Like HAL from A Space Odyssey
It may be 2008 but it seems like 2001.
City Hall's computer financing scandal is not likely to go away between now and November's civic vote. If an outsider can take the issue and make it their own, Burnaby could see at least one fresh face on council come election time.
City Hall's computer financing scandal is not likely to go away between now and November's civic vote. If an outsider can take the issue and make it their own, Burnaby could see at least one fresh face on council come election time.
posted by Robert Burnaby at 8:43 PM
30 Comments:
Oh great.
10 months of this crap, and the self-righteousness of Team Burnaby supporters hoping this will lead to an easy route to the Mayor's chair by Team Bloy.
Most people are looking forward to a nice weather spring and summer.
Thats what happens when you put slugs like BCA folks deciding on technology.
These people should be delivering the computers not buying them. Come to think of it I believe some of them own trucks so the city could very well get a deal on shipping.
Brought to you by the same bunch who delivered the ruptured oil line in North Burnaby last Summer. Go BCA!
I agree with the blogger, there should be at least one fresh face on the council, REPLACING our mayor that is.
Four of the TB candidates are not going to be fresh faces. But TB can really use some fresh faces, it is time for the "experience vs change" argument to be applied to our own election. The way Gary B is voting against his own party is the perfect example that years of serving on the council do not constitute good judgment.
It is time to bring in new faces to the council.
"Brought to you by the same bunch who delivered the ruptured oil line in North Burnaby last Summer. Go BCA!"
Considering that the oil line was not built by the City of Burnaby,
it's a stupid statment to make, but what else is new with Team Burnaby.
As for the computer system problem that could occur within any government.
The B.C. government for example spent needless money overhauling their public webservice which initially did not perform to specification and required overhaul.
Council acts on the resources of the city bureaucracy based on recommendations.
There's no 'computer experts' within Team Burnaby who are thinking of running for council
at the present time.
Sam Sullivan has already gotten ready to defend as NPA has now hired their official campaign manager. Is our mayor Derek Corrigan ready to defend too? Looks to me that they are not even feeling threatened.
It is apparent though that both parties are trying to play low-key to this election because TB lacks the grassroot organization & resources given that the anti-NDP factions only merged less than three years ago as they try to unseat BCA councilors many of whom already veterans to municipal elections. This is in huge contrast to what is happening in Vancouver where both sides are already moving fast as the left tries to merge while the right tries to defend both from within and outside.
Unlike COPE & VV, Mayor Corrigan's BCA is under the illusion that they have absolute mandate in Burnaby and they are not even not going to pretend that TB is posing no threat to them whatsoever. The reason is simple, like I said, TB has neither the resources nor the organization to motivate the voters to come out to vote against the mayor even though the demographics of typical Burnaby voters are largely favoring TB contrary to the demographics of BCA/NDP loyalists.
So one wonders how TB can use this demographics to their advantage? It is simple really. Lacking the resources and the organization, what TB needs is an army of the willings who would like to see change happening to the city. TB can starting asking Burnaby voters to approve change three months or even six months before the election right after the nomination meeting, that I believe is already too late. Rather than asking voters to remove BCA from power months before the election, TB should act swiftly and start establishing a mayoral figure who is representative of change long before the election and ask the sitting councilors to act as shadow cabinet members as portfolios in budget, transportation & environment get assigned to each councilor and start going after BCA past years of governance.
Once this pro-change party image gets established, the rest will come handy as those who aspired to be in politics but have been left out of BCA's ladder to city hall will start coming around TB, and starting from their young prospects who have the willingness to serve the community will also come around the pro-change mayoral candidate and this is the part where we fill the other half of TB's team with U40 talents. And this is also the part that BCA will start panicking.
"Sam Sullivan has already gotten ready to defend as NPA has now hired their official campaign manager. Is our mayor Derek Corrigan ready to defend too? Looks to me that they are not even feeling threatened. "
From Team Burnaby? No threats there in fact Corrigan, the BCA and quite a few voters are pointing to Team Burnaby and rolling on the floor laughing.
"It is apparent though that both parties are trying to play low-key to this election because TB lacks the grassroot organization & resources given that the anti-NDP factions only merged less than three years ago as they try to unseat BCA councilors many of whom already veterans to municipal elections."
Has nothing to do with 'anti-NDP'.
The reality is that Team Burnaby is
beset with problems caused by a few
who want to retain their power and influence at the expense of being practical.
"This is in huge contrast to what is happening in Vancouver where both sides are already moving fast as the left tries to merge while the right tries to defend both from within and outside. "
Different zoo, different animals,
and different theme park.
"Unlike COPE & VV, Mayor Corrigan's BCA is under the illusion that they have absolute mandate in Burnaby and they are not even not going to pretend that TB is posing no threat to them whatsoever. "
Wrong. They'll figure some opposition, but Team Buraby unless they get their act together isn't going to be much more than a hand puppet show.
"The reason is simple, like I said, TB has neither the resources nor the organization to motivate the voters to come out to vote against the mayor even though the demographics of typical Burnaby voters are largely favoring TB contrary to the demographics of BCA/NDP loyalists. "
Correct. Judging from the antics of Team Burnaby, why would anyone want to vote for them to become government? There's been power plays by Harry Bloy and his minions, some headcase figures the only people that are worth nominating are under 40's, and TB is most likely to repeat the campaign team they had last time, which caused a few volunteers to decide with their feet as to the value of helping Team Burnaby get elected to a majority.
"So one wonders how TB can use this demographics to their advantage? It is simple really. Lacking the resources and the organization, what TB needs is an army of the willings who would like to see change happening to the city. "
Wrong. TB is in desperate need of a complete clean out, and run by those who put the interests of Burnaby first, and not the interests of an MLA who obviously wants to 'deliver' Burnaby to the Premier.
"TB can starting asking Burnaby voters to approve change three months or even six months before the election right after the nomination meeting, that I believe is already too late."
Change in regards to what? Unless the voter is a member of TB the voters have no say as to what direction TB takes in regards to presenting themselves to the electorate.
As for the nomination meeting, it appears to be already preset and if that is actually true, the nomination meeting is a waste of an evening. Better to stay home and watch a Canucks game on Sportsnet.
"Rather than asking voters to remove BCA from power months before the election, TB should act swiftly and start establishing a mayoral figure who is representative of change long before the election and ask the sitting councilors to act as shadow cabinet members as portfolios in budget, transportation & environment get assigned to each councilor and start going after BCA past years of governance."
and don't forget, Tema Burnaby should stop acting like a group of fools who kowtow to Harry Bloy, criticize everything, and start acting as if they really want to govern the city by offering workable solutions that can be sold to the voting public.
"Once this pro-change party image gets established, the rest will come handy as those who aspired to be in politics but have been left out of BCA's ladder to city hall will start coming around TB, and starting from their young prospects who have the willingness to serve the community will also come around the pro-change mayoral candidate and this is the part where we fill the other half of TB's team with U40 talents."
And why does "under 40" come into the picture exclusively??
"And this is also the part that BCA will start panicking."
If Team Burnaby keeps up with this nonsense, the only thing that the BCA will do is keep rolling on the floor pointing to Team Burnaby and laughing.
Start by looking in the mirror, and stop philosophizing and start getting the butt in gear and clean out the damb party, and make it something that people will want to vote for.
Harry Bloy is the one that united the anti-NDP factions and he is not going away soon.
HOWEVER,
"And why does "under 40" come into the picture exclusively?? "
the party itself needs to realize what is the winning strategy and execute it. Otherwise, positioning the party with the same tactics as last time is sure strategy for disasters.
Expanding the voters' support into the U40 base is only one of the many tactics to bring together the pro-change support. There are many others way to set the party up as the agent for change. But if TB fail to properly establishing the right image and get it across to the voters against BCA, then the voters will find there to be no reasons for them to take the effort to vote in a TB government.
The dominant determining factor, as everyone already knows, will be the mayoral candidate that TB is endorsing because if they win, they will govern deep into 2010's. BUT, if TB fails again to motivate the base to come out and vote for a change, then not only will party insiders are gonna say goodbye to power for some time to go, the party may also be deserted by the voters long before 2011.
But with everyone watching TB's every move, they better start bringing themselves to the voters soon, 10 months may seem long, but when you are taking on a power that has been established for more than two decades, some TB councilors have already started campaigning. But most of this will not mean anything if TB fails to find a mayoral candidates that can get the real voters to come out and approve change.
HMMMMMM... I agree that T/B must clean house but that will be done soon enough. I wouldn't write them off just yet.
"And why does "under 40" come into the picture exclusively??"
Good point here. Why not under thirty? Maybe TEAM should look for some under thirty candidates. Mondee Redmond used to say that she would be a good S/B trustee because she was only 26 (at the time) and was closer to the age group the S/B was responsible for. It worked for her.
Team Burnaby needs something to give the voters a fresh reason to go to the polls and vote for them.
I suggest a woman running for mayor would help and if she was Asian or Indo-Canadian it would help even more. Look what a woman running has done for the Democrats in the US.
The BCA has been an old school fogies club for years now and Team Burnaby needs to distinguish themselves from them rather than try to look like a new version of them.
Could it be BCA picked Telus because it is union?
Hopefully TB will keep an eagle eye on the mil rate for property taxes this year and if it goes up we all know what happened. I assume the city will creatively try to maintain or lower the mil rate but ride the higher assessments thus increasing taxes.
"Harry Bloy is the one that united the anti-NDP factions and he is not going away soon. "
It's more of Harry Bloy trying to
attempt to unite the so-called anti-NDP factions, whether this is successful remains to be seen.
It could have easily been completed without Harry's 'talent'.
HOWEVER,
""And why does "under 40" come into the picture exclusively?? "
the party itself needs to realize what is the winning strategy and execute it. Otherwise, positioning the party with the same tactics as last time is sure strategy for disasters. "
Doesn't answer the question. The respondent is basing U/40 as the answer and the magical formula that
will mean a win. That's not nessesarily true.
"Expanding the voters' support into the U40 base is only one of the many tactics to bring together the pro-change support. There are many others way to set the party up as the agent for change. But if TB fail to properly establishing the right image and get it across to the voters against BCA, then the voters will find there to be no reasons for them to take the effort to vote in a TB government. "
Exactly, hence the improvement in the behaviour of Team Burnaby, removal of any instance of it being an offshoot of Harry Bloy's
intenstions and also removal of this mantra of U/40 being the winning strategy.
"The dominant determining factor, as everyone already knows, will be the mayoral candidate that TB is endorsing because if they win, they will govern deep into 2010's."
Only until 2011. Then the next campaign begins.
"BUT, if TB fails again to motivate the base to come out and vote for a change, then not only will party insiders are gonna say goodbye to power for some time to go, the party may also be deserted by the voters long before 2011."
Why would the insiders be any factor? In fact they are not reason why any party should aim for
winning.
"But with everyone watching TB's every move, they better start bringing themselves to the voters soon, 10 months may seem long, but when you are taking on a power that has been established for more than two decades, some TB councilors have already started campaigning."
Like who? Garth Evans and his quest for the mayor's chair?
"But most of this will not mean anything if TB fails to find a mayoral candidates that can get the real voters to come out and approve change."
This will mean nothing if Team Burnaby is brought across as being nothing more than a power hungry group run by the interests of Harry Bloy and his minions, and more importantly coming across as nothing more than a party that is continually critical and not offering workable solutions.
"Team Burnaby needs something to give the voters a fresh reason to go to the polls and vote for them."
A new vigorous party that volunteers would want to be a part of actually be a part of would be a good start.
"I suggest a woman running for mayor would help and if she was Asian or Indo-Canadian it would help even more. Look what a woman running has done for the Democrats in the US."
Oblique reference to Patti Sahota.
As for the U.S., Hillary is quite different and the U.S. has a different style of politics. Geraldine Ferraro ran as VP for the Democrats and did not win.
"The BCA has been an old school fogies club for years now and Team Burnaby needs to distinguish themselves from them rather than try to look like a new version of them"
Team Burnaby has been not much more than a farm team for Harry Bloy for years now and Team Burnaby needs to distinguish temselves from him and his supporters rather than try to look like a new version of Harry's 2009 campaign team.
farm team for Harry Bloy for years now
Huh more like a pasture for Harry's hangers-on.
yeah and guess what happens alot in pastures?
fertilizer making by those in the pasture.
"Exactly, hence the improvement in the behaviour of Team Burnaby, removal of any instance of it being an offshoot of Harry Bloy's
intenstions and also removal of this mantra of U/40 being the winning strategy."
U40 Team is only one part, and should certainly be probably the most crucial part, in TB's efforts to bring out young moms and dads to the polls who are ready for a change.
However, again, the mayoral candidate against Mayor Corrigan makes or breaks the campaign, true, if Mayor Corrigan gets defeated solely on telus-gate, the most disastrous scandal in Burnaby history, such scandal will stick with his name for quite a long time and based on that none of the sitting BCA councilors should expect to survive.
However, that is not something that I would like to see BCA concentrate its effort on opposing. Running an anti-scandal campaign will only bring out more BCA loyalists and losing out elections on that will be even more fatal to TB.
Burnaby voters are already aware of the mayor's wrong-doings, the only thing that will bring them out is a sense of change in the campaign that TB should try to bring to the table. They can start by assembling an U40 combined with a shadow cabinet bringing in Gary B onto the boat, then the criticism from these sitting shadow committee watchdogs on Mayor Corrigan will more than do the trick. Dragging down the entire campaign down especially with the wrong mayoral candidate will make the campaign to unseat our mayor a mission impossible.
"U40 Team is only one part, and should certainly be probably the most crucial part, in TB's efforts to bring out young moms and dads to the polls who are ready for a change. "
Not nessesarily. Young moms and dads would not specifically support a U40 candidate over another who has experience in the community and/or civic arena.
However, again, the mayoral candidate against Mayor Corrigan makes or breaks the campaign, true, if Mayor Corrigan gets defeated solely on telus-gate, the most disastrous scandal in Burnaby history, such scandal will stick with his name for quite a long time and based on that none of the sitting BCA councilors should expect to survive. "
It's not specifically Corrigan's as all councillors were making decisions one way or another. Yes this began in Corrigans time period but it would be silly to specifically tie it to Corrigan, and it would be better if more positive concepts and ideas were presented to the voters rather than stating the obvious. (alleged mismanagement of the contract).
"However, that is not something that I would like to see BCA concentrate its effort on opposing. Running an anti-scandal campaign will only bring out more BCA loyalists and losing out elections on that will be even more fatal to TB. "
That outcome wouldn't cause many Burnaby people to lose sleep.
"Burnaby voters are already aware of the mayor's wrong-doings, the only thing that will bring them out is a sense of change in the campaign that TB should try to bring to the table."
They can easily be made aware of the internal affairs of Team Burnaby, since the last year has demonstrated to many that Team Burnaby is not fit to govern.
" They can start by assembling an U40 combined with a shadow cabinet bringing in Gary B onto the boat, then the criticism from these sitting shadow committee watchdogs on Mayor Corrigan will more than do the trick."
No it won't.
"Dragging down the entire campaign down especially with the wrong mayoral candidate will make the campaign to unseat our mayor a mission impossible."
True, and the first step is to detach Tema Burnaby from a potentially mis managed campaign and that means finding excellent quality volunteers rather than relying on the same old people who count on a little extra in their chequing account.
"The dominant determining factor, as everyone already knows, will be the mayoral candidate that TB is endorsing"
Lets hope TEAM nominates lee rankin for mayor - that would get one tired old man off city council.
My prediction? Corrigan wins as mayor, but Team Burnaby (minus Rankin) gains a majority on council.
The much vilified Garth Evans then becomes the defactor Team leader, returning at least some semblance of decency to the right side of the spectre.
-----------
Of course, Corrigan could still surprise us all and run for the federal Liberals. That was a heck of a sermon he delivered to them last week.
Corrigan is an NDPer a socialist, he wouldn't waste his time running for the federal Liberals.
It's obvious that some Team Burnaby members are wanting to find a 'home' for him as to hope he won't try for re-election.
Ain't going to work.
Corrigan will do what he wants, no matter what Team Burnaby thinks.
As for Garth Evans, he's fast becoming a footnote. He made a dumb move in speaking out when there's ligitation pending. He should know better.
Team Burnaby at this point does not deserve a majority count at Council.
They have a long ways to go yet, and should throw some the baggage off the wagon now before its too late.
"Corrigan will do what he wants, no matter what Team Burnaby thinks."
Most people are not expecting Corrigan to run as a federal liberal in his home in the south as he has effectively no chance against Julian as he can expect no support from any single sitting BCA councilor. As for his real ambition in replacing Carole James, telus-gate has just about wiped out most of his chances of winning against John Nuraney who presides over his home riding.
"As for Garth Evans, he's fast becoming a footnote. He made a dumb move in speaking out when there's ligitation pending. He should know"
When a former trucker, now chairing a pro-gateway transportation committee no less, giving his "legal" opinion on a former lawyer, I guess it will be difficult to issue my own opinion on this "dumb move".
"Team Burnaby at this point does not deserve a majority count at Council.
They have a long ways to go yet, and should throw some the baggage off the wagon now before its too late."
Garth Evans and Lee Rankin cant even make vice-chairs, who is to say they are more influential than Gary Begin who oversees BCA dominated committees as vice-chair when both of them are merely members of the committees. It is no surprise as who would not rather want to be on the side that has power.
With or without Mayor Corrigan anyway, BCA will have its own trouble. The most senior BCA councilor now chairs a powerful finance committee, but comparing to TB councilors he may be less popular with the voters than NDP loyalists make him to be. Shall the "unthinkable" occur once Mayor Corrigan loses his re-election, who will lead the party to oppose a TB mayor of the current sitting BCA councilors? The kind of support Mayor Corrigan enjoys among his party peers on the council is unlikely to be matched again. And none of them can escape from telus-gate, certainly not the one that chairs the finance committee.
While it is easy to be led to believe that telus-gate provides that best chance for TB to ask voters vote against the Mayor, making telus-gate the defining issue will not win the battle for TB. If TB cannot find a candidate that can out-poll the mayor, neither Evans or Rankin will become part of the next government, let alone chairing the powerful finance committee. It is not about which of the two is more deserving to become the mayor, but rather, it will be about who can create the most appeal as an agent of change, I dont think neither either of them can play that role too convincingly.
Corrigan will do what he wants, no matter what Team Burnaby thinks."
Most people are not expecting Corrigan to run as a federal liberal in his home in the south as he has effectively no chance against Julian as he can expect no support from any single sitting BCA councilor. As for his real ambition in replacing Carole James, telus-gate has just about wiped out most of his chances of winning against John Nuraney who presides over his home riding. "
Not nessesarily, if he has a good campaign team, but he has no intention of running provincially at the present time despite what Team Burnaby hopes he does.
John isn't exactly on solid ground either, and will have to work the riding in order to keep it. He has a minimal support base right now.
"As for Garth Evans, he's fast becoming a footnote. He made a dumb move in speaking out when there's ligitation pending. He should know"
When a former trucker, now chairing a pro-gateway transportation committee no less, giving his "legal" opinion on a former lawyer, I guess it will be difficult to issue my own opinion on this "dumb move".
"Team Burnaby at this point does not deserve a majority count at Council.
They have a long ways to go yet, and should throw some the baggage off the wagon now before its too late."
"Garth Evans and Lee Rankin cant even make vice-chairs, who is to say they are more influential than Gary Begin who oversees BCA dominated committees as vice-chair when both of them are merely members of the committees."
Yeah, so? All committees are dominated by government side parties. The BC Liberals dominate all provincial committees.
"It is no surprise as who would not rather want to be on the side that has power. "
Expand, please.
"With or without Mayor Corrigan anyway, BCA will have its own trouble. The most senior BCA councilor now chairs a powerful finance committee, but comparing to TB councilors he may be less popular with the voters than NDP loyalists make him to be."
Quite the opposite. The voters will go with experience and will most likely see that although there have been bumps, Burnaby is still financially well managed, and unless TB provides a good reason for doing so, and provides saleable candidates, the chances for a TB majority are slim.
"Shall the "unthinkable" occur once Mayor Corrigan loses his re-election, who will lead the party to oppose a TB mayor of the current sitting BCA councilors?"
Who's to say TB will have a Mayor in the Mayor's office?
"The kind of support Mayor Corrigan enjoys among his party peers on the council is unlikely to be matched again. And none of them can escape from telus-gate, certainly not the one that chairs the finance committee. "
They are all to blame in mind mine, the chairperson is not the sole decision maker on city finances. He is only one vote, and much of the chair's work is administrative not providing a means as to vote yes to this and no to that.
"While it is easy to be led to believe that telus-gate provides that best chance for TB to ask voters vote against the Mayor, making telus-gate the defining issue will not win the battle for TB. "
No shit, Sherlock.
"If TB cannot find a candidate that can out-poll the mayor, neither Evans or Rankin will become part of the next government, let alone chairing the powerful finance committee. It is not about which of the two is more deserving to become the mayor, but rather, it will be about who can create the most appeal as an agent of change, I dont think neither either of them can play that role too convincingly."
TB right now cannot play that role
convicingly either.
"Team Burnaby at this point does not deserve a majority count at Council.
They have a long ways to go yet, and should throw some the baggage off the wagon now before its too late."
Expand please. Just who are you talking about? A Council member who is not doing his job? One or more Directors of the organization? Someone who is a volunteer who you don't like?
Tema Burnaby has some serious internal problems and is headed towards a controlled environment where the candidates are 'hand picked'.
The Directors are ultimately responsible for the direction and image of Team Burnaby, and are not exactly doing that well.
Team Burnaby is not a farm team for Harry Bloy or anyone else but
appears from the public who are politically aware that being a farm team for Harry Bloy appears to be what Team Burnaby is.
First step is to remove all influences and make Team Burnaby a civic group that actually means something.
Right now it appears to be can to put critical comment about the BCA in and not much more.
Well said on every point.
Currently ten chairs and vice-chairs council committees are occupied by BCA membership except for two who were awarded to Gary Begin who is essentially a member of BCA anyways, Given his seniority, I am sure he can chair any committee he wants, had he joined BCA 25 years ago.
"Tema Burnaby has some serious internal problems and is headed towards a controlled environment where the candidates are 'hand picked'."
Yes, there are many conflicts, as it happens to all parties in democracy. The sort of unanimous consent from BCA councilors on Mayor's Corrigan's term is in fact a rarity. However, most are already aware of the source of most of the "internal problems", but in a campaign that should really be about making of transition of power, any sort of dissent should be welcomed if it represents the abundance of new ideas.
However, the internal problem is really between the old direction vs new direction, e.g. pro-mayor vs anti-mayor, that can be a sign of trouble. Someone like Gary B is well respected city wide but he has not commanded the kind of respect he deserves. As a spectator of Burnaby political history from his years on the council, his decision to endorse a mayor can be truly significant.
I too believe that hand-picked the team can be a troubling sign because the voters are not going to see anything new from it. But someone like Gary Begin, whose words still carry certain influences in the city and is not afraid to voice his dissatisfaction, should in fact support reforming the image of TB and support having younger candidates alongside them. And his choice to endorse the mayor is certainly not confined between Garth Evans or Lee Rankin.
"Currently ten chairs and vice-chairs council committees are occupied by BCA membership except for two who were awarded to Gary Begin who is essentially a member of BCA anyways, Given his seniority, I am sure he can chair any committee he wants, had he joined BCA 25 years ago. "
Begin is not a member of the BCA and never has been. Prove with actual evidence that he is.
It's possible to have co-operative work for the betterment of the city without this idiotic "he's a member of the BCA" line of thinking.
"Tema Burnaby has some serious internal problems and is headed towards a controlled environment where the candidates are 'hand picked'."
"Yes, there are many conflicts, as it happens to all parties in democracy. "
True, but Team Burnaby has not learned from the problems that these conflicts cause, and in fact because of the lack of action, the conflicts exist and the simple fact is that there's no reason for them to exist. But too many are power hungry to actually remove the cause and so around and around it goes.
"The sort of unanimous consent from BCA councilors on Mayor's Corrigan's term is in fact a rarity. However, most are already aware of the source of most of the "internal problems", but in a campaign that should really be about making of transition of power, any sort of dissent should be welcomed if it represents the abundance of new ideas. "
Yes and no, a campaign is not making the transition of power. That comes after the voters have accepted what the campaign sells to the voters.
The campaign is there to sell the candidates and their goals for the city to the voters, and make the sale.
Team Burnaby is not a civic group that is ready to govern unless they fix the internal conflicts and present themselves as being worthy of the vote.
Right now why would any voter decide on a Team Burnaby majority that is beholden to an MLA, and a few power hungry people? Might as
well pick and choose from both sides to come up with a balanced mix.
"However, the internal problem is really between the old direction vs new direction, e.g. pro-mayor vs anti-mayor, that can be a sign of trouble. Someone like Gary B is well respected city wide but he has not commanded the kind of respect he deserves."
Try to give it to him once and see what happens.
He has respect, but the problem is that a few fools in Team Buraby don't see the Big Picture. His community work has been well known for years.
"As a spectator of Burnaby political history from his years on the council, his decision to endorse a mayor can be truly significant. "
I too believe that hand-picked the team can be a troubling sign because the voters are not going to see anything new from it. But someone like Gary Begin, whose words still carry certain influences in the city and is not afraid to voice his dissatisfaction, should in fact support reforming the image of TB and support having younger candidates alongside them."
After the public trashing of the guy? It would be amazing if that actually happened. In other words
stab the guy and then convince him to fix the problems that led to his public political stabbing by his own civic group? Surely you jest.
If he was to do that, one would hope the first thing he would do is to insist that the trouble makers are shown the door and new people are asked to join in as replacements.
"And his choice to endorse the mayor is certainly not confined between Garth Evans or Lee Rankin"
Right now there's no one else, and if one were to really take a look, only Rankin seems to be the better person, amongst the poor choices currently available.
Sorry bud, Patti Sahota isn't going to make one suddenly break for the voting booth on a rainy November Saturday.
'"And his choice to endorse the mayor is certainly not confined between Garth Evans or Lee Rankin"
Right now there's no one else,'
No one else other than Garth Evans and Lee Rankin? No other candidates than those two? The nomination race equaling the coronation of the anti-Corrigan candidate? Sounds like the perfect recipe for a disaster which will put TB into immediate extinction.
The problem with all this talk about coronation is losing its flavor on typical voters, and while expulsion of Gary B could very well be a consensus of the party elites, that is based solely on the perception that Gary Begin is very likely going to endorse Mayor Corrigan come next election, and however TB wants to do with Gary Begin's membership will only backfire.
TB admittedly needs a reformist image and shining spotlight on these perceived "front runners" with countless anti-Corrigan criticism in the press will not win elections. A veteran spectator like Gary Begin certainly knows better than that and it will not be long before he start picking sides. Shall he decide to stay on TB, he will no doubt obtain the nomination, but if shall make the decision to back TB's own mayoral candidate, then he will pick one that is the most winnable. One wonders if he and other council candidates would rather see someone who can command voters' confidence and create winnable margins on BCA vs these two current front-runners, who, while highly qualified, are not going to bring out new and fresh voters.
I believe the phrase said " essentially a member of BCA anyway".
This means that if one waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, flaps one's wings like a duck, and votes like a duck, we can be "essentially" sure we indeed talking about a duck!
Gary Begin ran with TB to remove the mayor in 2005. But he has lost most of his credibility with TB party establishment when he has "essentially" endorsed the mayor by voting with BCA. Worse, he has stated that he will stay with the same party that he ran with in 2005 which has set itself up to strongly oppose the mayor. It is no doubt that even with a TB membership, he will have to get himself elected, even more difficult to achieve if he decides to harmonize with TB's tune which is obviously trying to run over the mayor. Even if he get re-elected, how many committees he can chair then is anyone's guess.
TB's strategy is already apparent, coronation of an anti-Corrigan candidate for people to vote against the mayor. The problem is the question that how much more electable is Rankin or Evans vs Mayor Corrigan who can easily be out-polled today.
Even more interesting however is Gary Begin's decision on his endorsement of the mayoral candidate. He has decided against joining BCA and endorsing a BCA mayor as a TB candidate will lose him much credibility he still has and can risk an immediate expulsion, thus is very not likely. But would he rather choose between two candidates both of whom have been trading back-stabs with him.
However he has the fortune that as TB try to prove itself to be a viable alternative in their effort to remove the mayor, they are required to provide a reformist image to the voters. The day of TB coronation is still very far away, and it is certainly not inevitable that either of the two TB councilors will become the next TB mayoral candidate.
'I believe the phrase said " essentially a member of BCA anyway".
This means that if one waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, flaps one's wings like a duck, and votes like a duck, we can be "essentially" sure we indeed talking about a duck!"
Someone obviously has too much time on their hands.
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