BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Correct. And the BC Greens didn't have seats at all until 2011.

Indeed.

I also noticed the Greens finished second by only about 6-7% in Nelson-Creston. Anyone able to shine some light on what happened there? Seems like it's been a reasonable Green build over the past few elections.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by JHikka

West Van-Sea to Sky is their first non-Island riding provincially or federally, isn't it? It's a big get for a party that's had trouble getting traction on the lower mainland.

Like Greens everywhere, white, generally affluent and older.

It's easy to be green when you're well off.

[whatnext]

Well, that was predictable:

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Andrew Wilkinson announced his resignation as BC Liberal leader on Monday following the BC NDP’s majority win in the provincial election.

“There are still roughly half a million votes to count, but it’s clear that the NDP will be forming the next government British Columbia and that John Horgan will continue as premier,” Wilkinson said.

“Leading the BC Liberals has been a great honour, but now it’s time for me to make room for someone else to take over this role.”...

https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/10/26/wilkinson-steps-down-as-bc-liberal-leader/

[rofina]

Originally Posted by whatnext

Well, that was predictable:

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Andrew Wilkinson announced his resignation as BC Liberal leader on Monday following the BC NDP’s majority win in the provincial election.

“There are still roughly half a million votes to count, but it’s clear that the NDP will be forming the next government British Columbia and that John Horgan will continue as premier,” Wilkinson said.

“Leading the BC Liberals has been a great honour, but now it’s time for me to make room for someone else to take over this role.”...

https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/10/26/wilkinson-steps-down-as-bc-liberal-leader/

Respect to him for doing it so swiftly. This party needs a ground up rebuild.

[Metro-One]

In the end I didn’t have any strong feelings towards this election, so... okay.

It will be interesting to see how the NDP operate now as a majority not needing to pander to the Greens. Hopefully that makes them a little more pro-active now on highway upgrades, especially in the interior (not holding my breath though).

For my personal interests it’s a push:

If their promise is kept building the entire Expo Line extension in a single phase is a big win.

The George Massey Bridge is a loss.

[Dengler Avenue]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

In the end I didn’t have any strong feelings towards this election, so... okay.

It will be interesting to see how the NDP operate now as a majority not needing to pander to the Greens. Hopefully that makes them a little more pro-active now on highway upgrades, especially in the interior (not holding my breath though).

For my personal interests it’s a push:

If their promise is kept building the entire Expo Line extension in a single phase is a big win.

The George Massey Bridge is a loss.

Yea I've been wondering whether we will still pay more for less, but maybe the highway programs will progress after all (just more $$$$$ and less quality).

[whatnext]

Someone backs up my thoughts on the Greens:

In British Columbia, the Green Party has wilted
ADAM PANKRATZ
SPECIAL TO THE GLOBE AND MAIL
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 26, 2020

Adam Pankratz is a lecturer at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia, and a member of the board of directors at Rokmaster Resources.

John Horgan and the NDP are the big, undisputed winners of B.C.’s Saturday election – proving once again that in politics, opportunism and shamelessness pay off.

But while the postelection focus will rightly be on Andrew Wilkinson’s BC Liberals, who lost their share of the vote in every region of the province as well as up to a dozen seats, we should not lose sight of the other big loser of election night: the BC Green Party.

To listen to the election-night rhetoric, one could be forgiven for thinking the Greens had made real progress. In her concession speech, Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau said the NDP called the election to “get a majority and wipe out their opponents,” but were only “half-successful.” Actually, the NDP were 100-per-cent successful – it now holds a majority and much more power – and her remarks revealed just how blind the party remains to the way it has been hammered and outfoxed by a more ruthless NDP since 2017...

...Last Saturday, the Greens held their seat count and mostly retained their proportion of the popular vote. This is a sign for optimism that the party’s message broadly resonates with British Columbians. Ms. Furstenau acquitted herself well as a new leader, and perhaps the off-island victory in West Vancouver can be used as a springboard to further mainland success.

The brutal reality, however, is that the Greens are once again bit players with no line to power. They will need to demonstrate more professionalism and pragmatism than they did in the past three years if they are going to regain influence in the years to come.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/...ia&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

[jollyburger]

“The COVID-19 tide is rising. You can see that in the numbers. It is powerful, but we can be stronger and we will be stronger.” - Adrian Dix

They should shut down all the clubs for New Years Eve.

[whatnext]

With counting of mail-in ballots starting yesterday, two ridings have flipped to the NDP: Vernon-Monashee and Abbotsford-Mission.

https://theprovince.com/news/politics/bc...wcm/53a352f1-a636-4324-8fbc-cec2228b0ff8

[logicbomb]

The BC recommendations are just a joke. The mandated restrictions fall short when there is zero enforcement.

You still get large restaurants just stuffing people back in again, and installing short plexiglass between booths to skirt around the recommendations. The contact tracing is ridiculous as well because you get many people providing fake names and numbers.

Then you have the obvious issue of workplaces shifting away from remote working because BC tends to attract management that seems to be backwards in their thinking.

I just hate this "double-think." I cannot have people visit my "controlled environment'' but I have to go into an office, and have the option of visiting restaurants with coworkers or friends?

Of course you know the situation will become dire this year. Diwali is happening whether the provincial authorities like it or not. Christmas and NYE gatherings are happening as well. These lame "restrictions" are not stopping it.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The BC recommendations are just a joke. The mandated restrictions fall short when there is zero enforcement.

You still get large restaurants just stuffing people back in again, and installing short plexiglass between booths to skirt around the recommendations. The contact tracing is ridiculous as well because you get many people providing fake names and numbers.

Then you have the obvious issue of workplaces shifting away from remote working because BC tends to attract management that seems to be backwards in their thinking.

I just hate this "double-think." I cannot have people visit my "controlled environment'' but I have to go into an office, and have the option of visiting restaurants with coworkers or friends?

Of course you know the situation will become dire this year. Diwali is happening whether the provincial authorities like it or not. Christmas and NYE gatherings are happening as well. These lame "restrictions" are not stopping it.

What is their logic about not shutting down restaurants and bars?

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

What is their logic about not shutting down restaurants and bars?

Transmission isn't occurring there.

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

The BC recommendations are just a joke. The mandated restrictions fall short when there is zero enforcement.

You still get large restaurants just stuffing people back in again, and installing short plexiglass between booths to skirt around the recommendations. The contact tracing is ridiculous as well because you get many people providing fake names and numbers.

Then you have the obvious issue of workplaces shifting away from remote working because BC tends to attract management that seems to be backwards in their thinking.

I just hate this "double-think." I cannot have people visit my "controlled environment'' but I have to go into an office, and have the option of visiting restaurants with coworkers or friends?

Of course you know the situation will become dire this year. Diwali is happening whether the provincial authorities like it or not. Christmas and NYE gatherings are happening as well. These lame "restrictions" are not stopping it.

its really weird but I don't see how it is double think.

No one is forcing you to go to restaurant or to go see a friend. But if you are going to do something just pick one thing and do that. So if you want to invite a small group of friends over then do that. There is a risk to everything. So the less risky things you do the better.

They understand that people do need some form of human interaction. But idiots having large parties and gatherings are just plain stupid and selfish.

[jollyburger]

Originally Posted by cabotp

its really weird but I don't see how it is double think.

No one is forcing you to go to restaurant or to go see a friend. But if you are going to do something just pick one thing and do that. So if you want to invite a small group of friends over then do that. There is a risk to everything. So the less risky things you do the better.

They understand that people do need some form of human interaction. But idiots having large parties and gatherings are just plain stupid and selfish.

But they just banned that in a private residence but not in a restaurant is what he might be referring to as doublethink. If numbers trend higher you would think it's just a matter of time before there's transmission cases at restaurants.

[Changing City]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But they just banned that in a private residence but not in a restaurant is what he might be referring to as doublethink. If numbers trend higher you would think it's just a matter of time before there's transmission cases at restaurants.

They know the vast majority of transmissions are happening in homes, with groups of friends or larger family groups getting together for celebrations, parties etc. They also haven't identified significant transmission associated with restaurants, although there was a problem with clubs where there were often groups larger than 6, or people 'table hopping'. Those haven't reopened, and many restaurants aren't open at full capacity.

It's a delicate balance that they're trying to maintain, rather than a heavy-handed 'shut everything down'. It's really not doublethink, it's trying to stop dramatic growth - and now it's about reversing the growth seen in the past few days (and it's worse in Alberta). It's easy to see if all the staff in a restaurant are wearing masks, the tables are being cleaned down, the contact tracing records being kept. Apart from when there's a noise complaint and 30 people are found partying in a home in Abbotsford, or an apartment in the West End, there's no way to ensure private homes are following sensible protocols.

They're trying to keep everything open that can reasonably be kept open and operating to retain as much of the economy as possible. Gyms can still operate with limited numbers, equipment spaced apart, cleaning regimes etc. Classes can't run for now - especially things like spin classes with someone shouting, and mass heavy breathing. If numbers continue to rise, and they identify that transmissions were associated with a particular set of businesses, they'll close those down too.

[cabotp]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But they just banned that in a private residence but not in a restaurant is what he might be referring to as doublethink. If numbers trend higher you would think it's just a matter of time before there's transmission cases at restaurants.

I have to admit that I wrote that comment before I heard about the ban on private gatherings.

They are probably targeting the the areas where the transmission is occurring right now. But like you said if the numbers keep rising expect more restrictions.

The other option would be to shut everything down again. The problem with that is once you open up again the number of daily new cases will start to rise again. How fast would be based on what people are doing.

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by jollyburger

But they just banned that in a private residence but not in a restaurant is what he might be referring to as doublethink. If numbers trend higher you would think it's just a matter of time before there's transmission cases at restaurants.

Restaurants have protocols, spaced seating, good HVAC. People ignore distancing in private homes, and that's where the spread is happening.

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Restaurants have protocols, spaced seating, good HVAC. People ignore distancing in private homes, and that's where the spread is happening.

Like Cactus Club at Metrotown. Jam packed, no distancing whatsoever. Or the restaurants up and down Kingsway where it's a total free-for-all and you wouldn't think we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Plus there's the joke that is contact tracing. The problem I see is that many of these folks that go to private home gatherings are likely to go to restaurants and socialize too. Additionally, retail and grocery chains have clearly given up and you can bet your — there is transmission in grocery stores.

Big business has made the province their —.

[s211]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

Then you have the obvious issue of workplaces shifting away from remote working because BC tends to attract management that seems to be backwards in their thinking.

Wait... no... you're serious?



If you look at the North American statistics for return-to-office numbers, which by your comment would suggest you don't even know about the information, would counter your knee-jerk assertion. BC isn't somehow outside the trend. Many office operations are now telegraphing that the return to the office is being deferred from January 2022 to June/July.

[whatnext]

Looks like the BC Greens lost their third seat, in West Vancouver-Sea to Sky although it will go to a recount:

https://www.straight.com/news/final-coun...-main-bc-green-who-was-ahead-on-election