Imagine all the people
The BC Liberals are cooking up some visioning events. This Saturday they hit Burnaby with Imagine 2020. The event goes from early afternoon until evening at the Accent Inn.
The agenda includes Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney talking about Aboriginals, Aging, Atmosphere and Asia, carefully branded as the 4As. Burnaby councillor Lee Rankin makes an appearance to discuss local government reform. The participants are going to have to come up with ideas about what the province should look like in 2020.
For a start, let's try this Conan O'Brien style: In the year 2020... British Columbia will:
The agenda includes Burnaby-Willingdon MLA John Nuraney talking about Aboriginals, Aging, Atmosphere and Asia, carefully branded as the 4As. Burnaby councillor Lee Rankin makes an appearance to discuss local government reform. The participants are going to have to come up with ideas about what the province should look like in 2020.
For a start, let's try this Conan O'Brien style: In the year 2020... British Columbia will:
- have seen Carole James out of public life for 11 years;
- be preparing to bid for its next international event 34 years after Expo and 10 years after the Olympics; and
- have succeeded at bringing order to the longstanding violent gang problem in Surrey and by then the province's second largest city Vancouver.
posted by Robert Burnaby at 6:23 PM
18 Comments:
"have seen Carole James out of public life for 11 years;"
and Harry Bloy the same.
"be preparing to bid for its next international event 34 years after Expo and 10 years after the Olympics; and"
with Premier Kevin Falcon leading the way during his last of two 2 terms.
"have succeeded at bringing order to the longstanding violent gang problem in Surrey and by then the province's second largest city Vancouver."
While Mayor Chris Gardner (friend of Kevin Falcon) addresses the Cdn. Federation of Municipalities
on how they did it.
Hmm Lee Rankin. That's a bit odd, since he was an NDP member provincially at one time, but has been a federal Liberal.
Is this event more for Harry Bloy's supporters than actually something insightful and worthy of actually attending?
Seems to be a means for Lee Rankin to get more publicity for his Team Bloy nomination run.
At least the young BCL have a vision for the future. The BC NDP has no vision for the future and its local ally BCA is worse. The local NDP flunky mayor and council fight the provincial government over Gatewaybecause they want to take BC back to the failed fast-fery policies of the wasteful misguided NDP regime.
It was nice to see Councilor Lee Rankin volunteering to discuss with the youth of the future.
At least the young BCL have a vision for the future.
Sure, as long as it involves the fortunes of the BC Liberal Party.
The BC NDP has no vision for the future and its local ally BCA is worse. The local NDP flunky mayor and council fight the provincial government over Gatewaybecause they want to take BC back to the failed fast-fery policies of the wasteful misguided NDP regime.
The NDP wouldn't do that simply because they know that's the reason why they were defeated in the first place.
Then one has to wonder about the Harry Bloy flunky Mayor Candidate for Team Burnaby.
It was nice to see Councilor Lee Rankin volunteering to discuss with the youth of the future.
More than anything it was Councillor Lee volunteering to show himself and say
"Hi kids! I'm Lee Rankin, and I'm your 2008 Mayoralty Candidate in Burnaby. You listen to Uncle Harry and be sure to support me in 2008.
You seem to be misinformed. It is Councilor Garth Evans who is all set to be the 2008 mayoral candidate for and he is the choice of the BCL organizers in Burnaby. It is quite well known in the Liberal circle here and we have been asked to support Evans for mayor.
and apparently Mr. Rankin has refused to consider running for mayor once again ( as in 2005). so there you go. now you have the whole picture.
"You seem to be misinformed. It is Councilor Garth Evans who is all set to be the 2008 mayoral candidate for and he is the choice of the BCL organizers in Burnaby. It is quite well known in the Liberal circle here and we have been asked to support Evans for mayor."
The BCL doesn't matter. It's the decision of the membership in Team Burnaby.
Where is it written that Lee would forgo running for mayor in 2008?
I hope not.
Going from first term councillor to Mayor? A bit of a big jump there.
Given a choice, Lee Rankin would be the better choice since he has longevity on Council, and he has more support out there.
And who cares what the BC Liberal organizers want? Most of them are overpaid fools who wouldn't know how fold a pamphlet properly for door to door (they wouldn't do that stuff anyway).
The only thing the BC Liberal organizers are good for in a civic election is holding the sign while a more experienced person handles the tools.
But most wouldn't go out sign pounding anyway. Too much work for those soft asses.
As for Gary, he most likely wouldn't run for Mayor
Garth is an idiot for getting support for a potential run for Mayor.
That's exactly the kind of politiking Burnaby doesn't need.
Why? It's no different than Corrigan being influenced by the NDP.
What's the difference if a supposedly Mayor Evans is being influenced by Harry Bloy and the BC Liberal Party?
Burnaby needs an independently minded person.
Lee Rankin isn't that, but at least he's in that frame of mind sometimes.
Given a choice I'd go for Rankin over Garth.
Garth doesn't understand how civic government works. Lee does.
There is no doubt that Garth has the ambition to become the mayor, but who does not anyways. But the question is will such a move gain appeals from the voters having another incumbent councilor challenging the mayor. Many do question such a defensive play will bring about a change of power.
Team Burnaby has decided to put up a united front against the present party in power. The only way for such an opposition to gain traction is by presenting a new vision in shark contrast to the present government. But both of the sitting TB councilors simply cannot speak that language eloquently to the voters other than being collectively perceived as a loyal opposition which is far from enough to remove BCA from power.
Make no mistake, both Lee and Garth want to occupy the highest office in the city, and it is no secret why Lee continues to yield mayoral nomination for someone else. While having a reformer running for the office may force these old-timers out of the close circle, but if a reformer can bring TB majority, there is no question that Lee will become the second most powerful person in the city as he overlooks majority on the council and naturally become 2nd in line for the seat.
Having Garth or himself defeated against BCA's Corrigan in an election that is supposed to be a confidence vote on the party will be the worst way to end their political career as it may well take the wind out of such a credible opposition. Trying to frame the election as TB vs BCA rather than new governance vs old politics is a certain way to lose the election.
Again, it is important to have a star candidate who is able to connect with the voters and show real contrast against an NDP old-timer. Patty Sahota is one, and I am certain there are few others from the tory side of the anti-BCA faction. But if we cannot see a stark contract between the two candidates, it will simply be another BCA vs TB election and BCA incumbents it will very difficult for TB to remove if that is the way they want to run this election.
"There is no doubt that Garth has the ambition to become the mayor, but who does not anyways."
He's a bit eager. A person needs to crawl before they can walk.
"But the question is will such a move gain appeals from the voters having another incumbent councilor challenging the mayor. "
Nothing wrong with that. People who have had time on council know the workings of city hall over someone who is seeking a first time
in city politics as Mayor.
"Many do question such a defensive play will bring about a change of power."
Let by the Captain of Team Burnaby Harry Bloy no doubt.
"Team Burnaby has decided to put up a united front against the present party in power."
The only thing that is united in that civic party is Harry Bloy's suppporters.
"The only way for such an opposition to gain traction is by presenting a new vision in shark contrast to the present government."
Provided that the voters like what they see.
"But both of the sitting TB councilors simply cannot speak that language eloquently to the voters other than being collectively perceived as a loyal opposition which is far from enough to remove BCA from power."
Wrong. They most certainly can. Their role is not to remove BCA from power. Their role is to represent the interest of the citizens in city affairs and city business and city direction.
"Make no mistake, both Lee and Garth want to occupy the highest office in the city, and it is no secret why Lee continues to yield mayoral nomination for someone else."
No kidding. If Lee runs for Mayor, he isn't yielding for anyone.
"While having a reformer running for the office may force these old-timers out of the close circle, but if a reformer can bring TB majority, there is no question that Lee will become the second most powerful person in the city as he overlooks majority on the council and naturally become 2nd in line for the seat."
Would rather have Lee take the Mayor's seat since he has a lot of years on Council.
"Having Garth or himself defeated against BCA's Corrigan in an election that is supposed to be a confidence vote on the party will be the worst way to end their political career as it may well take the wind out of such a credible opposition."
That could possibly happen. Corrigan would snack on Garth if Garth ran for Mayor, since Corrigan knows Garth is tied politically to Harry Bloy and his supporters of which one I think ran for Mayor and bombed badly.
"Trying to frame the election as TB vs BCA rather than new governance vs old politics is a certain way to lose the election."
Aren't many doing that right now with this "anti-NDP position"?
"Again, it is important to have a star candidate who is able to connect with the voters and show real contrast against an NDP old-timer."
Depends on who that 'star candidate' is.
"Patty Sahota is one, and I am certain there are few others from the tory side of the anti-BCA faction.
Patti Sahota would be the worse choice for Team Burnaby. She has no experience at the city level and what provincial experience she has built up is largely the result of receiving political goodies. If people think she's that good, she should have easily won re-election in 2005, but didn't.
As for the Tories, they have better things to do than to worry about Team Burnaby's welfare.
"But if we cannot see a stark contract between the two candidates, it will simply be another BCA vs TB election and BCA incumbents it will very difficult for TB to remove if that is the way they want to run this election."
Given the way Team Burnaby has acted in the past few months, the voters wouldn't lose any sleep over that.
There is no question that in order to remove BCA from power, it is almost a requirement for TB to introduce new slate of candidates, something like a slate of U40 second generation team endorsed by Lee and Garth will be almost the perfect combination to take BCA which has occupied the highest office in the city for over two decades. Otherwise, I too believe that our incumbent mayor will simply snack on Garth for lunch and make sure that whatever Garth's objective in participating in the election will not be achieved as they drag him all the way out of the political scene.
That is why I believe that Lee should seriously think about backing a new mayor who is very likely going to seek his guidance in every decision once elected anyway. Lee certainly has the experience, but without popularity, he simply will not get elected.
So why would Patty Sohata make a better candidate. We are currently seeing the power struggle between our current BCL government and the municipalities. Our mayor is without question the most outspoken critique of the current Campbell administration. Barring his political ambition in Victoria, he is making himself a huge target of BCL's people in high places. Given that the most prominent NDP figure in the city is none other than our mayor, there is more than enough reason for BCL to remove Corrigan from power months before MLA election. And what that will translate into will be the money and endorsement that can easily be received by Patty Sahota likely unmated even by Corrigan.
On the issue of gaining supporters of the voters, she is certainly a much more marketable to mass voters than Corrigan. True, she was defeated by an NDP in 2005, but just because a few NDP loyalists were better at motivating the base in that riding which far outweighs the rival's support base does not make her any less of a candidate. It all comes down to common sense as we can see that Raj, who defeated Patty, like the entire team of BCA councilors, is not someone that people would naturally hand power over to. BCL has also held off BCNDP in the city quite well other than that single riding. Shall Patty lead the team to governance, it is simply effectively weakens NDP influence in the city and such a team may be governing for some time to come as she governs the city with the backing of Lee which is a lethal combo against BCA.
There is no question that in order to remove BCA from power, it is almost a requirement for TB to introduce new slate of candidates, something like a slate of U40 second generation team endorsed by Lee and Garth will be almost the perfect combination to take BCA which has occupied the highest office in the city for over two decades."
Endorsement from Lee and Garth is rather irrevalent since both will be a part of the Council candidate team anyway.
Who ever these new candidates are one hopes they are credible and that the voters like what they will present in terms of what needs to be done for the city.
"Otherwise, I too believe that our incumbent mayor will simply snack on Garth for lunch and make sure that whatever Garth's objective in participating in the election will not be achieved as they drag him all the way out of the political scene."
That will most certainly happen. Garth has not faced a real election whereby his record needs defending.
"That is why I believe that Lee should seriously think about backing a new mayor who is very likely going to seek his guidance in every decision once elected anyway."
Why would he do that? Why not have Lee run for Mayor in the first place?
"Lee certainly has the experience, but without popularity, he simply will not get elected. "
He's done pretty well so far.
"So why would Patty Sohata make a better candidate. We are currently seeing the power struggle between our current BCL government and the municipalities."
And Patty Sahota's role in all of this is:_____________ (what?)
"Our mayor is without question the most outspoken critique of the current Campbell administration."
Not 100% correct, he's outspoken on Gateway and some transit related issues, which is his role.
But he's been found to be wrong on many of his positions. He's an NDPer, he's not going to be puppy dog eyed coo-cooing over the Campbell government. That's not his role.
"Barring his political ambition in Victoria, he is making himself a huge target of BCL's people in high places."
Big deal. The BCL should worry about more than what Corrigan is doing.
"Given that the most prominent NDP figure in the city is none other than our mayor, there is more than enough reason for BCL to remove Corrigan from power months before MLA election."
Kind of a dumb statement to make. You want to remove a Mayor simply because he or she is not on side with the provincial govenrnment. That's not the role of a Mayor.
"And what that will translate into will be the money and endorsement that can easily be received by Patty Sahota likely unmated even by Corrigan. "
I doubt that. The BCA gets quite a bit from the NDP and the unions, and even with Sahota's vacumming of pockets, that doesn't ensure her politial success. She bombed in 2005, when she should have won.
"On the issue of gaining supporters of the voters, she is certainly a much more marketable to mass voters than Corrigan."
Yeh right. She hasn't been circulating around to the point where she's in the news, and most people wouldn't pay attention to what she says, since all she would be is Gordon Campbell in a skirt.
"True, she was defeated by an NDP in 2005, but just because a few NDP loyalists were better at motivating the base in that riding which far outweighs the rival's support base does not make her any less of a candidate."
She lost because the idiot campaign manager wasn't doing his job properly. If she can't win a part of Burnaby, how does anyone think she's going to win over the entire city?
"It all comes down to common sense as we can see that Raj, who defeated Patty, like the entire team of BCA councilors, is not someone that people would naturally hand power over to."
Raj isn't running for council.
"BCL has also held off BCNDP in the city quite well other than that single riding."
Wrong. The BCL won in three out of four, but two just barely. Richard Lee didn't win by a large amount and neither did John Nuraney. In fact their support levels went down. Harry's stayed more or less the same.
"Shall Patty lead the team to governance, it is simply effectively weakens NDP influence in the city and such a team may be governing for some time to come as she governs the city with the backing of Lee which is a lethal combo against BCA."
Again, it's not the mayor's role to weaken the NDP's influence in the city. The NDP in Burnaby was weak in 2005, and if the NDP is as strong as they traditionally are in 2008, and Sahota is the Mayoralty candidate for Team Bloy, the only thing she is going to end up with is yet another loss.
"Wrong. The BCL won in three out of four, but two just barely. Richard Lee didn't win by a large amount and neither did John Nuraney. In fact their support levels went down. Harry's stayed more or less the same."
Wrong. According to Election BC, comparing the 2001 and 2005 election, Richard's support down from 54.37% to 45.49% (drop 8.78%), John down from 55.79% to 44% (drop 11.79%) and Harry down from 56.34% to 46.39% (drop 9.95%). The BCL down from 57.63% to 45.80% (drop 11.82%). In 2001 British Columbians want the NDP out desperately. In 2005 the Burnaby ridings were held on with results better than the provincial average.
You're looking at share of the vote in single terms, not as a comparative to the alternative.
If Candiddate "A" got 52% of the total vote, but Candidate "B" got 48% of the total vote, then Candidate "A" did not win by a large majority. That is what should be looked at when figuring out campaign progress.
If Richard lost 8% of his vote result in 2005 compared to 2001, then it shows he is seriously weakened. More so with John.
When it comes to local campaigns, the provincial total does not matter.
Even from these isolated percentages, Richard and John have serious remedial work to do to shore up lost support.
If they don't smarten up and if the BCL locals don't get off their self-importance and self-complancency, both North and Willingdon could easily be lost.
Always run as if your campaign is going to lose by a little, never think that you're going to win big.
In other words, run scared.
Who really cares about Harry since he will be no doubt given a new riding to run in anyway.
Garth Evans would take every one down with him, including Barbara Spitz who is a big supporter of Evans as a mayoral candidate. Most of the sensible candidates would prefer to stay home then put their name forward if Evans insists on leading the band. In that case, the only survivors would be Rankin & Begin. If Begin foolishly chooses to run as an independant or with another party then he is sure to loose and it would be 2002 again...
Most people were thinking Grey Cup or tonight's hockey game and enjoying the nice weather.
The previous poster obviously doesn't think of the important things that were going on today.
He should get a life, and cease this endless tirade.
Except for a few candidates (Spitz,
Begin, Rankin and Evans) Team Burnaby has never had any sensible candidates since it existed.
the previous poster seems to be an avid admirer of Gary Begin. what's up buddy?
"Wrong. The BCL won in three out of four, but two just barely. Richard Lee didn't win by a large amount and neither did John Nuraney. In fact their support levels went down. Harry's stayed more or less the same."
“You're looking at share of the vote in single terms, not as a comparative to the alternative.
If Candiddate "A" got 52% of the total vote, but Candidate "B" got 48% of the total vote, then Candidate "A" did not win by a large majority. That is what should be looked at when figuring out campaign progress.”
Good point.
When figuring out campaign progress, Harry’s support level went down from a win of 33% (56.34% - 23.39% in 2001) to a win of 1.7% (46.39% - 44.68% in 2005). He lost 31% of the supports in four years, the biggest loss among Burnaby ridings. Why does someone still say his support stayed more or less the same?
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