[Canadaka]

Thread to dicuss the upcoming provincial election on May 17th 2005.

I think I am going to vote Liberal, they are doing a decent job, they have turned the BC economy around.

[RUEZ]

Canadaka Canadaka:

I think I am going to vote Liberal, they are doing a decent job, they have turned the BC economy around.

Yes, I have to agree with you. I know some people don't like how they sold off BC Rail and the Ferries and stuff, but I just have to think back to how bad the economy was after the NDP got a hold of it. Things are going pretty good now, and the Liberals are throwing money out like crazy. I just hope they start fixing the health care. These waiting lists are rediculous.

[Canadaka]

Got this email from the CBC today:

$1:

BC Votes: The Election Unspun on CBC



Join CBC Television and CBC Radio for four weeks of comprehensive election coverage that goes beyond the rhetoric – helping British Columbians make an informed decision on election night.



The Early Edition: Special Election Coverage
With Rick Cluff
Weekdays, 5:30 to 8:30 am on CBC Radio One



Rick Cluff and the Early Edition team bring you candidate profiles, political panels and reality checks around the major election issues.



Wednesday April 20th – Join the Early Edition at Myles of Beans (7010 Kingsway) as they speak to the local candidates about crime.



Friday, April 22nd – Special guest host, Christy Clark, former Liberal Cabinet Minister



28 Days
with Stephen Quinn
Saturdays, 8 to 9am on CBC Radio One
Starts April 23rd



Confused by the spin surrounding BC politics? Tune into 28 Days, a new province-wide election show that promises to break through `politics as usual`.



CBC News: Canada Now
With Ian Hanomansing and Gloria Macarenko
Weekdays, 6 to 7pm on CBC Television



Ian Hanomansing and Gloria Macarenko step into the election arena for a play-by-play on how the politicians are faring and uncover what voters really want. Tune in for extensive coverage and weekly political panels featuring former Social Credit cabinet minister Rafe Mair, former NDP cabinet minister Moe Sihota and Liberal organizer Jess Ketchum.

[DMP08]

What does everyone think of the new voting system? Basically you rank the candidates in order you want them to win. Speaking of which, I am going to go right now online and register to vote...

[xerxes]

I'll admit I'm rather impressed with the Liberals. They haven't been the bastards I thought they were going to be (except to the nurses and teachers). And the referendum on electoral reform and the fixed election dates I give them credit for trying because ruling parties are usually loathe to change the rules which may challenge their dominance.

I'm tempted to vote for the Liberals except for one thing. I am bloody pissed at the way tuition prices have gone ballistic onver the last four years. I go to UCFv here in the valley and when I started 4 years ago it cost me $500 for four courses (not counting texts and such). Now four courses costs me almost $2000 (again, not counting books).

I'll also be voting for the new electoral system. At the very least, it's worth a try. The 1996 electon is proof enough of the limitations of the current system.

[QBC]

My father has been in and out of hospital since just before Christmas and I have to tell you, the Liberals have cut so much from the interior hospitals it's disgusting. Prince George is supposed to be the hospital taking care of the entire north of the province and it's no more than a first aid station. I've talked to so many doctors,nurses and care givers at the hospital and they all say that the cuts by the liberals have caused the hospital to go down hill in such a drastic way. The economy is better now, but that has more to do with the global economy, not what the Liberals have done. As much as I don't care for the idea of another NDP government in BC, I surely do not like the prospect of another Liberal one. I wish we had a strong third party here in BC. I'm so tired of this flip flop of left to right and back again every second election. We either get a far left government or a far right one, not good for the province either way.

[xerxes]

$1:

I'm so tired of this flip flop of left to right and back again every second election. We either get a far left government or a far right one, not good for the province either way.

It's always been that way in BC. It's always left, right, left, right. Socreds, NDP, Socreds, NDP, Liberals.

It might also interest people to know that the type of electoral system that's being propsed was used once in 1952. There were some differences (only one MLa per riding, but candidates ranked in order of preference). The system was used to try and prevent the CCF from getting any seats and keep the Liberals in power. Howevr, in an attempt to screw over the CCF, voters accidentally voted for the Socreds.

[Richard]

The only option on the ballot if electoral reform.

[Scape]

True, the idea of electing the 1st premier to be arrested while in office for driving under the influence sickens me. Then there is the legislature raids, Doug Walls family affair, BC Rail deal, the most secretive governments in the history of this province, breaking contracts with HEU workers, refusing to debate the budget estimates,$2 billion hole in the budget with a tax cut that went 95% to the top 5% of income earners, crisis in Health Care, closing operating rooms while surgery wait lists balloon by 30% or more, emergency room patients getting sent home, acute care patients into emergency room beds, doubling and even tripling tuition fees at post secondary institutions, gutting the employment standards act,exporting record numbers of raw logs raw logs to the US while BC sawmill workers go unemployed, tripling homelessness over the past four years, fish farming...

It makes me want to scream. Then we have the NDP, who somehow manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, with their blatant subservience by Carole James to Jim Sinclair.

The Greens have yet to prove that they are anything but a bunch of naive idealists. I think Lenin and Trotsky were of similar stripe until a young kid named Joe showed up.

[Bigboy]

i'm glad more people are like me (voting liberal) i hate the BC NDP party there useless! they should never be in control. the liberals are giving one time money for areas to promote and upgrade for tourism in all parts of rural BC. and the NDP will keep all taxes the same but instead of giving the one time money they will invest into health care and stuff like that. i know its important but under them theres no change everyone has to move away to get work it seems like this is the first time my money is being used good.

i'm 24, are you voting yes for the BC-STV? think it will pass? i'm not sure on ctv they said most people they talked to dont know about it. one thing that makes me mad is that most people who talk against it use australia as an example against it because crazy partys gets seats, but they never mention voting isnt optional there so of course anyone mad will vote for a stupid party

[canucker]

QBCguy QBCguy:

My father has been in and out of hospital since just before Christmas and I have to tell you, the Liberals have cut so much from the interior hospitals it's disgusting. Prince George is supposed to be the hospital taking care of the entire north of the province and it's no more than a first aid station. I've talked to so many doctors,nurses and care givers at the hospital and they all say that the cuts by the liberals have caused the hospital to go down hill in such a drastic way. The economy is better now, but that has more to do with the global economy, not what the Liberals have done. As much as I don't care for the idea of another NDP government in BC, I surely do not like the prospect of another Liberal one. I wish we had a strong third party here in BC. I'm so tired of this flip flop of left to right and back again every second election. We either get a far left government or a far right one, not good for the province either way.

I'm in agreement here. I work in the medical field and have experienced the cut backs and changes inposed by the Liberals. I don't like the NDP much either, but I will not vote for the Liberal government.

[Canadaka]

heard on the radio this morning about the tv campaings starting this week for the election.

The NDP are coming out with commercials bashing the Liberals.
The Liberals are not bashing the NDP but are focusing there ads on the future and positive change.

Seems to me that the later is the better choice and the more "Canadian" choice. Specialy after seeing the shit storm garbage that was on during the US Elections.

[xerxes]

Canadaka Canadaka:

heard on the radio this morning about the tv campaings starting this week for the election.

The NDP are coming out with commercials bashing the Liberals.
The Liberals are not bashing the NDP but are focusing there ads on the future and positive change.

Seems to me that the later is the better choice and the more "Canadian" choice. Specialy after seeing the shit storm garbage that was on during the US Elections.

But you might also remember how well the smear campaigns worked. I usually pay little attention to political ads for that reason.

The Liberal's ads are kind of eerie though. They have an odd propaganda element to them. "Everything is well, all because of the Liberals." And so on.

[DMP08]

The whole idea of the new system this time is to have a minority government. I have now registered to vote. I heard a disgusting stat the other day....in the last election only 27% of 18-26 year olds voted. That is sick. Voting is a privelage, not everyone in the world can choose who they want to lead their country.

[Bigboy]

"Not affiliated with the Liberal Party of Canada." - i cant remember if that was always on the BC Liberal site