BC Conservatives are talking about "centre-right" voters. I will note there is nothing centrist about a party that says 5G spreads COVID, vaccines make you magnetic and spread disease, we ought to ban books, and that LGBTQ folks are "degenerates" and "groomers."
#bcpoli
Let me see if I’ve got this right. The day a B.C. Conservative candidate gets caught calling criminally charged anti-vax convoy types “inspiring,” John Rustad is reassuring people his party is totally stable by … appearing alongside Jordan Peterson.
#bcpoli
Kudos to
@jjhorgan
for his pivot on the Royal BC Museum. In politics, it takes leadership and courage to change positions - but getting to the right place in a debate is always the right move.
#bcpoli
There's a difference between doing what's in the best interests of British Columbians and what's in the best interests of Kevin Falcon and John Rustad. Today is about what's about in the best interests of Falcon and Rustad. Voters will decide what's best for us all.
#bcpoli
Many strong NDP MPPs elected - Marit Stiles, Catherine Fife, France Gelinas, Doly Begum, Sol Mamakwa and Laura Mae Lindo all so strong. Also glad to see a great new Ottawa-area NDP MPP in Chandra Pasma.
#onpoli
Pleased to join CBC Radio this morning to talk Falcon's surrender and how it's a
#bcpoli
turning point - a centrist free-enterprise option replaced by an American-style resentment-fuelled vehicle that offers cuts, chaos and conspiracies.
The outpouring of support from all quarters for Premier John Horgan proves my theory - the vast majority of people - regardless of political affiliation or perspective - are good and decent folks.
#bcpoli
Pro-tip: You can be friends with people you may disagree with when your operating assumption is that said folks - like you - want good things for people and communities.
The answer is no. Ken Sim became Mayor of Vancouver because he spoke to voters’ concerns and held out hope that he would to fix a broken Vancouver City Hall. This is why Sim won by a 22-point margin.
A leader without convictions is no leader at all. Kevin Falcon's latest move proves he's more interested in capitulating to the far-right than standing for what's right.
#bcpoli
NEW - B.C. has reached significant milestone. 90.0% of eligible people five and older in B.C. have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
#bcpoli
First kind Tweet of 2022: There are many great radio hosts in B.C. My favourite is
@jodyvance
- who combines tough and fair and kind better than anyone in British Columbia.
Poor Dimitri. He undermines his own message when he forgets unvaccinated health workers were kept away from sick seniors and the immuno-compromised to preserve patients’ freedom to stay alive. At the urging of top health experts. During a pandemic. Oh well. Short memories.
Poor Aileen. She undermines her own message when she forgets that Eby’s NDP fired health care workers over their personal health decisions.
Oh well. Short memories.
Struck by how much of today's political coverage and online commentary is about the politicians and who wins and loses. I expect folks at home are more interested in what the Liberal-NDP deal means for them in their day-to-day lives.
#cdnpoli
#bcpoli
Memo to Pierre Poilievre - you need to re-do your housing hell video in light of Economist magazine finding that the most livable and cheapest cities in North America are in Canada!
#factsMatter
#cdnpoli
@CanadianGreens
I'm proud to join
@hk_canada
as Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Advocacy. I'm excited to join the team and support clients develop ethical public affairs strategies and produce compelling solutions to move political and public opinion.
We’re proud to announce our expanded team + integrated service offerings in British Columbia! Including the addition of
@JtFerrier
who has joined us as Senior Vice-President, Public Affairs + Advocacy. Learn more here:
France's election results should generate far more optimism among BC and Canadian progressives than the UK's. Absolutely stunning victory for people and common decency over the forces of spite, division and hate.
#ViveLaFrance
BREAKING: France's far-right National Rally (RN) party has been beaten into third place in France's parliamentary election, according to exit polls from BFM.
Sky's Europe correspondent
@adamparsons
says this is 'an absolute shock.'
Latest:
📺 Sky 501
Went down to the local coffee shop with my son today to chat with
@AdamPOlsen
on Mayne Island Meet your MLA day. I can confirm the rumours are true - Adam is smart, kind, and helpful local representative. It was really nice to meet him.
#bcpoli
Booked my appointment! I’ll be getting the AstraZeneca vaccine at a local pharmacy tomorrow.
Let's show all British Columbians that the best vaccine is the one that's available to you now.
Absolute banger of a convention speech by
@Dave_Eby
and his vision of government that’s a force for good, working to lift up people. Audience was with him every step of the way - a dozen or so standing Os.
#bcpoli
I'm so proud to be launching Framepoint, together with BC powerhouses
@brittneykerr_
,
@reder95634
, and
@EmmaMacklem
. Our focus - experienced, thoughtful and proven public affairs here in BC and across Canada. Check us out!
#bcpoli
Introducing Framepoint.
Founded by BC’s
@brittneykerr_
,
@JTFerrier
,
@reder95634
, and
@EmmaMacklem
, Framepoint is a consulting firm specializing in public affairs, government relations, strategic communications, and digital advocacy.
Learn more at .
Dear BC United: There is no Parliamentary Tradition that is more important than your duty and responsibility to stand up to feckless weaklings who are targeting vulnerable kids for political gain. Get your stuff together.
#bcpoli
Good on
@selinarobinson
and everyone in Coquitlam who stood up to the anti-LGBTQTS+ haters. I'm always confused / not confused by so-called freedom-lovers who love their freedoms but live to want to control others.
#bcpoli
BC's post-secondary minister
@selinarobinson
spent her weekend waging an impressive fight against anti-LGBTQTS+ haters in her riding and against trolls online.
My latest in
@Glacier_Media
@TheOrcaBC
Not the visuals you want when trying to convince the public you're a premier in waiting and the free enterprise standard-bearer (somewhere John Rustad and Bruce Banman are smiling). Also pretty sure that one delegate in attendance is playing Candy Crush.
#bcpoli
British Columbians are struggling, facing crises in healthcare, public safety, housing, and costs of living.
What is David Eby's out-of-touch NDP government prioritizing? Going out of their way to rename manhole covers to "Equipment Access Covers"
Ridiculous!
#BCpoli
Before Friday, David Eby was one seat at the BC Cabinet table. Today, he is in charge - and has moved quickly to put his stamp on government and advance the aggressive action-oriented policies he sees as key priorities. This is a good thing.
#bcpoli
This is the quote you want to ask Kevin Falcon about. "Stressing that he likes Sturko personally, he said, 'I’m just shocked that she could make a decision that just goes so against her personal values and principles ...'”
#bcpoli
On a
#bcpoli
day focused on the worst kind of political opportunism, let's take a moment to acknowledge
@MurrayRankinNDP
as a leader guided by principle who achieved big important things. Thanks for your service!
#bcpoli
And so ends my dream of running for Vancouver Park Board on a platform of abolishing the Park Board, somehow getting elected, and then abolishing the Park Board, and then quitting. Kudos to Ken Sim for getting it done.
#vanpoli
The BC Government's recent housing action - legalizing multiplexes - a NIMBY override - and green-lighting more density near transit - is the biggest and boldest provincial housing leadership we've seen in decades.
#bcpoli
This is exactly what happened. And it’s a pretty stark warning against internecine academic battles over who’s the purest progressive instead of connecting with everyday people, meeting them where they are at, and taking principled action to solve their problems.
#bcpoli
.
@Vote4ABC
did a 180° flip on
@VisionVancouver
’s playbook by anchoring itself in the centre* but in service of conservatives.
No other playbook has worked in Vancouver in decades.
I hope progressive candidates now acknowledge this fact, even if they choose to not act on it.
BC has 36,300 more health care workers today than in 2017 when Falcon's BC Liberals were in office. Almost eight in 10 are women. That explains Falcon announcing his layoff plans with the Disney Wonder as backdrop - many folks will wonder what the heck he's thinking.
#bcpoli
Under Eby's NDP, we're hurtling towards an unsustainable future burdened w/ billions in debt.
The public sector has ballooned 36%, costing 17B annually. But where's the improvement in services for British Columbians?
At BC United, we're prepared to fight for a brighter future.
“Yes but” in response to the murder of Jewish civilians by Hamas terrorists has no place in a party I want to be part of. This is absolutely the right call.
It's with great pleasure that we welcome Mike Farnworth as our BC NDP candidate in Port Coquitlam. A legislative veteran who has served in cabinet under five BC NDP Premiers, he is also the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General. Congratulations,
@mikefarnworthbc
!
John Rustad may not know it - but he is doing his level best to keep Kevin Falcon and BC United relevant. Views on housing (back to NIMBYism), censorship of school textbooks, climate change ("It's not even a crisis") and more will frighten many folks.
#bcpoli
B.C.’s resurgent Conservatives envision sweeping changes to schools, housing, climate and
#reconciliation
if elected to form government this fall for the first time since 1928. From
@globeandmail
’s recent editorial board meeting with
@JohnRustad4BC
:
Today at the coffee shop in downtown Vancouver, 14 people wore a mask (including me), one person was mask free. Everyone very chill. Biggest incident - someone quietly giggled when the barista mangled their name. Onwards.
David Eby delivers! 😀😀😀 "Taylor Swift will be making another stop north of the border ... with her record-breaking The Eras Tour. The pop superstar revealed Thursday that she will be playing three shows in Vancouver in 2024."
#bcpoli
Abortion absolutely is a BC issue. Access to abortion services is provided by clinics + facilities funded by MSP. BC Cons could reduce reproductive rights to rights on paper but not in reality by scaling back MSP funding and reducing clinics because "efficiencies."
#bcpoli
I'm not going to amplify online hate - but seeing lots of it tonight - I want to say loud and proud that
@selinarobinson
is a British Columbia of enormous integrity, a dynamic force for good, and someone I respect and admire very much.
#bcpoli
This is refreshingly frank take about the BC Conservatives by a BC United MLA with a well-earned reputation for hard work and diligence - the same day her BC United leader is negotiating in backrooms to support the BC Conservatives.
#bcpoli
Absolutely appalled by BC Conservative candidate's vile comments. Referring to abortion as a "death cult" and denying women the right to choose is beyond reprehensible. Extremist & toxic views that directly threaten women's rights & bodily autonomy cannot be condoned.
The
"Likes are now private" - because everyone should be free to advance whatever opinion they want regardless of the consequences and no-one should be held accountable for their views. What could go wrong?
It was a privilege to spend time with BC New Democrats at convention. Kudos to the party and staff for putting on a great weekend and to delegates for the spirited debate.
#bcpoli
Congratulations to Josie Osborne, our BC NDP candidate in Mid Island-Pacific Rim. The former mayor of Tofino and the current cabinet minister for Energy, Mines and Low-Carbon Innovation, Josie has lived in her community for more than 20 years. Welcome,
@josie_osborne
!
From the
#bcpoli
Waybackmachine - "every British Columbian who wants a family doctor [will be provided] with one by 2015, Health Services Minister Kevin Falcon announced today." That happened, right?
NEW - Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman has quit BC United and joined the Conservative Party of British Columbia. The Conservatives are now an official party in the BC Legislature.
#bcpoli
I’m thrilled the amazing Sarah Riddell is the BC NDP candidate in my riding of Saanich North & the Islands. Councillor, accomplished public servant, kids sports’ coach and ultramarathoner - she brings new energy and strong leadership and will make a great MLA. Huzzah.
#bcpoli
We’re delighted to introduce Sarah Riddell as the BC NDP candidate in Saanich North & the Islands. A Central Saanich Councillor, Sarah Riddell has a record of taking action on the issues people care about: housing, healthcare and the cost of living. Welcome, Sarah!
"Trudeau rarely seems to engage that long on matters of substance. He’s like a magician, preferring to arrive with a splashy entrance, nail a couple of tricks and then take off before the applause ends and people realize nothing actually happened."
#bcpoli
Seeing lots of appeals to emotion and ad hominem directed at party officials of great integrity - but this is a comprehensive,well-sourced report that lays bare a campaign founded on actions that clearly appear to run counter to BC’s Elections Act.
#bcpoli
Might as well just put this out there so people can read it and make their own judgements.
Here’s the full Elizabeth Cull report recommending
@AnjaliApp
be disqualified.
Party executive council will vote on it tonight.
Kevin Falcon's has spent his whole leadership working to make headway in ridings like Langford-Juan de Fuca. His party's candidate is running **4th** behind the Greens and Conservatives (who are in 2nd!) Shades of 1991.
#bcpoli
Fact check - everyone who’s falsely claiming Elizabeth Cull is an “oil and gas lobbyist” - you’re 100% incorrect. In 2018 she supported local governments working to secure stable revenues and good local jobs for NW BC communities.
#bcpoli
ICYMI -
@CHEKPolitics
looks at the BC NDP leadership. Hot take - don’t blame Anjali Appadurai’s supporters - they should be angry - at their candidate’s campaign leadership group whose carelessness and sloppiness blew a potentially winnable race.
#bcpoli
He's wrong but let's pretend he's right. Strong leaders - folks with real political backbone - don't whine and complain that media is out to get you. Weak.
#bcpoli
Conservatives will grow health spending & innovate, so BC’s patients get more services for less.
Sadly, I’ve seen this 4.1 billion in cuts lie repeated unchecked by media.
BCers are losing trust in media because of irresponsible misinformation from Eby’s NDP government.
#bcpoli
NEW:
@KatrinaCBurnaby
has asked
@Dave_Eby
not to be appointed to cabinet tomorrow, to focus on her son and to deal with long-term trauma from gender-based violence.
This was
@elenoresturko
just months ago. Now, my phone is blowing up w/ many members of our community saying they’re shocked she’d trade in the safety of our community for a shot at power. I’m not shocked. It is sad, though.
#bcpoli
On Canfor - have we contemplated that maybe the corporate publicly-traded model for forestry is fundamentally broken - that its focus on maximizing profit for shareholders is ill-suited to an industry that needs modernization to protect workers and resource communities?
#bcpoli
Total donations by unions and corporations to all parties? $0 - because the BC NDP (with Green support) passed legislation banning donations to get big money out of politics.
#bcpoli
I watched this yesterday when BC Premier David Eby said this first and said it better. Also David Eby didn't give Bell $40 million with no job guarantees or rubber stamp the takeovers.
#bcpoli
#cdnpoli
PMJT just went off on Bell, saying it was a “garbage decision from a corperation that should know better" to layoff journalists and other workers.
“I’m pretty pissed off about what's just happened”
#cdnpoli
I got Pfizer vaccine D1. Side effects are similar to what I'm hearing re. other vaccines including AZ. A day after the shot I had a headache and some mild chills. Took Tylenol, got some sleep, feeling A-OK today.
Re. the latest
#BCNDP
campaign drama: The answer is yes approved leadership candidates can contact party members. It's right there in the leadership campaign rules. You've all read the rules, right?
#bcpoli
And that’s how democracy works. Two formidable candidates for the
@bcndp
nomination and the members made their pick. Congrats to Christine Boyle and kudos to Andrea Reimer for a spirited inspiring campaign.
#bcpoli
NEW - Vancouver city councillor Christine Boyle has won the BC NDP nomination in Vancouver-Little Mountain. She beat former city councillor Andrea Reimer in the nomination race.
#bcpoli
Here's your
#bcpoli
end of 2023 report card. Solid numbers for
@Dave_Eby
. If you're a BCU party supporter please note that the content you are about to see contains troubling images. Viewer discretion is advised.
Just finished an new
@abacusdataca
survey in BC, n=1,000, Nov 22 to Nov 28, 2023
Will put out the results this week, but BC NDP looking solid and the BC United in some serious trouble.
#bcpoli
UK's next prime minister is learning the results of his local constituency election while sharing a stage with a candidate dressed in a Sesame Street Elmo costume. God I love UK elections.
Mature, thoughtful, sincere words about public service and why it matters from an exemplary British Columbian. It's a welcome palate cleanser after the big dish of cynical opportunism we're being force fed these days by folks who want power for power's sake.
#bcpoli
Dear friends , I'm excited to announce that I'm putting my name forward as a nominee to be the BC NDP candidate for the Surrey Serpentine River riding. I hope to bring all of my lived, volunteer and professional experience to serve my neighbors and residents in this riding.
The BC NDP is “beholden” to … the people of British Columbia … including everyday people who donated in big numbers and small amounts to the party last quarter.
#bcpoli
The very fine reporter
@LazenbyAlec
with the latest on the B.C. Conservatives and how they are totally stable and ready to govern. Including details on a candidate who believes health officials are trying to impose a one world government.
#bcpoli
I have finished my training to administer the Covid vaccines and have vaccinated my first patient! To date we are nearing 250,000 vaccinations with over 60,000 being a second dose. We are ready to ramp up our efforts in phase 2, look out Monday for announcements on that plan!
Call out BC Conservatives on climate change denial or LGBTQ attacks and they play victim and cry freedom of speech. But when someone says something they disagree with they try to cancel them faster than a mistaken Freshslice Pizza order. Weak.
#bcpoli
Wow, Falcon directed Rustad's response on if already nominated conservative candidates will be dropped.
Falcon says "details" before Rustad answers "we're not going into details..."
And then Rustad dodged the question three times
David Eby has picked his cabinet team. The task is like perching a Toyota Prius on the Seattle Space Needle - but I think the premier has found the right balance between stability + experience and change + new energy to get things done for people. Now - on with the work.
#bcpoli
I asked
@JohnRustad4BC
about this bill and he said people have a right to protest but not a right to spread hate. I asked if that hate includes anti-SOGI protests which have made trans kids feel unsafe. He said “there’s no hate in that.”
That time a politician said "drug diversion is taking place" by pointing to independent officers of the BC Legislature saying "there is no evidence that a prescribed safe supply of opioids is being diverted and causing increased harm and death."
#bcpoli
Today government officials confirmed that drug diversion is taking place in BC, & I look forward to further information from the government on how it is tracking safe supply of Hydromorphone to ensure it is not causing any unintended harms in the province. 1/2
#bcpoli
Random Observation: Charlie Angus has known for a long time he would lose if he ran again in working-class Timmins, and has been auditioning for roles with the downtown Toronto types for months. Thanks for your service and good luck in your future endeavours.
Worth noting - that's a clown car full of candidates that - until just last week - Kevin Falcon wanted to partner with to pursue government. I guess you overlook such things when you want power above all else.
#bcpoli
.
@KevinFalcon
to me today: "John (Rustad) has attracted, frankly, a clown car full of candidates that have really extreme opinions that he apparently is quite comfortable with allowing as part of his party.
"And that's not a bug, that's a feature of the BC Conservative Party."
The radical BC NDP are knowingly lying to the general public to fear monger.
Voters aren’t stupid—even if the BC NDP thinks they are. On October 19th, BC will make their choice for Common Sense Change.
#bcpoli
Today, I was made aware of Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi, deputy leader, liking a tweet with an inappropriate comparison between our provincial health officer and Mengele. I find this unacceptable and I have removed Dr. Gandhi as deputy leader and accepted his resignation as a candidate.
Part of a pathetic cartoon shared
@Conservative_BC
that clearly shows
@JohnRustad4BC
working to ensure another 4 years of
@bcndp
continued crippling of BC's economy, failing healthcare and child protection, more people falling through the crack into addiction,