BC Political Discussion: Election 2024 & 43rd Parliament

[seamusmcduff]

Yeah but in White Rock many people think transit is for the poors, so they won't care.

[BaddieB]

Former Surrey BCC Candidate drops out as independent, endorses the BCNDP

For Immediate Release,
-- Statement from Dupinder Saran, former BC Conservative Candidate for Surrey-Panorama:

Effective today, I am withdrawing my name from the ballot for the 2024 BC election campaign. I recently removed myself as a BC Conservative candidate following John Rustad’s secret deal with Kevin Falcon. At that time, I announced I would run as an independent candidate.

I am very disappointed with how the Conservative Party of BC has handled this entire process and I feel disrespected as a racialized candidate. However, the weaknesses of John Rustad have also been made clear to me. Before I became an independent candidate, there were hateful anti-Sikh posts circulating and Rustad’s BC Conservative party refused to defend and support me. It has become clear that I was used as a “Brown Token” for the party, to serve their purpose of attracting Sikh, and minority supporters and then easily cast aside. Another BC Conservative position that made me realize that they do not represent me was that they are actively considering bringing back the RCMP in Surrey if they are elected. I do not think the people of Surrey want to bring back this old debate that has gone on for far too long .

For years, I have worked hard to establish strong relationships in my community and my supporters encouraged me to continue representing them as an independent - but we cannot run the risk of John Rustad’s candidate being elected in this riding. I no longer believe that the Conservative Party of BC holds the values that they pretend to. If they can’t stand up for their candidates, how can they stand up for Surrey ?

I have decided to endorse and throw all of my support behind Jinny Sims, the BC NDP Surrey-Panorama candidate and incumbent.. As one South Asian woman to another, I will support Jinny in whichever way possible. With myself as a Registered Nurse and Jinny as a retired teacher, together we can support Surrey’s healthcare and education needs to benefit our community.

Signed
Dupinder Saran
Sept 27, 2024
Surrey BC

https://www.surreynowleader.com/local-ne...bc-conservative-party-amid-drama-7515470


https://x.com/dksj_official/status/1839725770509561888?s=46&t=u9SwV9TZcedpM7DIYtf1eA

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

40% of their revenue comes from the provincial gas tax and property tax - if a Rustad administration decides TransLink should "pay for itself," that money'll most likely go elsewhere.

Ironically, the first things to go in a TransLink service cut will be the lesser-used suburban routes full of Con voters... so congrats, hypothetical future White Rock, you've played yourselves.

Right, but if the province scraps a gas tax Metro Vancouver would be able to set its own, and property taxes are again within the mayor's jurisdiction. But this seems something unlikely to happen since Rustad knows very well that 1. Translink is essential to Metro Vancouver's economy, many industries like developers want more of it and 2. It would be very politically unpopular. At least if he had a brain he wouldn't.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

Right, but if the province scraps a gas tax Metro Vancouver would be able to set its own, and property taxes are again within the mayor's jurisdiction. But this seems something unlikely to happen since Rustad knows very well that 1. Translink is essential to Metro Vancouver's economy, many industries like developers want more of it and 2. It would be very politically unpopular. At least if he had a brain he wouldn't.

What suburban mayor is going to want to raise taxes for something which gives Vancouver the most bus routes? For that matter, which Metro mayor is going to want to be seen as wiping out a provincial tax cut with a huge property tax increase?

[BaddieB]

It's funny to hear that considering Vancouver's bus services would remain the most intact if Translink's funding were to be wiped, as they have strong ridership. It's the bus routes in low ridership areas in the suburbs that would suffer the most. Perhaps they can come up with a model that each city receives in Translink service roughly what it puts in. Not to mention suburbanites use translink to access Burrard Peninsula jobs and amenities.

[BaddieB]

To add to this further, here is transit to work stats from the 2016 census. Cities with strong transit ridership are mainly Vancouver, Burnaby, New West, CoNV, Richmond and Surrey (overall lower but has strong cores). These six cities comprise over a third of Metro Vancouver's population. With that in mind I don't think cities like Maple Ridge will have much of an impact.

I'm just trying to be optimistic. The prospect of a Conservative government destroying Translink is very possible.

[Migrant_Coconut]

I'll take "outer suburbs once again voting against their best interests" for $500, Alex.

Originally Posted by BaddieB

Right, but if the province scraps a gas tax Metro Vancouver would be able to set its own, and property taxes are again within the mayor's jurisdiction...

Ken Sim inconveniencing drivers and/or homeowners in any conceivable way? Not holding my breath.

[BaddieB]

Give him credit for voting for bus lanes. We'll not him but his party.

Developers want transit, especially Skytrain. I for one welcome our Developer overlords.

[casper]

Well things are looking promising.

I would have liked to see the Liberals (aka United) back in. The Conservatives are scary (anti-green, anti-science, pro political interfearance in school books and all of that). However with the Liberals out of it the NDP is the one I am supporting.

Todays, update, the total support is unchanged, but the projection in number of seats has improved for the NDP. I wonder if that is just local riding data driving their projection.

https://338canada.com/bc/

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by casper

Well things are looking promising.

I would have liked to see the Liberals (aka United) back in. The Conservatives are scary (anti-green, anti-science, pro political interfearance in school books and all of that). However with the Liberals out of it the NDP is the one I am supporting.

Todays, update, the total support is unchanged, but the projection in number of seats has improved for the NDP. I wonder if that is just local riding data driving their projection.

https://338canada.com/bc/

Promising for who? Eby has basically been in reactive mode, pushed back on his heels and parroting conservative positions. Hardly a figure of leadership.

[NewfBC]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Promising for who? Eby has basically been in reactive mode, pushed back on his heels and parroting conservative positions. Hardly a figure of leadership.

and Rustad is?

Ron.

[casper]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Promising for who? Eby has basically been in reactive mode, pushed back on his heels and parroting conservative positions. Hardly a figure of leadership.

Falcon assumed the supporters of the Liberals (aka BC United) would move over to the conservatives. As we get to learn more about what Rustad stands for I think many are going to go to the NDP instead.

Many find Rustad far to extreme. Strategic voting is required to ensure he does not come to power with his parties far right values.

Eby is moving the NDP more to the centre to fill the void created by the exit of the Liberal party.

I think that is a positive.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by NewfBC

and Rustad is?

Ron.

At least Rustad is pushing policies consistent with the brand. Eby is just barfing up reactive policy after reactive policy. Why doesn’t he just rebrand the NDP as the BC Liberals. The name’s available.

[BaddieB]

Originally Posted by whatnext

At least Rustad is pushing policies consistent with the brand. Eby is just barfing up reactive policy after reactive policy. Why doesn’t he just rebrand the NDP as the BC Liberals. The name’s available.

Rustad's policy of giving tax breaks for mortgage holders (and renters, I guess) and reversing the 2023 housing legislation on upzoning is very inconsistent with the Conservative brand of being pro free markets/understanding basic economics. All the while keeping rent-control. Eby's brand is being a wonk, not a leftist. I like wonks better.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

My bellwether for this is JJ McCullough who is a conservative who hates the conspiracy MAGA set. However, based on his twitter activity, he seems to prefer Rustad, ironically.

Sidebarring here, but he has had the weirdest professional (and personal?) journey. Alt-right millenial conservative who for several years had bylines in publications both reputable and not-so reputable, writing as an educated Canadian dismissive of Canada's feel-good wishy-washy liberalism and a fan of brash, patriotic American exceptionalism, only to become disillusioned with the America's descent into Trumpian hell, and has now apparently become a.....right-of-centre "cultural enthusiasm" Youtuber with a twee fascination for vintage toys, crafts, and general tchotchkes? Wild.

[BaddieB]

I actually think his been pretty consistent. His entire ideology revolves around "my middle class 'North American' childhood in the 90s was great". Trump 'attacking' some of those ideals makes him a Biden/Kamala supporter, but supports Poilievre (anyone remember that video where he glazes PP for 20 minutes) because of PP's marketing towards retvrning to conservative middle class norms.

[GenWhy?]

Originally Posted by whatnext

What suburban mayor is going to want to raise taxes for something which gives Vancouver the most bus routes? For that matter, which Metro mayor is going to want to be seen as wiping out a provincial tax cut with a huge property tax increase?

I think a few weeks ago the Mayors Council voted to increase the Metro Region property tax amount to help TransLink.

[RedArbutus]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

I actually think his been pretty consistent. His entire ideology revolves around "my middle class 'North American' childhood in the 90s was great". Trump 'attacking' some of those ideals makes him a Biden/Kamala supporter, but supports Poilievre (anyone remember that video where he glazes PP for 20 minutes) because of PP's marketing towards retvrning to conservative middle class norms.

Good point.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by BaddieB

I actually think his been pretty consistent. His entire ideology revolves around "my middle class 'North American' childhood in the 90s was great". Trump 'attacking' some of those ideals makes him a Biden/Kamala supporter, but supports Poilievre (anyone remember that video where he glazes PP for 20 minutes) because of PP's marketing towards retvrning to conservative middle class norms.

Ah yes the idyllic 1990s: 9-10% unemployment, 9% mortgage rates, the Referendum, what a great time it was .

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Ah yes the idyllic 1990s: 9-10% unemployment, 9% mortgage rates, the Referendum, what a great time it was .

Hey look, the glass all empty guy thinks every time was 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵.