BC Political Discussion: Election 2020 and Beyond

[whatnext]

Sounds like some skeletons are starting to tumble out of Wilkinson's closet:

Rob Shaw: MLA's critique of Andrew Wilkinson as sexist bully just the tip of the iceberg
Opinion: Former MLA Jane Thornthwaite's allegations B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson was a sexist bully is just the tip of the iceberg.

Author of the article:Rob Shaw
Publishing date:Nov 18, 2020

....Take, for example, Wilkinson’s practice in meetings of abruptly calling out “pause!” and raising his left hand whenever someone said something he didn’t agree with.

The ratio of women to men “paused” by Wilkinson in mid-sentence so that he could unload his disagreements and criticize their position was, reportedly, in the realm of 10 to one. It was part of a pattern of dismissive gender-based language and overly critical treatment of women compared to men. And it was so obvious and embarrassing that on more than one occasion Wilkinson was later encouraged to apologize to the women who were his targets.

Then there were the caucus meetings, in which some old white male MLAs were allowed to monopolize time on pet projects or personal rambles, but during which certain women, such as Thornthwaite, were cut down publicly and sharply by their leader.

At one point in the past year, there was talk of a group meeting by some female MLAs with Wilkinson (minus his staff) to address the growing concerns. But it never happened.

The resulting work environment in the official Opposition sounds like it was toxic. It’s not surprising then that some senior male Liberal staff, perhaps emboldened by their boss, exhibited their own troubling behaviour toward female staffers as well....

https://theprovince.com/news/politics/ro...wcm/4b81b5ce-90b9-4c2b-a4ea-fe922aced71a

[logicbomb]

Originally Posted by WarrenC12

Kids, despite being typical disease vectors for everything else, don't seem to transmit COVID nearly as much as adults. This is in part of course due to them also getting very mild symptoms or being totally asymptomatic.

The majority of detected cases in schools were brought in from elsewhere. There is very little actual transmission in schools, relative to the hundreds of thousands of kids going to school every day.

There is a distinct uptick in older kids (high school aged), but again probably due to their age and the nature of COVID rather than what they are doing.

Distancing and other measures help a bit, for sure. I'm betting overall illness in kids has gone down this year.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/52...s-guidance-pushing-for-school-reopenings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has quietly removed controversial guidance from its website that pushed for schools to reopen in the fall and downplayed the transmission risks of COVID-19 to children and others. ... The CDC’s website now states that “the body of evidence is growing that children of all ages are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and contrary to early reports might play a role in transmission.” The website also acknowledges that “teachers and students are in close contact for much of the day, and schools can become a place where respiratory diseases like COVID-19 can quickly spread.”

I wish governments can just outright come out and state their directive. This is to keep the economy running and children in school to ease the burden of parents that have to go to work. They want to keep the economy running and this will be done by the means of attrition. There. Say it. There's no excuse why children should not be in a virtual class setting half of the week.

I do have a problem with underreporting and concealing information. I have a damn right to know which class has seen an exposure so I can take extra precautions with my kid.

[Sheba]

Premier to recall B.C. legislature on Dec. 7

Premier John Horgan will recall the legislature Dec. 7 to pass a new round of COVID-19 relief measures, including his promised $1,000 tax-free grant to families.

Horgan said MLAs from last month’s provincial election will be sworn in next week, and said he will name his new cabinet Nov. 26.

Horgan will then take his new NDP majority into the legislature Dec. 7 for its first throne speech, followed by what he described as a “brief” session focused on giving him the spending authority for more than $2 billion in additional COVID-19 programs and relief measures promised during the election campaign.

“We need to appropriate the resources to distribute the money,” said Horgan.

A bare minimum of MLAs will attend the legislature in person, and much of the business will be conducted as it was in the spring, by video conferencing, said Horgan. MLAs were able to vote by holding up cards that signalled their voting intentions to cameras, with the feed broadcast directly into the chamber.

...

[WarrenC12]

Originally Posted by logicbomb

I wish governments can just outright come out and state their directive. This is to keep the economy running and children in school to ease the burden of parents that have to go to work. They want to keep the economy running and this will be done by the means of attrition. There. Say it. There's no excuse why children should not be in a virtual class setting half of the week.

I do have a problem with underreporting and concealing information. I have a damn right to know which class has seen an exposure so I can take extra precautions with my kid.

I think you underestimate all of the various negative consequences of kids not being in school. I also hate to break it to you, but economic loses have health consequences as well. It's not in dispute.

With respect to your own situation, nothing is stopping you from keeping your child at home right now if you are concerned.

[Migrant_Coconut]

Anecdotally, Zoom meetings 🞵🞵🞵🞵. I cannot think of a good way to teach K-12 online without a severe drop in quality.

[djmk]

Originally Posted by Migrant_Coconut

Anecdotally, Zoom meetings 🞵🞵🞵🞵. I cannot think of a good way to teach K-12 online without a severe drop in quality.

Home schooling 🞵🞵🞵🞵 but Microsoft Teams is generally what they use and its pretty good

[bluefox]

Breaking news this morning, looks like Wilkinson has agreed to step aside immediately rather than serve until a leadership election. Most of the BC Legislative Press Gallery has been tweeting about it this morning.

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by bluefox

Breaking news this morning, looks like Wilkinson has agreed to step aside immediately rather than serve until a leadership election. Most of the BC Legislative Press Gallery has been tweeting about it this morning.

I assume the leaks about sexism hastened his demise.

[SFUVancouver]

It just seems odd to me that someone can pivot so quickly from "I love BC and I am so committed to my party and its ideals that I have devoted myself and my career to leading the party and pursuing the office of the Premier where I would serve this province with all my heart, body, and soul", to "I'm out. Y'all can take it from here. Bye."

[MIPS]

Originally Posted by SFUVancouver

It just seems odd to me that someone can pivot so quickly from "I love BC and I am so committed to my party and its ideals that I have devoted myself and my career to leading the party and pursuing the office of the Premier where I would serve this province with all my heart, body, and soul", to "I'm out. Y'all can take it from here. Bye."

He heard the sound of the pitchfork sharpener in the other room.

[jollyburger]

Henry does a good job in her press conferences on trying to comfort people and being empathetic, but not so great on her messaging to the public. She could have for the past few months told people that they have to wear a mask inside public spaces and not have to issue a public health order. But obviously that wasn't working or her insistance that businesses had all the tools and onus to enforce masking policy. She doesn't want to debate semantics but when she's saying something one week with so much passion it deserves an explanation why she suddenly decided to change course.

VICTORIA — When a reporter tried to ask recently if B.C. would follow other provinces and make mandatory the wearing of masks against COVID-19, Dr. Bonnie Henry fired back her answer before the question was finished.

“No,” replied the provincial health officer and repeated her long-standing position that masks were recommended for indoor public spaces, but not mandatory.

“Mandating masks is not something that is going to change some people’s minds,” she told reporters on Nov. 12. “We know that most people will do the right thing, when they understand the rationale behind it.”

But business operators tell how “people come into my shop and say, ‘Bonnie tells me I don’t have to wear a mask’ so you can’t force me.” Wouldn’t a mandatory edict take them off the hook?

Store keepers already have what they need, Dr. Henry replied. “Businesses themselves can say people need to wear a mask to come in here. If people don’t want to do that, then you need to accommodate them … and that means ordering online or doing pickup.”

Article content continued
Still, questions about masks persisted. At the beginning of this week, Dr. Henry delivered an open letter on the subject.

“Some people are asking when we will see masks mandated in B.C.,” she began. “The answer is that they already are. The mandate to use masks appropriately is a cornerstone of businesses’ and organizations’ COVID-19 safety plans.”

But she cautioned: “Ordering universal mask use in all situations creates unnecessary challenges with enforcement and stigmatization. When orders and fines are in place, it racialized people and those living in poverty or homeless who are most often targeted.”

Besides, the main source of the current surge in cases was social gatherings “where masks would not be worn anyway.”

Nor was an order any substitute for personal commitment. “We need to be responsible for our own actions,” she closed. “I wear a mask, and I expect each of you who can to wear one, too.”

Next day she took her message to the airwaves and ran into a pointed question from CBC host Gregor Craigie: If Dr. Henry mandated masks, wouldn’t more people wear them?

“What I’m telling you is, there is a mandate,” she replied. “You must wear a mask in indoor spaces. And the people who are monitoring that mandate are the businesses that are requiring this … We’re talking about semantics here.”

Undaunted, Craigie tried again: “I’m just focusing on this because so many people are asking. One last question: If I go into a store and they don’t require me to wear a mask, are they not fulfilling their duty?”

Article content continued
Dr. Henry: “They should be requiring you to wear a mask and they should be making allowance for people who are not able to wear a mask to obtain the service in a way that is safe.”

On Wednesday the Retail Council of Canada called on B.C. to enact a mandatory mask mandate for indoor public spaces.

“It will greatly help retail workers and store owners who experience aggressive behaviour from customers not wishing to wear face coverings,” said the statement.

That seems to have made the difference because on Thursday Dr. Henry gave in.

“I have for many, many weeks made clear the importance of wearing masks, particularly now, as one of the measures that can prevent transmission,” she began.

“But based on continued requests, particularly from the retail and other public sectors, to have more explicit direction for the use of masks, I’ve asked the Solicitor General (Mike Farnworth) to issue a requirement for the wearing of masks for all indoor public and retail spaces for staff and customers except when eating or drinking.”

As for those with legitimate medical reasons for not wearing masks, “we take people at their word. There is no way that we will force people to have medical notes or other things. We need to be able to accommodate them.”

Nor does the masking order apply to the public schools: “Schools are not public open spaces. We have layers of measures of protection in place in schools, and like I wouldn’t wear a mask sitting at my office, we don’t expect children to wear masks sitting at their desks all day long.”

Article content continued
Otherwise, fines will be applicable for failing to respect the order, enforceable by the police.

Why the switch? asked a reporter.

“As I have said many, many times, there is a mandate,” she replied. “I stand by what we have always had in place and we won’t get into semantics.

“But it is my expectation that we wear masks as an important piece and no more important than now in terms of one of the measures that we have to prevent infections,” she added, not quite admitting the masking order was a switch and a major one at that.

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columni...plays-semantics-of-a-major-masking-order

[whatnext]

Originally Posted by hollywoodnorth

I appreciate your comments and I feel much the same.

can I get a .......

GO WILKINSON GO!

No, but I can give you a...

GONE WILKINSON GONE!

[rofina]

Originally Posted by whatnext

No, but I can give you a...

GONE WILKINSON GONE!

Liberals are going to have one tough road back. There isn't much to salvage here.

Split and renaming dont seem impossible.

[Sheba]

B.C. Liberals choose Shirley Bond as interim leader

B.C. Liberal MLAs have picked former cabinet minister Shirley Bond as their interim leader, replacing Andrew Wilkinson as the party seeks to stabilize itself after last month’s election losses.

Bond, the five-term MLA from Prince George and area, has served as deputy premier, transportation minister, attorney general and in several other high-profile cabinet posts. The job is temporary and she forgoes running as a candidate in the future race for a permanent leader.

“I appreciate the confidence and trust my colleagues have placed in me as we work together to hold John Horgan and the NDP government to account in the coming months,” Bond said in a news release.

Her first task will be to prepare the 28-member Liberal caucus to be the official Opposition when Premier John Horgan recalls the house on Dec. 7.

...

[zahav]

The Liberal comeback will be when the NDP falter, that will be their in. If the economy stays relatively strong and there isn't a big scandal, it will be challenging to get a big change in parties. But this is BC remember, anything is possible and if things tank and it gets attached to the NDP party itself (like in the late 90s), they will fall

[whatnext]

New NDP cabinet sworn in. Selina Robinson takes the place of departed Carole James as Minister of Finance. ICBC gets taken off Eby's plate and given to Mike Farnworth. Rob Fleming goes from Education to Transportation.

https://vancouversun.com/news/politics/live-premier-john-horgan-unveils-his-new-cabinet

[Sheba]

List of cabinet ministers:

Premier: John Horgan

Attorney General (and Minister Responsible For Housing): David Eby

Advanced Education and Skills Training: Anne Kang

Agriculture, Food and Fisheries: Lana Popham

Citizens’ Services: Lisa Beare

Children and Family Development: Mitzi Dean

Minister of State for Child Care: Katrina Chen

Education: Jennifer Whiteside


Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation: Bruce Ralston

Environment and Climate Change Strategy (and Minister Responsible for Translink): George Heyman

Finance: Selina Robinson

Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development: Katrine Conroy

Minister of State for Lands, Natural Resource Operations: Nathan Cullen

Health (and Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs): Adrian Dix

Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: Murray Rankin

Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation: Ravi Kahlon


Minister of State for Trade: George Chow

Labour: Harry Bains

Mental Health and Addictions: Sheila Malcolmson

Municipal Affairs: Josie Osborne

Public Safety and Solicitor General: Mike Farnworth

Social Development and Poverty Reduction: Nicholas Simons

Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport: Melanie Mark

Transportation and Infrastructure: Rob Fleming

Minister of State for Infrastructure: Bowinn Ma

[whatnext]

In case anyone needed a reminder why the BC Liberals were binned:

Former BC Liberal MLA Rich Coleman faced online backlash after sharing a tweet on Boxing Day questioning the need for – and effectiveness of – the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a now-deleted tweet, Coleman – who served as the MLA for Langley East – asked: “How will we know if the vaccines are working? Will the survival rate go up from 99.5% to 99.7%?”....

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/covid-19-tweet-rich-coleman-bc-liberals

[jlousa]

Not looking great for a couple of prominent NDPers

https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columni...all-deny-coverup-on-b-c-care-home-report

https://vancouversun.com/news/ian-mulgrew-eby-manipulated-dirty-money-debate-says-former-bclc-exec

The one on Dix isn't too unexpected, pushing PPE to public care homes over private ones is what one would expect from the NDP but will certainly raise questions on if it was ethically right.
The allegations against Eby are pretty brutal if true. Telling the BCLC to write down a $60M Loss to make it look like the new anti-laundering policies are working just screams of political interference.

[jlousa]

More info coming out against Eby. Will be interesting to see how he survives this.

https://vancouversun.com/news/ian-mulgrew-david-ebys-ties-to-whistleblower-questioned-by-bclc-boss