Green Party ideas in quick review
After a few days of Green Party comments, it is a good time to review.
1. Immediately following the Elections B.C. announcement of results, former Green MLA Adam Olsen stated that a primary condition of Green support of any coalition agreement must include the immediate implementation of a proportional representation voting system — without a referendum.
This suggestion was in direct opposition to three provincial referendums on changes to the voting system held in 2005, 2008 and 2018.
2. Sonia Furstenau, defeated Green MLA, made it clear to all that she would lead any future discussion on any potential coalition agreement, despite having no seat in the legislature and no mandate (moral, practical or otherwise) for such a role.
Historically, a party leader would ask an elected member of their party to step down in anticipation of a byelection before taking such a grasp at leadership, but not Furstenau. I should add, I reached out to my new Green MLA-elect, Rob Botterell, for comment on this. Nothing yet.
3. And, in an interview immediately following his victory, Botterell said he looked forward to building on the work of his predecessors, that he and his new Green MLA counterpart would be the conscience of the legislature and that they would work collaboratively.
And his counterpart, Green MLA-elect Jeremy Valeriote suggested that the new Green MLAs would not just desperately grasp at power like the other guys.
To recap: Ignore the voters and their definitive opinions on changes to the voting system, ignore historical practice and force your leadership and opinions of Furstenau’s view of the Green Party on everybody who didn’t vote for you and build on the work of your predecessors. But don’t grasp at power and be the true conscience of government!
How much longer before we can vote again?
Mike Houle
North Saanich
It would be simple south of the border
I guess if we were in the United States, we could have a party leader phoning the electoral office in the Juan de Fuca - Malahat saying, “I just need you to find me 24 more votes.”
Chris Foord
Oak Bay
American women need to cast ballots
While British Columbians struggle to put together our recent electoral jigsaw puzzle, let us be thankful that whatever the outcome none of our political figures would ever threaten to disrupt our democratic system.
To the south of us, many Americans seem to be slowly awakening to the fascist threat to their democracy. History is not well taught in North American schools and those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.
If Donald Trump is stopped by an overwhelming defeat in November it will not be because Americans are repelled by his fascist intentions, but because he has angered millions of women with his abortion policies
The future of NATO, Ukraine and indeed world peace is going to depend on how many women turn out to vote on Nov. 5.
John Winstanley
Colwood
Proportional representation is better
The results of the B.C. election, regardless of the final tally only show that neither the NDP nor the Conservatives have majority support due to woke or extreme positions.
If there was a centrist, middle-of-the-road party, it would likely win in a landslide.
Under proportional representation we would get to rank the parties in order of our preferences. In this election, it was hard enough to make the decision to vote for one.
(Don’t say BC United (Liberals) were centrist, they were just Conservative under a different name.)
Wayne Cox
Saainchton
Rushing the wrong kind of housing
Saanich council is rushing projects through without considering what kind of housing Saanich needs.
When residential units in a mixed-use development are all marketed and pegged for luxury and/or as investment units, Saanich housing stock shortages are not meaningfully dented in any way which would alleviate the most acute need: family-sized dwellings and affordable, modest one-bedroom dwellings.
Developers, in absence of regulation and playing fast and loose around the “rules” of Saanich, where supposedly housing demand is high, will always pitch and promote the design-built projects which land the highest yield in the least amount of time – doing nothing in the process to ease the “shortage” of housing in what is termed a “housing crisis” by council.
Gary Henkelmann
Saanich
A message for election letter writers
Hey people: The election is over.
Get over it! Time to say “Thank you” and “Congratulations” to all the candidates who took the time and made the effort to run for the legislature.
Given the misery still being displayed by disgruntled voters of all stripes, I wish you luck.
Pearson James
Langford
What is your landlord really making?
It’s real simple. Whoever sets the price controls the market.
During scarcity, suppliers hold the advantage — a privilege, if you will. The hard part comes when we try to articulate where advantage implies responsibility.
It’s one thing to corner the market on things people want for frivolities. Each of us ought to be able to manage our desires so that we spend according to our means. No money? Oh well. Such is life.
It is another thing to corner the market on what people need. In such cases, no matter the need, whether shelter or food, no matter how scarce or plentiful its supply, every dollar demanded above what is put out to supply a need presses not on people’s desires, but upon their dignity.
Perhaps modest margins are OK; perhaps immodest margins are not. This judgment exceeds my station.
Yet it seems that determining the threshold between fair and predatory margins in today’s needs markets is precisely the conversation we aren’t having.
Question: How much does your landlord clear each month?
Don’t know? Try asking them.
Don’t worry. It’s not rude; it’s business.
If their answer seems a bit evasive, I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts I know why.
Knock, knock, landlords. It’s your conscience calling. Have you got a minute to talk about the rent?
Bill Stacey
Esquimalt
Canadian democracy and civility at work
While watching the B.C. election results flow in, as a dual Canadian/United States citizen I reflected on the civility, respect and lack of general chaos in our B.C. and Canadian election system.
From the moment I stepped through the doors of my polling station it was all so simple, civilized and democratic. My vote will count. There will be no chaos following the election results.
In my riding, Juan de Fuca-Malahat, there is a recount scheduled. We wait patiently for a week without accusing the other party of fake votes, lies or cheating. The democratic, peaceful system with checks and balances in place all the way to the attorney general (if need be) ensures the integrity of our election system.
We breathed a sigh of relief when we returned to Canada, only to be saddened watching the American infection of hate and vitriol flowing into Canada. Some angry Canadian politicians have started picking up on it, by sowing anger, fear and doom — a trademark of American politics.
Are we to follow the American pattern of division between us? Will we stop talking to our neighbours because they don’t hold the same political views as ours? Will we follow the U.S. and turn our frustrations and anger into violence?
Canada has always been a peaceful nation. We are respected worldwide. People want to live here.
Building a better future requires collaboration and respect, destruction on the other hand has only negative ramifications for us and our children.
It is time we turned our attention to working together to build on what Canada and B.C. have been and continue to be — a wonderful place called home.
Alla Marinow
Mill Bay
Climate change will be the election issue
Yes, collaboration is required in government at all levels on issues facing British Columbians, all Canadians.
The letter writers on the Oct. 22 Comment page reflect on priorities and taxes.
The next federal election will be a carbon tax election, as was the B.C. government election. There are affordability issues and addiction issues, public safety, health care issues. They trump questionable taxation approaches to climate change.
In order to reduce British Columbia’s carbon contribution to global climate change, more resources need to be assigned to preventing and quickly extinguishing wildfires.
British Columbia has 1,600 wildfire fighters. There are 15,000 structural firefighters, including volunteers. They all do a great job, but there needs to be collaboration on one of the biggest contributors to climate change.
Not only B.C. but across Canada. Across Canada there are 190,000 trained structural firefighters. There is a need to collaborate nationally. Politicians, working together, can make a real, measurable difference in climate change.
Phil Harrison
Comox
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