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UBCM JOINS EVERYBODY ELSE AND OPPOSES HST

Municipalities across BC voted against implementing the HST at their annual conference on Friday, Oct 2 in Vancouver.

Premier Gordon Campbell's response? He claims the vote wasn't really valid due to a low voter turnout.

Does that also mean the last provincial election wasn't valid due to low voter turnout? ; )

So far, those opposed to the HST - municipalties, general public, tourism operators, restauranteurs, homebuilders, and most small business operators.

Those in favour - big mining companies, big forest companies, Premier Gordon Campbell, Finance Minister Colin Hansen, and the Liberal caucus....until they can find a new leader. ; )

LAYTON LAYS LOW

Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff says he will introduce a non-confidence motion on Thursday, but NDP Leader Jack Layton says his party will lay low and avoid voting against Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government.

Which is interesting because it's a rare thing to see the far right and far left working together. Within the past two weeks, Harper has cut deals with BLOC separatists and now socialists to avoid going to the polls. Could it be his MP's are warning him about a strong HST backlash in Ontario and BC?

The voters in both provinces are ticked off with politicians in general and may use an election to vent...especially since Harper will be signing off the HST with both provinces.

BC GOVERNMENT ADDICTED TO GAMBLING

The Liberal government has a problem - they're addicted to gambling. What other reason could there be for boosting the gambling limit from $120 to $10,000 per week? Clearly they're insatiably hooked on gambling revenue.

Too bad they slashed $2.4 million from the counseling program that treats gambling addiction. They could use the help... ; )

REX MURPHY ANSWERS HIS OWN QUESTION

The Globe and Mail's Rex Murphy wants to know, "What's the matter with Michael Ignatieff?

Rex says, "He has a great family name – diplomat father, philosopher (George Grant) uncle, and a whole kite tail of Russian aristocrats generations back. He was drafted to return to Canada on the strength of his accomplishments as a writer, journalist and teacher. And, in the very brief time since, he has finessed the leadership of the Liberal Party away from a very formidable array of politicians who thought to succeed Jean Chrétien."

Rex answered his own question. This is Canada, Rex. We are a country of regular guys and gals. We don't relate to Ignatieff precisely because he has a diplomat father, philosopher uncle and comes from a whole "kite tail" of aristocrats.

We don't relate because "HE WAS DRAFTED TO RETURN TO CANADA."

Michael Ignatieff is an aristocratic stiff, just like the guy he replaced - Stephane Dion. Ignatieff and Dion reflect the arrogant Liberal Party elite salivating to return to the government trough. The cliques choosing Michael Ignatieff are not your average, working Canadians toughing it out to make a mortgage payment.

During the last election, this elite stupidly tried to make Stephane Dion look like a regular guy by having him play ball hockey in front of the cameras. The idea bombed because it was obvious Dion doesn't play the game and he was pandering to voters who do play the game. We love the game and we take it seriously in the same way Brazil and Italy take soccer seriously. It is a source of national pride. The Liberal brain trust blundered trying to use hockey as a political tool.

The Liberal Party and their leaders continue to miss the mark. And the problem is not just Ignatieff and the Liberal Party.

Right now, the leaders of all the parties are nothing like us. Which is why there is no real support for any of them.

Note to Rex Murphy - consider reviewing the first paragraph of your next column and stop there. You're done.

GOVT BLOWS $300 MILLION SELLING BOOZE

A story in the Vancouver Sun outlines how the BC government blows $300 million annually running liquor stores, while continuing to lose market share to the private sector.

Premier Gordon Campbell is fond of saying he's making the "tough decisions." Yet there is no rational reason why government is spending $300 million annually in the retail business, paying government union wages, when all they have to do is collect the tax from private sector retailers.

In the meantime, the BC government is cutting essential services like MRIs and hip surgeries, treatment for autistic children, and school programs.

These aren't "tough decisions." They are stupid decisions. The money wasted on running an eroding retail business could be better used preventing the cancellation of those surgeries and programs.

The reality is Premier Campbell and his Liberal government are avoiding making the tough decisions. Tough decisions like taking on the government union and getting out of liquor retail business.

Instead they are taking the easy path and cutting services to the most vulnerable - seniors and children.

PUBLIC APPROVAL FOR LIBERAL GOVERNMENT COLLAPSES

Government Approval Falls to 32% - Lowest Level Recorded for Campbell Government

BC Liberals (35%, down 11 points) Trail NDP (45%, up 3 points) in Voter Support

Gordon Campbell's Approval Rating Also Drops (35%, down 15 points); Carole James Makes Small Gain (55%, up 3 points)

Four months after the BC Liberals were elected to a third consecutive majority government, a new Ipsos Reid poll shows only one-in-three (32%) voters approve of the overall performance of their provincial government. This is a drop of 21 points from the last time Ipsos Reid asked voters to assess the provincial government's performance (53% in November 2008) and the lowest number recorded for the Campbell government since taking office in June 2001 (previous low was 37% in March 2004).

$7.7 MILLION FOR TRANSLATION

Just after the Bloc agreed to support Prime Minister Stephen Harper's minority government, the feds announced a decision to spend $7.7 million on additional bilingualism services for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

The extra cash is being spent despite previously claiming there was no additional funding available.

The Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation says the money is being used to buy votes in Quebec in anticipation of a Fall election.

But more likely, it's to buy Bloc Quebecois support now to avoid a Fall election.

Regardless, Harper is fully engaged in old school Canadian politics.

DID HARPER CUT DEAL WITH SEPARATISTS?

Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Quebec separatist party BLOC Quebecois, has announced he will support Prime Minister Stephen Harper's budget motion on Friday. This very likely means Harper has cut a deal with the separatists to avoid a fall election.

The question is the cost to Canadian taxpayers.

After the 1972 election, former Prime MInister Pierre Trudeau's minority government agreed to create Petro-Canada to gain the support of the NDP. It is estimated Petro-Canada cost taxpayers billions of dollars but contributed little to Canadian policy development. It was eventually sold off to the private sector.

The NDP is a national party, and so the Petro-Can deal was a national initiative.

The Bloc, on the other hand, is solely a Quebec party and so any deal would benefit only Quebec. In addition, the deal would play into the interests of the Bloc's separatist aspirations.

Over time the deal will reveal itself, but there's more than just a little irony in a Prime Minister with roots in Alberta doing backroom deals with a party dedicated to breaking up Canada.

Why would Harper do a deal? Perhaps he's hearing warnings from his MP's in Ontario and BC about an HST backlash. The heat is definitely building on Conservative MP's.

Ignatieff's Liberals are capitalizing on the widespread public outcry by criticizing the poor consultation and HST payoffs in Ontario and BC.

Stay tuned...

MISSED OPPORTUNITY

A March 30 news story on www.canada.com says Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said "other provinces" had approached him to harmonize the federal and provincial sales taxes.

Flaherty was in Victoria this week giving a speech to the Chamber of Commerce. Unfortunately, no one thought to ask Flaherty if BC was one of those "other provinces." Could have been interesting.

"ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS" EXPOSE HEALTH CARE FLAW

This week U.S. President Barack Obama was called a liar by Congressman Joe Wilson while Obama was giving a speech on health care reform to the Senate and House of Representatives.

Wilson challenged Obama's assertion that health care reforms would not apply to illegal immgrants. Wilson maintains there will be no verification of immigration status, so illegal immigrants could slip through the system.

Republican House Whip Eric Cantor agrees. "If you put the two together, it could very well be the case where you would have folks here without legal status getting benefits," says Cantor.

Would that be similar to Americans using Canada's health care system to access cheap prescription drugs?

A USA Today article says, "tens of thousands of Americans, particularly seniors without a Medicare drug benefit, buy drugs from Canada in person or by mail."

Perhaps if Obama's health care reforms are successful, they will help solve Canada's "illegal immigrant" problem. ; )

Senior Republicans did ask Wilson to apologize to Obama, which the President graciously accepted.

INTERESTING FISCAL FACTS

According to Alberta's budget info, they have a projected $7 billion deficit, and their present "accumulated debt is $1.160 billion at March 31, 2009. From its peak in 1993-94, the government has eliminated $23 billion of accumulated debt."

Alberta also has a $17 billion "sustainability fund" with which to absorb their present deficit.

Alberta has oil and gas, ranching and farming and no PST.

BC has a $2.8 billion deficit, no "sustainability fund" and a $38 billion debt, $4 billion more than under the NDP in 2001. The debt is projected to grow to $52 billion by 2013.

BC has oil and gas, forestry, mining, fishing, tourism, Pacific Rim trade, a 7% PST on some goods, which is soon to be 7% on all goods and services via the HST.

NEXT TIME, STEP UP MINISTER

In a recent speech, Finance Minister Colin Hansen said he wanted a full communications strategy to better communicate the HST and budget, but he was overruled.

Who can overrule the Finance Minister? Only the Premier.

But it's Colin Hansen's budget. If Hansen thought a full communications strategy was necessary, he should have stepped up and demanded it. Otherwise Hansen should have told the Premier to find another Finance Minister.

One wonders what else Hansen might have preferred, and expressed, regarding the HST and budget...including prior to the election.

But he didn't step up and now he is paying the price.

Let that be a lesson to the rest of cabinet. Next time, show leadership and step up.

That's why you're called "Minister Responsible."

HST BRIBE

Upon reflection, it appears the federal Conservative government is offering $1.6 billion of our tax dollars to bribe the BC government into raising our taxes. How twisted is that???

Click here to see the infamous HST bribe document.

BC GOVERNMENT RESTORES ARTS FUNDING

The BC government restored $20 million in funding for arts groups after being threatened with a class action lawsuit by the arts organizations. Many of the groups had received 3-year-letters-of-commitment, but had their funding axed after the first year.

There was little warning of the cuts, and many of the programs were dependent on provincial funding to access federal grants.

The BC government now says it will no longer sign 3 year agreements.

CAMPBELL AND HANSEN CRACK

After maintaining for weeks they had no knowledge of declining revenues, and therefore a deficit likely much greater than $500 million, Finance Minister Colin Hansen and Premier Gordon Campbell have cracked under media questioning.

Both admitted today they were aware of the revenue shortfalls and the likely impact on the budget. The issue of credibility is now the primary problem for the Liberal government. Previously, Campbell said, "We actually thought we were going to be able to make the budgets we projected through the election and up to the end of May." Now Campbell and Hansen admit they knew there were problems weeks earlier during the election.

Both will be under fire to step down for witholding this information, and subseqently denying they knew anything until after the election.

IGNATIEFF TO THE RESCUE?

Federal Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has announced he is prepared to force a vote of non-confidence in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative minority government.

The result would be a Fall election, which most Canadians most definitely do not want. So one would think Ignatieff could not expect to get much support from voters.

But what if Ignatieff promised to renegotiate or even tear up the HST agreements in Ontario and BC? The Conservative candidates would be forced to defend the HST to a BC public that is presently furious and wants an opportunity to hammer any pro-HST politician.

Checkmate.

Ignatieff could easily win a majority with the support of anti-HST voters in both BC and Ontario.

Would Ignatieff offer to scrap the agreements? Could he?

In the immortal words of former NDP Minister Dave Zirnhelt, "Don't forget, the government can do anything."

BC DEBT WORSE UNDER LIBERALS

According to Finance Minister Colin Hansen's new budget, the Liberal government will run a $2.8 billion deficit in 2009/10 and increase BC's total debt from $38 billion to a forecast $52.7 billion in 2011/12.

In 2001, under the NDP government, BC's debt totalled $34 billion. At the time, the Liberals called the province's growing debt a "silent killer" of health and education programs. They also accused the NDP of implementing "tax and spend" policies.

However, it is now becoming clear that during almost ten years of strong economic growth, the Liberal government did nothing to pay down the debt. Now that they are facing difficult times, the debt will jump another 39% over three years.

BC's debt under the Liberals will be more than 50% higher than when the NDP were kicked out of office in 2001 for fiscal mismanagement.

The new BC Budget information is here.

INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICER A GOOD CALL

The New Democrats are calling for an independent budget officer for BC, like Kevin Page, the budget officer for the federal government.

BC's Finance Minister Colin Hansen has mocked the idea because it comes from the NDP, a party that introduced the infamous "fudge-it budget" which claimed a balanced budget prior to the 1996 election. The NDP government admitted to a quarter of a million dollar deficit shortly after.

Similarly, Hansen and the Liberals claimed a $500 million deficit prior to the May election, maintained that position throughout, and after being re-elected, admitted to a shortfall that will be double or even quadruple that amount.

Neither the NDP nor the Liberals have shown any credibility. In fact, both parties have revealed a pre-disposition to deceiving the public to set up their re-election. Only government can get away with perpetrating such a fraud on the public.

While the NDP are not normally a source of good ideas, the independent budget officer is a gem.

It's an admission that neither the NDP nor the Liberals can be trusted to introduce an honest budget before an election.

Too bad Hansen won't own up to what has become obvious to all British Columbians.

FLAHERTY/FEDS RUN FOR COVER

Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has joined the chorus of Conservative MP's denying responsibility for the Harmonized Sales Tax announced by BC and Ontario.

"It's not up to us," says Flaherty.

Flaherty is another in a lengthening list of federal Tories ducking the issue, especially in light of a possible federal election in the Fall. The HST was pushed by Flaherty and the feds, but they are wary of the tsunami of public opposition welling up in the provinces.

The backlash could be brutal for Conservative candidates forced to defend the federal program in an election. They don't want any part of it.

But since voters were denied the opportunity to voice their opinion just three months ago in the provincial election, they will be keen to vent at the earliest opportunity.

Federal Conservative candidates in BC and Ontario are in for a rough ride should an election be called. An HST backlash could make the difference in who ends up running the country.

WHAT HAPPENS IN BC, STAYS IN BC!

Included in the wild rollercoaster ride of BC politics this summer was the government's decision to increase the online gambling limit from $120 per week to $10,000 per week.

The BC Lottery Corporation has a website offering a variety of games of chance including poker and keno.

Until now, the government had a policy in place, presumably supported by studies and research that established the $120 weekly limit.

The decision to raise the limit overnight to $10,000 calls into question the government's competence regarding policy. There is a lack of credibility because the new limit is so out-of-whack with the previous limit.

Even if the limit were doubled to $240 or raised to $500 weekly, that would still represent a significant deviation from the previous policy, and so supporting research and studies would be expected.

However, the jump to $10,000 is so far from the previously established standard, that there are only two possible conclusions:

1. The government's previous policy was ridiculously low, not supported by good research, and therefore, was bad policy. As a result, the government received significantly less revenue than was available, as did the sports and community service organizations that depend on the revenue. Or;

2. The new $10,000 limit is a cash grab by a desperate government and unsupported by solid research. This would also be bad policy, and have terrible social implications for BC communities, since the new number is worlds away from the previous benchmark.

This is not about whether gambling is good or bad. This is about the government's competence and credibility in establishing good policy for British Columbia. The government is demonstrating very quickly they do not have a steady hand on the financial future of BC, and their policies appear to be without foundation.

Their 180 degree changes in HST, gambling, energy conservation, private sector boards like Tourism BC, etc have turned BC policy development into a laughing stock.

But British Columbians aren't laughing. They're shocked and furious at the incredible turnaround in government policy just a month after an election, when none of this was presented in the Liberal platform.

Luckily for the rest of Canada, it's only in BC, baby!

Like Vegas, what happens in BC, stays in BC!