War of words

The fighting in the letters to the editor section is underway. Kathy Corrigan weighs in today on the proposed Willingdon prison. Corrigan highlights the negative aspects of the government plan to put the facility near several schools. To Corrigan's credit, this issue seems to be rallying the community against government decision makers

This issue may cause John Nuraney some trouble in his re-election bid but alone, it is only a small bump on the road to returning the Liberals to government in May.

Three-quarter of a billion deficit

Finance Minister Colin Hansen tabled the election budget in Victoria this afternoon. In addition to cutting government advertising and an increased focus on health spending, the Liberals delivered a two-year $740 million budget deficit.

To no surprise, the unions were generally critical and the business groups were generally positive. Now the mad dash to the finish with less than a dozen weeks to go till election day.

Bloy Oh Bloy!

As both local papers have reported, the NDP is having a nomination battle to pick Harry Bloy's centre-left opponent for the spring election. The papers correctly report Jaynie Clark and Michael Walton are running. After that it's not too much detail or accuracy from either paper.

The Now website misreported the nomination meeting as March 9 at 1pm. According to the notice it appears to be March 1 not March 9, and local MP Peter Julian will be the guest speaker.

The Newsleader highlights Clark's work history and Walton's origins but neglects their NDP pedigrees. Clark ran for the NDP nomination in Burnaby North last election. Pietro Calendino was nominated against Richard Lee of the Liberals. Walton has been active with the Burnaby Citizens at the civic level and has been NDP president in Burnaby-Douglas.

Burnaby's Next Top Candidate

Mike Summers of the Refederation Party is looking for a few good candidates in Burnaby, on Craigslist.

The Refederation Party, with its Less Ottawa - More BC slogan, wants to give more power to the west in general and British Columbia in particular. They want direct democracy and a B.C. constitution. Last election they ran four candidates. This time the fringe party want at least three candidates in Burnaby.

Nuraney nominated

It was a mere formality for the BC Liberals' Incumbent Acclaimation Tour '09 when John Nuraney was named as the candidate in Burnaby-Deer Lake.

This is Nuraney's fourth time seeking provincial office. After a defeat in 1996 to Joan Sawicki in Burnaby-Willingdon, Nuraney won the seat both in 2001 and 2005. Nuraney also ran for Burnaby council in 1996 as part of the Burnaby Voters Association.

Nuraney will face NDP candidate Kathy Corrigan and Green candidate G. Bruce Friesen in May 12's election.

2-year deficit

With under 100 days to go until this year's election will be all over, the BC Liberals have announced that there will be a two-year deficit.

Could this possibly the un-Fudge-It-budget?

The charities of Raj

The NDP MLAs decided to give their pay increase to charity after flip-flopping on whether they supported or opposed the raise. The Vancouver Sun's Capital Diary listed the following charities for Raj Chouhan's $14,825 in donations:

Burnaby Association of Community Inclusion; Burnaby Progressive Housing Society; Cops for Cancer (Canadian Cancer Society); Four school scholarships; Langley Farmworker’s Fund; New Vista Care Home; Norm Lasage for Children Shoes; Normana Care Home Foundation; Progressive Inter Cultural Society; Richmond/India Cultural Centre; South Burnaby Neighbourhood House; St. Thomas More Secondary; Tzu Chi Foundation; United Way.