Stronger need for collaboration
Re: “Stark contrast between two main parties,” editorial, Oct. 18.
The editorial viewpoint makes accurate distinctions between the “policy cultures” of the NDP and the Conservatives.
As of Sunday afternoon, it remains undetermined if the NDP will continue its mandate (by very slim margins) or the Conservatives will take a turn at leadership; but regardless which party forms government, given their different agendas and stated ideologies, there will be loss, or risk of loss, in the social/enterprise landscape.
I ask: Is it really so hard to imagine a provincial government that might achieve something closer to a balance between the two?
We’re all too familiar with what happens otherwise: too much free market, and social distress increases; too much social programming and the market is stymied.
Isn’t there some new and different model of governance in which ideological sensibility and conflict are subordinated and something approaching co-operation, provincial “community,” prevails?
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto recently told me that she has never, in her political career, experienced such public bad mood, outright anger, worry, uncertainty, fault-finding; revealing nothing but contretemps between government, the public, various interest blocs and constituencies; a virulent, “their win is our loss” — as if there wasn’t enough of that going on in the world right now.
So, finally, a caution to both parties who, together, represent government: Beside all the usual and pressing concerns government faces is a wide-scale and expanding public retreat from conventional social practice and protocols, an ominous and mounting distrust of, and disaffiliation from, government and its related social expressions.
These are very different times, and should not be mistaken for anything else. As community — the sense that we’re all in this together — diminishes, the need for government exertion, innovation and collaboration intensifies.
Given current conditions, I can’t think of a better message for government to incorporate and project publicly.
Gene Miller
Victoria
Good news, B.C., bullet was dodged
British Columbia has dodged a bullet by the narrowest of margins.
The 57% of eligible voters who cared enough to spend an hour to vote did not buy the “common sense” appeal made by the Conservatives, which is a blessing, because the Conservative leader, who is almost certainly the most politically knowledgeable of all the Conservative candidates, doesn’t understand what he’s talking about.
I’ll pick two specifics.
First, he has claimed that this is the first time in memory, living or otherwise, that the Conservative party has been so successful in a provincial election. Not so.
What he calls the Conservative Party of B.C. is simply the right-wing coalition, also known as the Social Credit Party, the B.C. Liberal Party, the B.C. United Party, and now the Conservative Party
The last real Conservative to be elected to the B.C. legislature was Hugh Curtis, who was a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. How many of John Rustad’s candidates can say that, including Rustad, given that he was a B.C. Liberal until they kicked him out?
Secondly, Rustad claims that “axing the tax” (the carbon tax) would help the average voter.
Actually, it would have helped people who drive SUVs and who have giant houses and swimming pools. Low income residents will lose their rebates, which, for some inexplicable reason, David Eby never explained very well.
I could go on and on, but I’ll leave it there.
Ian Cameron
Brentwood Bay
Political parties, please give us hope
I have always believed in voting. People fought for my right to do so and I honour that. But, in this election, I didn’t! There was no party leader who looked able to take the helm and move us in a positive direction.
I have volunteered and worked for federal and provincial NDP here and in Alberta since I became a Canadian citizen in 1983 and have always been a staunch party supporter.
I was even honoured to be approached by a party leader to run for election in a winnable seat; such is my recognized commitment and service to the party.
This has all changed since David Eby took leadership of the party and the legislature. He has made so many bad decisions, taken so much bad advice, and instituted so many questionable policies which are affecting many people’s lives adversely, and not seeming to affect anyone positively.
Let us wish for the parties to examine their priorities and give us hope for the future.
Eleanor Gibson
Esquimalt
Dinosaur system of picking MLAs
When I was young I used to say: “If history repeats itself, I am so getting a dinosaur.” Well, my dream is granted in almost every election and we get another dinosaur — not the one I wanted, but we get one.
Dinosaurs are bullies, stuck in the past, set on achieving their goals no matter what is in their way. That describes many politicians, especially those in charge of major parties that seek majority governments with a minority of the electorate voting them in.
Proportional representation is a better way to elect our governments. This way of electing a government would allow for more minority governments to happen.
Politicians would need to cooperate with each other as a result, rather than pushing their mandates on the people.
The electorate would feel that their votes count since there would be people in government representing their viewpoints and more people would vote as a result. This would be the sign of a true democracy.
Fortunately, I grew up and no longer care to have a dinosaur.
Perhaps it’s time that we ask our government to grow up and embrace a new way of electing a government that works for everyone.
John de Pfyffer
Victoria
Politicians simply wasting their time
B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad was quoted as telling supporters in Vancouver that he would “look at every single opportunity from day one to bring (the NDP government) down and trigger a new election.”
So, true to form, our upcoming B.C. government will join all other governments in this country to ensure obstructionist tactics will carry on as always. No work will get done. No legislation will get passed.
How does this help anyone? A lot of politicians are paid good money to sit and unceasingly argue with each other.
Our political system is not functioning. In our Canadian parliaments, we need civilized discussion and co-operative decision-making. All sides need to work together towards the objective of getting critical legislation passed.
Politicians — stop wasting time and on get with it! You can do better. We are depending on you.
Jean Jenkins
Victoria
Disappointing result in the B.C. election
Regardless of who wins in the recount, the margin of victory will be very small. In consequence all the attention in the future will be on the legislature and scurrilous debate and personal attacks, rather than thoughtful researched policy development. In short, a continuation of those same qualities from the campaign communications.
Politics has regrettably become a bitter competition like a combative sport rather than a search for policy that will solve problems. No wonder why it takes a long time, and much thought and research, to address the serious problems we face as a society.
To solve such problems takes substantial focus on the cause and effect relationships underlaying the problem, investigating other jurisdictions who have been successful in ameliorating the phenomenon.
Policy analysts have a slogan: “Go Deep!” Instead, we seem to be content with shouting insults and name-calling across the legislature.
Bo Hansen
Former ancillary assistant professor
UVic School of Public Administration (retired)
Victoria
Environment is a top concern
Once again B.C. is flip-flopping between two right / left parties: Conservatives and NDP. I’m more interested in the fact that two Green MLAs may hold the balance of power.
Life is going to change with our climate. How many people will lose their home insurance in B.C. in the coming years? Loss is becoming a yearly pattern and there’s no business case to be had for insurance where risk of loss is high on a yearly basis.
We need to manage our environment to adapt to a future that seems starkly frightening and I guess two Green MLAs could save us? I wish it was more.
My thanks to Sonia Furstenau for her leadership efforts in these past years of service. It’s hard to be a bellwether and she and her party are trying to help us all see the need for change with fervour and consistency.
Erin Lumley
Saanich
Require proportional representation
It looks as if British Columbia will have a minority government needing the support of another party to govern. The absence of Sonia Furstenau from the legislature is sad, but the Green Party holds the balance of power and she can negotiate from outside. I suggest one issue be foremost in those negotiations, that of ensuring B.C. never again faces such polarization. Revision of the electoral act to require a single transferable vote system must be the deal-breaker.
A second prerequisite could be for the prospective governing party to sacrifice a safe seat to allow Furstenau into the legislature via a by-election.
More might be gained beyond those two terms, depending on what is palatable to both partners. Perhaps vacancy controls would serve the objectives of both.
An end to nicotine and vaping sales in pharmacies could also be achievable.
Still, proportional representation is the most important issue by far.
Alanne Gibson
Victoria
Voice of reason will be missed
It is sad that the only leader who showed leadership during the election campaign, eschewing attack ad tactics and giving calm, polite, well-thought-out and appropriate responses in interviews and debates, should not be elected.
Green Leader Sonia Furstenau should have been given the opportunity to bring a voice of reason to the government, despite the worthiness of her opponent in this election.
Diana Rowles
Victoria
Furstenau’s concession had some wise words
Sonia Furstenau, the B.C. Green Party leader and Victoria Beacon-Hill candidate, in her concession speech said it all.
“It’s a strange time in politics when during an atmospheric river people come out and vote for a party that’s denying the reality of climate change. But hey, this is where we’re at.”
Joanne Thibault
Victoria
A bit of good news from the election
As sea levels rise, and increasingly common extreme hurricanes in Florida and Gulf of Mexico, and atmospheric rivers in B.C., the only good thing to emerge from the provincial election is that it is very unlikely that B.C. will have the embarrassment of a “climate change denier” minister of the environment.
Paul Akerhielm, P.Eng (ret.)
Victoria
Conservatives don’t deny climate change
I am disappointed and surprised at Green Leader Sonia Furstenau, who said that the B.C. Conservatives deny climate change.
They don’t. What they deny is the validity of the science-denying hysteria that claims humans are the main cause of current climate change.
Long ago, it was said that if you tell a big enough lie and tell it repeatedly, it will get believed. And that was before the days of social media. The saying is being proved correct in spades.
Garnet A. Parr
Duncan
Conservatives, NDP ignore pending doom
Re: “Eby, Rustad in tight fight,” Oct. 20.
Dear Lord, where did I go wrong? Please make me a Conservative, or even a New Democrat. They seem to be so happy and carefree, even in the face of life-threatening disaster certainty.
Ken Dwernychuk
Esquimalt
SEND US YOUR LETTERS
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: Letters to the editor, Times Colonist, 201-655 Tyee Rd., Victoria, B.C. V9A 6X5
• Aim for no more than 250 words; subject to editing for length and clarity.
