, then certainly in life. They care, very deeply, for the common man. They are attracted to this blog because I’ve spent my entire writing career being an advocate for the underdog–but FAIR in such advocacy. No handouts–hand UPS. My readers like that because the vast majority feel the same way. Of course, we have to support those who are totally off the grid, but the others that are hurting need help and some encouragement. The HST was hurting precisely THOSE people. Not you in your fancy office or me in mine. The HST wouldn’t make much difference to me personally, except that the people who eventually sunk by it would be a further burden to society (read: added expense) and we’d have to pay through increased welfare rates, social services etc. So, where we’d save from the streamlining, we’d get waxed on the other side.
The reaction here is REAL, because my readers are REAL. They care about people. So they didn’t want to get into rehashing the limited laurels of the PST?! SO WHAT?! Simply put: that’s not a marker of anything. The HST is gone and good riddance. My comforts should not afflict those who have not.
My conscience would bother me. I bet it’s the same for any of the readers here that voted to extinguish the anguish.
With great respect.
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Thank you for this cogent and heartfelt reply Alex! I hadn’t read it when I was triggered by what was written above. With 9 years of university, two grad degrees, and a (rented) condo in Yaletown to call home, I am still not fooled by who has paid the real price for the political corruption and corporate media collusion of the last decade. As privileged as I am, the evidence is all around me! For me to accept, excuse, rationalize, or take advantage of those who have been even more vulnerable is unethical and immora no matter how much heartless ‘sense’ it is supposed to make! What route to work, what relationshops, and what rarified air must a person breathe to not think that enough is enough!?! I’m not charmed by the alternatives but to reward the new, reduced status quo for young, old, sick, disabled, and mentally challenged while supporting corporate welfare schemes is despicable. Everyone can contribute to the all-important economy and GDP (which is not a measure of livability or human life). Holy %#^*<*! Connect the dots!
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You bet.
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Even the most conservative among us are not cold-hearted or unfeeling.
While we don’t want to make welfare an easy alternative to working, at $610/Month, it is ridiculous to think it is even a stepping stone to getting work. Even at this rate, these have to pay more for essentials with the HST, and yes, the same can be said for the PST. Every time we turn around we have new taxes for “recycling” or some other ridiculous, invented fee for services. With all the services being cut back (and yes, that includes those to seniors) why should these be needed? No we don’t want to cut back on services, but some of those delivering them could have their remuneration reviewed.
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Superb comment.
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I get your point Alex. I also think you know that the ‘economic’ argument here in favour of HST was never to deliberately hurt low income people. The idea in general is to encourage greater investment relative to consumption, etc., etc. I accept that there is a shift to individuals with a consumption tax, absolutely. What is considered ‘low’ income is also debatable, no question. But I think most tax policy folks agree that there is little to be gained (ie. $ for starters) from deliberately increasing taxes on low income people. That’s clear from a practical as well as a moral perspective. My point is that many of us here did and do have honourable motives.
In the big picture collectively we have bills to pay and taxes are obviously used for that purpose. A fairer but perhaps more honest discussion would entail asking the larger question of how we balance our budget. It’s relatively easy to agree on lower taxes, or getting rid of a tax….but perhaps that would be the limit of the agreement ??
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You make some great points. Yeah, I know you and find your perspectives super, agreed or not.
I particularly like that you put such strong views out there WITH YOUR NAME ATTACHED.
Honourable? Yeah, you bet. That would be you.
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Thanks Alex. Yeah my approach in general is to never say anything that I woudn’t put my name to. Doesn’t mean people have to agree with me though. I can see where the current provincial gov’t has reached the point with many here that the credibility is gone, so it doesn’t really matter what they do or propose. Just again taking HST as an example, VATs of varying descriptions have obviously been implemented by different goverments of both the left and right here and certainly in western Europe. Frankly, fiscal reality will probably bring the HST discussion back here one day, but hopefully the gov’t of the day will be in a better position to advocate for it. I do believe in all honesty that this could happen under a future gov’t of any politiical stripe.
It would have been a tax savings for many businesses to the extent they push the tax liability ont o the consumer (as you rightly point out). The question is would this have helped the economy ? I guess we’ll never know now but one point is that to the extent corporate business owners suck that money out personally, it’s a taxable dividend to them. The policy goal is actually to get them to spend it corporately – reinvest it in the business. It’s really the same argument that applies to advocating for lower corporate taxes…..The problem everywhere it seems has been to get companies to not just sit on this cash, which they seem to have been doing instead…..
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Yes agreed, we’ll never know. But, as I wrote previously, if they had implemented exemptions to PROTECT those for whom we are ethically responsible, then I believe–very strongly, that the HST would have passed.
But not only Gordon Campbell didn’t care about those people. Neither did Colin Hansen, nor Christy Clark and surprisingly, Kevin Falcon, who I know has a heart…as absent as it might seem today.
Must be something about being Minister of Finance under this crew that makes you go temporarily loopy.
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Not again! We have been over this many times. To reward hypocritical and duplicitous political behavior (of which this was supposed to be the last for Mr Campbell but alas he received a controversial appointment and Order of BC) AND to accept the rhetoric of supposedly impartial economists with their ideological bias is ridiculous!
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Yes again I’m afraid…..It’s good for you guys to have your views challenged sometimes, no ? When you arbitrarily dismiss everyone who supported HST as ‘biased’ and some kind of Gordon Campbell clone then frankly I think that reflects more on yourself than us.
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I don’t think anyone drew that parallel as starkly.
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While normally a mild-mannered and deeply philosophical ‘shades of grey’ kind of guy, I become very black and white when I see the toll this political regime and the HST tax grab/shift has had on the lives of people. For the privileged and the powerful to play shell games with the welfare of unwilling or unwitting players (aka citizens and workers) is culpable. Even my most corporate and conservative acquaintances admit that things are currently stacked in their favor and know that their ‘passive income’ lifestyle is a write-off. They are smugly grateful. Tax evasion, legal loopholes, and exploitation of people is my area of righteous indignation and I make no apology for this. The flaky HST report showed how much and how quickly the money was flowing in with the vague and faulty hope that this would lead to increased employment or lower prices for the consumer in the long run. Right?!?! And the Olympics made the ‘hinterlands’ rich?!?! And privatization improved the cleanliness of hospitals?!?! The anti-HST vote was not a vote for the PST just like the anti-Liberal vote will not be a vote for the NDP. The failure of the past Liberal government and the lack of innovation and leadership of the currently pouting Liberal government to propose and get approval for something new or a credible compromise is what this is about.
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OK I think I get your point, though it’s a bit generalized and your ‘corporate and conservative acquaintances’ may not necessarily be a representative sample that (seemingly rather large) group. Anyways, I happen to effectively help enforce the rules to the extent I’m involved professionally in the actual preparation of tax returns etc. for individuals and corporations. In my experience there is widespread resentment of taxes across all income levels for sure ! However, taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized place. It’s a question of fairness, and OK we’ve apparently decided that the HST is inappropriate or unfair (obviously it was not popular !), and so it’s now gone. I am not (and professionally cannot be) associated with tax evasion, either. I work hard and I pay my taxes, and I’m not sure it’s ‘passive income lifestyle’ beyond being chained to my desk way too much !
If we look past for a moment the various LIberal misdeeds and wasted money ($6 m for Basi/Virk, etc.), one day there surely will be a new government; however, many of our underlying fiscal challenges will still be there. You seem to be a person who believes in government services, as do I. Obviously they need to be paid for. Evidently the HST is evil, fair enough. What would your recommended alternative approach to tax policy be ? And on a related note, should existing government services (and let’s honestly deal with the real serious dollars – universal public health care and education) be maintained, increased, or cut ?
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Oh my! Step away from the desk. Please step away from the desk.
I agree with you that fairness, like trust, is everything. This is the commodity that is at the core of a civilized society and a representative government. It is sadly lacking. Even if I had access to the true figures and they weren’t being spun like the specially commissioned HST report, these numbers would not tell the story of the quality of people’s lives for the past decade. It is not just about the money–the diversion of funds to corporate welfare initiatives and contracts–but the lack of stability and leadership in all the ministries that have undermined quality and distracted everyone from the real job of meeting human needs in a humane and cost-effective way. We need to step out from behind the desk and out of the premier’s limo for that. Visit a hospital, school, homeless shelter, clinic. . . talk to a paramedic, nurse, teacher, peace officer, or prosecutor. . . examine provincial child poverty rates during a period of economic boom . . and it’s easy to tell that it’s not been ‘business as usual’ for a very long time. Short-term savings have long-term generational socioeconomic consequences for everyone. The HST was, for the majority, a ‘last straw’ and a proverbial poke in the eye based on lack of trust in the government that brought it in and the one that pledged to fix or eventually reduce it. It was not an assertion that the PST was better. There was no way that such a vote could not be political.
Although Alex has disagreed with me, I also am not convinced that it was the HST alone that forced Campbell’s resignation as he had weathered far worse storms, staying on despite doing far worse than what others (including his own MLAs) stepped down for. I think it was also the timing of the Vasi-Birk court announcement and perhaps some knowledge of a soft landing in the future that was in the timing and media mix as well. His mandate was relatively fresh and strong and popularity or niceness had never been a BC Liberal attribute. While I don’t doubt that there was internal and external pressure from a mounding pile of stink, I think it was a combination of all these things and more that we may never know of that brought it on.
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Campbell left because a group led by Bill Bennett and John vanDongen was knotting a noose. He was told about it on the Thursday before heading to LA for the weekend. He came back Sunday and by then all hell had broken loose with Bennett and Paul Taylor going head-to-head. A letter was draft and circulated–but not signed, and the gang of eleven was ready. Campbell resigned within 48hrs because his ego couldn’t take a lynching.
In addition, a request was made–approved by caucus, to have David Loukidelis and Graham Whitmarsh appear to explain the Basi-Virk settlement. As a result of the former premier’s resignation, the meeting was cancelled.
I’ve yet to receive a reasonable explanation as to why they never rescheduled.
Therefore, your theory about the HST chasing Grotto Campbell from office is incorrect.
In fact, you can go to my search bar and type ‘Gordon Campbell’ and find the ‘Breaking News’ piece I did.
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I admit to having problems with to and too, but there and their? Easy peasy.
There, as in direction, over there, north, south etc.
Their, as in ownership.
Simple.
Sorry, I hate it when people correct me too.
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Okay, so that we’re clear. This is a blog, not a formal paper you’re submitting for your PhD. I fully expect people to make typos and for autocorrects to do weird things.
People make mistakes in conversation etc. It’s NO BIG DEAL. Everybody relax on typos or using the wrong words etc. We all make mistakes. The standard for me is higher because I’m presenting the original story that you all comment on, but in the comments section I make mistakes too, as when I’m replying by iPhone, my thick fingers are too big for the keypad.
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RE: HST
if we voted to get rid of the hst and it is taking 18 months to do it in what happens to the tax we pay doesnt that go towards paying them back. also if we didnt want that tax to start with what about the lengh of time we have paid it will we see any of that back ??
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No and no. That all goes to general revenue. The govt continue to collect while the HST remains and the money they collected previously is already spent. It was spent before it was collected.
It was a massive shell game to cover the cost of the Olympics.
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This is the best comment I’ve read pertaining to the HST since the vote to repeal it… and one of your most sharply succinct critiques of the premier. I really hope the next government learns something from these HST shenanigans.
I also appreciate that you consistently credit BC voters’ intelligence. I agree, but have been criticized by my peers as an idealist as a result. Considering your political background, it gladdens me that you don’t have a jaded take on the voting public’s general intelligence.
On a side note (for another time perhaps)… I would be really interested to hear your opinions on how you think we could inspire a greater voter turn out in elections, be it on a civil, provincial or federal level. I see so many truly intelligent people in my personal circle who don’t take any interest in politics. When I try to raise or encourage their political awareness, I fear I come off preachy. Yet, it’s frustrating to me to have smart (albeit apathetic, perhaps) friends who would never vote for people like Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark not weighing in on election day.
Curious what your thoughts are on this. Perhaps a bit off topic, but as it was the comment about the BC voter IQ that got me to wondering.
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It’s simple. Demand of the people who take your money for memberships that you’ll tear up your card if they don’t promote GOOD CANDIDATES.
Notice how there is a direct correlation between progressively lousy candidates and declining voter numbers?
And thanks for the kind words. Much appreciated.
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She has no shame.
And her grammer; brutal. Is she trying to sound like one of the good ol boys? Talking down to the electorate?
Time to lower the boom and let the PIN story see the light of day?
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Soon, to be sure. Or as Christy would say, I’ll be doin’ it soon I reckon, folks…
She’s so utterly and completely pathetic.
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Some countries (Australia, for one) had made it the law that every able adult of voting age must vote.
It works there, so why not here in BC, in Canada?
The ridiculous thing that the government is now promoting is to lower the voting age below 18. That’s just going to permit more vote rigging, with political parties bussing young people to the polls, and/or more electronic versions of voting.
Don’t get me started on electronic voting — that’s a sure-fire recipe for rigging. I can say so with confidence because my background is in IT and I also have experience counting votes in various government elections by manual counting.
A manual vote count is often just as fast or faster than electronic tallying (I’ve seen it), and manual vote counting has the added advantage of having scrutineers from each party present to oversee the count and prevent fraud.
With an electronic vote tally NO ONE gets to see the source code of the computer program that counts the votes — except the programmer/company that owns the software. That means there’s a HUGE opportunity for fraud (as was extensively documented in the U.S. presidential elections in the last decade).
Anyway, the problem with low voter turnout isn’t just with young people, it’s across the demographic spectrum. And that’s because many of the voting public is jaded about the quality of our democracy and the conduct and ethics of many who run for elected office, bankrolled by big business and/or unions, as many are.
So if low voter turnout is a problem… where’s the harm in making voting compulsory? And chances are, more people will start taking an interest.
Hey, maybe bookies can add that to their roster of “products” and people can make bets on who will win. Maybe that will make voting more attractive to those who don’t care where our province or our country are headed.
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Lowering the voter age is subscribing to the Mark Marissen method.
Whoever serves the tastiest pizza and provides the largest quantity of beer elects the PM.
Absurd. Better candidates are what’s needed.
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Lower the age…..They will all “Vote for Pedro”
On second thought, An Improvement.
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Correct.
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Doesn’t making it law to compel people to vote fly in the face of democracy?
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Yes, it’s why I’m not comfortable with it.
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Funny you mention pizza and beer Alex. I recall as a young UBC undergrad being lured by the BC Young Liberals to a kegger on W 10th @ ~Discovery being held in the interest of supporting the Paul Martin (or was it Alan Rock?) movement at the time, circa 2000. All I had to do was sign some kind of petition…come to think of it, it may have only been a friend of mine who signed it and I tagged along.
Long story short, someone ordered too many kegs, it was a Tuesday night about a week before Arts County Fair, the cops showed up and some of those unattended kegs disappeared…ahh good times…I just wanted to share in my own personal experience of receiving some Liberal beer and wondering whose house exactly I may have been at? Possibly an associate of the Clark/Marissen/Young/Kukucha crowd?
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Hilarious. I know the house. A very prominent federal Liberal of the Marissen camp.
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The root of the problem is that people don’t care to vote. I think applying mandatory voting runs the risk of more careless voting (ie: whomever’s last name starts with a double A wins).
I agree with Alex that better candidates are definitely needed. But I also wonder if publicly financed campaigns are an idea worth considering. Not only would it help to level the playing field among parties and hopefully minimize cronyism, I think it would also impel people to take more interest in voting knowing that their tax dollars are funding each party’s run. Seems to me the most democratic approach, no?
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No way on public funds for parties. I’m totally against that. I think you simply eliminate corporate donations–period–and cap individual donations at $1500.00.
And you do that across all three levels of government and make the rules uniform.
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Isn’t that just dressing the problem up in different clothes? I mean, what’s to say that you don’t get a bunch of corporate bigwigs pooling their money together and donating it “individually” for future political favours?
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No, you limit household donations. It would be waaaaay too much work for them to do as you suggest.
But I’ll be damned if I want my tax buck going to fund a conservative, liberal or NDP campaign. They can get off their duffs and do some fundraising.
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Good editorial Alex.
Watching the US Republican debates, I often find myself asking…”How in hell can anyone that dumb actually be considered for the leadership?” And then I see our premier who actually makes the GOP hopefuls look like Rhodes Scholars.
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Even though I don’t agree with her on social issues (she’s too conservative) Michele Bachmann is a very compelling candidate that is the combination of looks and brains that Christy aspires to.
The problem is that Michele Bachmann, who actually graduated from university with a law degree, has never seen a beer bong, much less swallowed one whole.
Christy, on the other hand….
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Just a quick aside comment, as it is off topic. As I usually do, I follow American politics closely at election time. Bachmann’s problem isn’t related to alcohol, but rather her sex. Cain was interesting to watch until the power brokers (Ultra-Christian Extremists), and the redneck racists (that the Republicans seem to attract) made sure he was knocked quickly from his perch. Because Romney is a Mormon, he will never, ever, succeed as a candidate for a Republican Presidential candidate, the fear base Christian extremists will see to that. Ron Paul, I admire his tenacity, but question his sanity. Newt is Newt. All about him and how smart he is, but I really think he’ll prevail. Even the staunchest right wing, families first people will likely hold their nose and pop a chad for him. Perry is Bush Lite, no friends outside of his arena from the looks of things. Too bad for Huntsman and Santorum, if they had a little more weight, they actually seem pretty decent. Ok, I’ll stop now.
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If Romney wins the nomination, he wins the Presidency–with one caveat: he picks the right running mate.
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Yeah, I don’t disagree. But whoever he picks as running mate will have to be satisfied as being second fiddle in the outhouse.
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LOL!
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Whomever, is still only a heartbeat away from the seat of power! And anyone would be an improvement over Biden being a heartbeat away.
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Absolutely right!
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What bothered me about Christy was not really her lack of qualifications. Plenty of people have risen through the school of life and proven their worth, in fact two British Prime Ministers in my lifetime (Jim Callaghan and John Major) left school at 15. It was the pretentious fakery of “attended” SFU, Edinburgh and the Sorbonne. As so often, small things tell you everything about a person’s character.
Pedant’s corner – we are building warships not battleships, there is a very big difference! No one has built a battleship since the launch of HMS Vanguard (52,250 tons) in 1944. This will date me, but I saw her as a child from the deck of the cruiser HMS Tiger.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/i03000/i03733.jpg
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Yes, forgive me, my mistake, I meant warships.
And yes, again, Christy is a fraud. She “attended” those schools just to be able to say so. Otherwise, she doesn’t know her derrière from a hole in the ground.
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“…never seen a beer bong, much less swallowed one whole.
Christy, on the other hand….”
Side-splittin’, knee-slappin’, gut bustin’ HILARIOUS!!!
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Part of my charm…
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HypoChristy is charmed I’m sure.
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I’m so sure.
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It dates you David, but it makes some of us green with envy too!
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If a general election was held tomorrow, it would not be soon enough for me. Her Highness is a poser. Literally. It is all she is good at, sort of. Posing for the federal contract victory dance didn’t fool anyone except her fan club. And if she speaks while posing it totally ruins things for her. It is agony waiting for my chance to cast a ballot and finally getting my say on whether or not she should be premier.
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There are a lot of people in this province that see it exactly as you.
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I have no faith in the the Conservatives after installing Campbell in England. A slap in the face, followed by a hard kick in the balls to ALL of BC, that was the single most disgusting pile of crony crap I’ve witnessed in a long time. If Harper was truly concerned with BC and was MAN enough to admit a very stupid mistake, he’d haul his ass home faster than than the concord, while ordering a federal review of the acts committed by the entire Liberal party and the hacks that surround them. However, that’s just not going to happen.
Should they ease off the throttle a bit? Yes- prorate the amount owing against the time collected and run it from there.That would be fair to both Ottawa and our province and show good faith on the fed’s part.
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To pro rate would be ridiculous.
It’s not Ottawa’s fault that Grotto Campbell and Colin Hansen lied or that Christy Clark and Kevin Falcon threatened. That’s ridiculous to assume there should be some kind of easing because it was implemented the wrong way and ultimately rejected by the people of BC.
Makes no sense. How would you like to be living in down-home Nova Scotia, with no job and find out your Govt gave Christy a free ride?
Didn’t think do….
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So the Conservatives get the cake and eat it too? What happens to the surplus funds collected during the imposition? We get ripped either way and the head author is laughing at us in England with a cushy appointment from the Tories. THAT, my friend is ridiculous and must be brought up in both elections.How in any sense of fairnes can that equate?
BTW – Follow the link to see my wonderful Nova Scotia birthplace. Do it during daylight hours though.
http://www.novascotiawebcams.com/south-shore/blandford.html
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No, you’re laying the blame at the wrong doorstep. After being rebuffed by Catole Taylor and Colin Hansen–thrice, Campbell ordered that the HST matter be reopened.
One of his first radio interviews promoting it? ‘The Christy Clark Show.’
The Tories had given up on BC an the HST. For the Feds it makes complete sense. They collect the same but the costs drop. My objection to the HST is that it doesn’t include ANY exemptions to support those most in need. It also kills te housing market among other industries.
If they had included exemptions, I would have supported it as it’s an administrative streamlining. I’ve paid PST, GST and HST and I prefer the latter one, but when I know my comfort is hurting someone else who has not, I’m obligated to vote for its extinguishment.
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Maybe my point was clear.There is and was surplus funds collected during the imposition of the HST. That’s undeniable as the exemptions that previously existed disappeared. Which level of government pockets that? The feds got their money either way, I’m just curious as to what happens to those funds taken from British Columbians.
I also find it hard to see you accept Harper putting Campbell in poshness in England. I know it’s completely wrong.No excuses. It needs to be rescinded and I would hope for a cacophony of voices in agreement. I’m more than sure he’d gain miles of traction with the electorate and show a human side in admitting an error. But we all know that’s not going to happen.
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Hold your breath.
I think you’d accept something of equal value.
I’m a dealmaker (and a fighter!)
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Sitting back and shutting up. Geebus, some of the stuff that comes off my one finger typing looks pretty sensible ( and seems beilliant) when it passes through the synapses , but turns to another language in type. Thank God you’re fluent in my Lunenburg/ Newfinese dialects.
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LMAO!
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Saw this column in the Star with a TO perspective as to why Harper might want Clark in BC rather than the NDP.
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1095050–hebert-pm-could-use-premiers-like-christy-clark
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Yes, we discussed this in yesterday’s post. Another demonstrably ignorant screed by an otherwise intelligent woman. Chantal shows she doesn’t know Christy, Gordon or the PM.
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Chantal Hebert was in Victoria about 3-4 months ago, and lauded Gordon Campbell in an interview (if you can call it that) with one of CBC Radio’s local BC show hosts.
She lauded Gordon Campbell then too, as she has been doing for years.
Her stance on Gordo has always puzzled me. Is she really that impervious to facts, or is she oblivious to BC? Or is there something else at play?
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No, she’s a neo-liberal like Campbell. Simple as that.
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I heard Andrew Coyne do the same thing on the “At Issue” panel one night on “The National”.
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Lots of times, what you’ll find, is that many of these pundits will feed off each other. It’s like group-speak after a while.
In the East it’s bad but nowhere is that worse than Victoria. Once Palmer or Baldrey have decided, Holman and others come running with their tea set.
The only one who makes a bit of waves and veers from the path is Smyth and I admire him for that.
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As far as the eastern pundits are concerned, well Alex, there goes my evidence backing the theory of alternate realities. Ha Ha!
Of course you’re right, but I’m amazed by the fact that they couldn’t be bothered back there in EST Land to pick up a phone and call here and ask someone with some brains: “Hey, I’m going to praise one of the most unpopular politicians your province has ever seen, am I going to look foolish doing so?”
Thank you for your most enlighting and frequently entertaining posts.
The only other person that makes me laugh harder is a certain Doctor of Journalism, who unfortunately is no longer with us.
Best Wishes
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Perhaps Liberal strategy is to delay elimination of HST until just before the next provincial election and defer repayment of the federal contribution until then as well so that the next government is left with a hole in the budget. A going away present of sorts.
AGT, in these days of austerity, what do you think of BC Ferries executives moving into expensive new digs owned by the Jawl Brothers to whom they lent $25 million? I suppose not just any private company can borrow money from a publicly owned corporation that is cutting services and raising prices.
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Great to hear from you as always. BTW, I’ll be doing a piece tomorrow on NW using your exceptional work on the fact they are now collecting from the donations to the Orphans Fund to cover “administrative costs.” Totally disgusting.
Yes, the Jawls loan was a strange one no question. I’m looking into to it more now.
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Norm, Alex
There is more than just a loan between Ferries and the Jawls.
Ferries has invested in the Atrium with options of ownership, profit sharing, and mortgage holder income position. Some of the funds no doubt has come from the $11M sale of the old Ferries building on Fort street to the Jawls.
The Jawls are not under capitalized, and do not require financing to succeed. Their financial arrangement is designed to be mutually beneficial.
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Interesting….
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Did the BCF corporation put this deal out to tender and allow every developer an opportunity to bid?
Or, did BCF do a deal behind closed doors.
Also, can you provide a link to the complete deal so that we can review the details of profit participation and examine the terms of the security backing the $25 million debt?
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Norm Farrell (Stormin’ Norman [apologies in advance Norm]) & Alex Tsakumis (The Tsakuminator) tag team match against the Jawls & The BCF Corporation.
Will it be on a pay per view channel?
Let’s Rrrrrruuuuuuuummmmble!
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You’re too funny.
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Did the Liberals spend the 1.6 billion from Ottawas before the HST vote? Unfortunately, I think I know the answer.
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You guessed it…
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If memory serves me right didnt the province not receive the full amount from the feds? I believe Vander Zalm brought that up during the HST debate.
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No, not the full amount until August and then a portion of that was held back pending the outcome of the vote. I maybe wrong, but I remember Bill telling me that.
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when harper thinks of clark he see^s a federal liberal who can do him nothing. just like how she does nothing for bc.
it will be interesting to see as negotiations drag on if her neck line plummets like her popularity.
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That’s funny…
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I am really glad to see you raising the flag on the Liberals destruction of BC Hydro. I believe that issue is actually bigger (sorry) than BC Rail. It will have a much greater impact on us financially and it is as dirty and crooked as the ‘sale’ of BC rail was.
The Liberals in 2002 tried to privatize Hydro. When they couldnt they sold 1/3 away to Accenture (OMG) and then started on a policy of bankrupting the company, through legislation. With a number of factors, both big and small at play, they now cant sell it and cant fix it.
In less than ten years, the Liberals have basically destroyed the electrical crown jewel of BC.
Look at the executive and director level at Hydro – all government cast offs and Liberal connected insiders. I’m not sure how working for Vanoc or in the airlines qualifies you to run an electric company but they all played the Liberal game – used creative accounting to show a false profit, gave half a billion $ to government earlier this year and all collected hefty bonuses. Yikes – what has happened to our Province?
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What’s happened?
We’re run by scumbags, that’s what’s happened.
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My job requires me to deal with Hydro high voltage service techs almost on a daily basis.
Their average age is 50+. They work unbelievable amounts of overtime due to equipment breakdown and overload . The amount of new condo towers,subdivisions.etc. in the lower maniland has placed the ENTIRE system under extreme demand. Morale is rock bottom. The workers occasionally comment on unqualified management staff but their main concern is the lack of investment in updated equipment.
Dont let the new Billion dollar False Creek substation construction fool you into thinking all is ok. Its merely the “finger in the dyke” to stop a catastrophic flood of power failures. Todays leaders of Hydro wouldnt spend 10 cents unless they have to because it affects their bonuses…
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It’s exactly why Hydro should have been fully privatized in the first place. Same with BC Ferries. These sudo-privatized crony capitalist scams are pathetic.
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Yes, but be mindful that viable public options could have worked as well.
But I agree, starving Hydro now through IPP scams is the root cause of its problems and the drowning of the corporation is shameful as it only serves to demonstrate how underhanded this govt has been. They want to sell it but first need to bleed off its value as a public company.
Absolutely shameful.
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Um, James…what was wrong with half a billion in annual profits for provincial revenue, not to mention cheap electricity? I would rather half a billion in provincial coffers from an inefficient public hydro than a billion from a more efficiently run privately owned Hydro lining the pockets of hedge fund managers and GE executives.
…not to even touch on water rights issues should foreign bulk water sales ever be permitted.
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There was a class action lawsuit against the Accenture agreement in 2002. The Govt got around that by exempting the Accenture agreement from common law.
http://www.leg.bc.ca/37th4th/3rd_read/gov10-3.htm
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I’m sure negotiations are going well.
“The Conservatives are doing an absolutely pitiful job keeping the country together. I just don’t know what Harper is thinking. Can he think? I’m not sure…”
- Christy Clark, December 2008
“Compromise is not exactly Stephen Harper’s middle name. He desperately wants more Conservative MPs so he can fundamentally change Canada without having to consult everyone and his dog.
- Christy Clark, December 2007
LMAO
She has no shame or brains.
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I included these exact same quotes in a post not long ago.
And she claims I sound angry?!?!?!?!
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I have a hunch this is the pride of prides before the fall of falls.
Cute Canute this sure is.
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Or pride of lyin’ s? or loins?
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Kevin Falcon is looking just as bad as the premier on this. He cannot swallow this defeat and is looking like a complete idiot blaming the voters. Don’t give him a free pass Alex.
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As you might have read in the last several posts I discussed Kevin’s foolhardy attitude on this and other matters.
He’s never gotten a pass from me and in fairness, some time ago he made clear that regardless of our friendship, he expected (as I’m sure he still does) that on issues where I feel he’s wrong, he gets it both barrels from me just like anyone else.
Contrast that with Baldrey, who wouldn’t write or comment about David Hahn’s outrageous tenure and pay at BC Ferries, because they’re golfing buddies. Appalling.
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Saw Snooki on Global serving lunch at an AIDS function. Photo-op for sure, but at least she’s qualified for THAT job.
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True enough. Ask the carpenters and brick layers that used to frequent the Blue Boy Motor Inn for lunch. Christy was their favorite waitress.
Always perky.
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Alex
I frequented the Blue Boy for many years and she is so memorable that I cannot for the life of me remember her at all. She must have been a helluva waitress. That was in the late 70′s to the late 80′s when I was in there every week multiple times. I still have problems remembering who the premier is supposed to be now and it is Not Her.
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Hopefully, with any luck, she’ll soon be but a memory as Premier too.
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Gosh! That’s a good editorial Alex.
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Thank you.
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I would agree Campbell/Clark ….” Harper ” have and are by the most immeasurable numbers the worst Government Canadians have voted in ……EVER . Harper not only severely damaged BC with his HST , now the is fast tracking Canada right down the Toilet . I can only count the days until the next elections …..Harper will prove out to be the biggest D-Bag Canada will have regrettably voted in to power …”’Bar none ””’
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I publish one idiotic comment per week and delete the rest. Congratulations.
Only cause you’re a regular and your usual contributions are never moronic.
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The “most immeasurable numbers”? Yes he won by a large majority!
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Anyone check out the new http://www2.gov.bc.ca/ website redesign? I know from the inside that the focus groups setup to do it said don’t put her picture on the front page because everyone was immediately pissed at seeing her smug grin. It’s amazing these people are still trying to brand her like she’s their biggest asset. She’s Rita Johnson. BC libs will have 5 or 6 seats after the next election, especially if they pull the spring one.
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Ah , another day another Tsakumis body slam, what’s on the menu today Alex ?
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Just a leg drop today, I’m tired. Just posted. Go have a read. Next week, MAJOR -Basi-Virk’ posts. So I need to rest up a little.
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hey Alex; I was jus thinkin’ since PM Harper plans to put his pipeline to Kitamat at all cost ,mabe preem snookie could git us ,(ALL BC) a 80Cent a litre gas price….joke
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I’m against pipelines across the province and am disappointed with this push to do it.
I’m all for it if EVERY environmental issue can be mitigated, in fact, protected. But I think it’s clear that’s not going to happen.
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Hi Alex,
I happened upon a free copy of The Vancouver Sun this morning in which Palmer the BC Lib apologist, says that Christy is carrying the baggage from her five year hiatus!?!? He clearly doesn’t understand her legacy as deputy premier, education minister, children and families minister, BC Rail, her divisive leadership bid, or the HST repeal. I believe in starting every day fresh too… but not with amnesia. How very unfortunate for those with a memory and who carry the real and battered baggage of Christy’s contribution to BC.
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Yeah, I just finished reading Vaughn’s column.
That’s a very narrow scope he’s taking. A broader view would be the one you’ve quite rightly noted.
Considering of all the projects he recounts, not one hasn’t been in the works for years, I really have to insist on what I’ve said before: there exists a tremendous group think with the Victoria Press Gallery, with Vaughn and Keith leading the band. it’s really quite silly.
Oh well. It’s to be expected.
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