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Vote on NDP throne speech confidence motion will probably take place on Thursday, June 29, 2,017 https://www.google.ca/amp/www.cbc.ca/amp/1.4176493
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People's Day in BC: Thursday June 29 '17
Mon, 2017-06-26 00:09
#1
People's Day in BC: Thursday June 29 '17
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:22
#2
Greens and NDP combine to vote down B.C. Liberal bills
B.C.’s weakened Liberal government suffered its first taste of defeat after almost 16 years of majority political dominance Monday, setting the stage for the party’s ultimate ouster from office later this week.
The Liberals were outvoted on two bills in the legislature, including one that reversed the party’s long-standing opposition to banning corporate and union donations for political parties.
An alliance of NDP and Green MLAs, which hold a one-vote margin over the Liberals, rejected even debating the Liberal bills and instead called for the government’s immediate removal.
In a mark of how bizarre B.C.’s political situation has become since the close May 9 election results, it’s believed to be the first time in the province’s history that a government bill has been defeated in the “first-reading” stage, which effectively kills it before it’s ever even read in the legislature.
“This is not a session about the premier testing legislation, this is about testing the confidence of the House, that’s why we are here, that’s why we should get on with it,” said NDP Leader John Horgan. “If the premier keeps wanting to introducing NDP platform planks, that’s fine. But I think the NDP would be better at doing that. And that’s why we should have a confidence vote.”
But Premier Christy Clark refused to help accelerate her ultimate demise.
“No British Columbians want another election,” she said. “Lets get on with the business of government, lets make sure the throne speech gains the confidence of this House … and we’ll make sure we can continue with the strongest economy anywhere in Canada.”
Horgan tabled an amendment of non-confidence in Clark’s throne speech Monday. The NDP called for unanimous support of the legislature to have a snap vote, but the Liberals were opposed.
The earliest confidence vote under legislature rules is now set for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. If the Liberal government falls, Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon could call upon Horgan to form a new government or call a new election.
In the meantime, the Liberals are set to debate a throne speech they introduced last week, which saw a shift in more than two dozen policy positions that the Liberals hadn’t campaigned on before the May 9 election. New promises included an end to a 10-year freeze on welfare rates, the elimination of Metro Vancouver bridge tolls, a referendum on electoral reform and a Royal Commission on public education. Critics inside and outside the Liberal party questioned the abrupt shift.
Deputy Premier Rich Coleman disputed any friction within the Liberal free-enterprise coalition, specifically with fiscal conservatives worried about the unspecified cost of all the new promises.
“My feedback from my supporters, which you would consider probably the conservative area of the province, has been very strong,” he said.
Coleman defended the Liberals’ refusal to move up the confidence vote from Thursday, saying the legislature’s rules are more important than ever in “a very strange period of time.”
“The House has got its rules and if there’s one thing I believed in, whether it be the five years I was in opposition or the 16 years in government, is I believe the rules of this House are the tenants of the fundamentals of democracy and if you want to give up on those and you start chipping away at them you might as well chip away at a bunch of other freedoms,” said Coleman. “So the rules of four days of debate (before a vote) … I think we should follow those rules.”
In a sign of disdain, the NDP and Greens offered only one MLA each to debate the Liberal throne speech, refusing to participate otherwise. The Liberals are to speak for three days on their own speech.
The defeated Liberal bill on political finance had promised to ban corporate and union donations, set an annual contribution limit of $2,500, forbid “in-kind” donations of staff and resources, restrict certain types of loans and ban foreign donations. It would have also applied to municipal elections.
Green Leader Andrew Weaver, who had said recently he could support the Liberal bill, changed his position Monday.
“It’s not appropriate for us to be debating government business until such time as the confidence has been tested,” he said, before suggesting he might amend a future NDP bill to include some of the Liberal ideas.
http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/b-c-liberals-to-attempt-ban-on-cor...
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:24
#3
Christy Clark's left turn worries her party's conservatives, could endanger Liberals free-enterprise coalition
http://vancouversun.com/business/local-business/clarks-left-turn-worries...
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:25
#4
B.C. Liberals cite windfall revenues as grounds to adopt NDP/Green proposals
http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/b-c-unveils-throne-speech-for-pote...
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:28
#5
If the LG had some class Horgan would already be Premier, but we know what side of the fence Judy is on, eh!
Horgan: let's decide this
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/200431/Horgan-let-s-decide-this
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:29
#6
If the LG had some class Horgan would already be Premier, but we know what side of the fence Judy is on, eh!
Horgan: let's decide this
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/200431/Horgan-let-s-decide-this
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:38
#7
Hey Clark the loser, it's over. Time for you to move on by to the opposition side. Get it!
NDP and Greens say they won't consider legislation before confidence vote
http://www.news1130.com/2017/06/26/ndp-greens-wont-consider-legislation-...
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:42
#8
NDP Leader John Horgan offers tribute to Gwen Barlee; Katrine Conroy recognizes Chrissy Archibald
http://www.straight.com/news/929591/ndp-leader-john-horgan-offers-tribut...
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:42
#9
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:43
#10
Mon, 2017-06-26 21:44
#11
3 days to go!
‘We Need to Move On’: NDP and Greens Eager for Confidence Vote as Liberal Bills Shot Down
https://thetyee.ca/News/2017/06/26/BC-Liberals-Fail-Pass-Bills-Confidenc...
Wed, 2017-06-28 19:34
#12
Finally!
John Horgan formally introduces motion of non confidence in B.C. Liberal government
With 44 combined NDP and Green MLAs, motion is expected to pass Thursday afternoon
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/horgan-non-confidence-mot...
Wed, 2017-06-28 19:39
#13
Please Advise! What Wouldn’t Christy Clark Promise Now?
When politicians obsessed with ‘free enterprise’ suddenly care about welfare rates, you know anything goes.
https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2017/06/21/Please-Advise-Christy-Clark-Promises/
Wed, 2017-06-28 23:30
#14
It her nature as Christy just can't help herself
http://vancouversun.com/news/politics/clark-would-tell-lieutenant-govern...
Thu, 2017-06-29 02:16
#15
Clark wants another election — but doesn’t want to be blamed for it
http://theprovince.com/news/bc-politics/mike-smyth-clark-wants-another-e...
Thu, 2017-06-29 15:28
#16
Woo! Hoo!
Liberals staring at defeat today!
https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/200652/Liberals-staring-at-defeat
Thu, 2017-06-29 16:36
#17
The usual right-wing BS from the CBC
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/clark-horgan-guichon-judg...
Thu, 2017-06-29 16:54
#18
Is Christy Clark B.C.’s worst-ever premier?
Has B.C. ever had a more guileful, unprincipled and unworthy premier than Christy Clark?
It is a debatable question, but she seems determined to make her own case for answering that question in the negative.
--------------------------------------------------
Reading between the lines, if I were Her Honour, I would reinterpret her first minister’s words as they are understood at their nonface value by the 1,127,493 British Columbians who voted for the NDP and the Green party—as compared to the 796,772 who voted for the B.C. Liberals.
“It is actually my intention to try to pressure the Queen’s representative to do my dirty work, by forcing a snap election that I am doing my despicable best to achieve without wearing it,” the premier is saying without saying it.
“I’ve got to be duplicitous—because everyone understands that’s just who I am—you would not be wrong to conclude that in offering my non-advice, I will essentially be taking Judith Guichon for a fool.
“Any idiot can see that it is really my party that isn’t working for B.C., not the NDP or Greens, who are doing everything they can to effect a responsible and honourable transition of power.
“There is no effort on our part to work together with anyone. Never has been, never will be.
“There is no effort from us to collaborate with the 44 New Democrats and Greens who want to replace my 43 Liberals in government. Are you crazy? If that happens, I’ll be out on my ass, so fast it will make your head spin—not just as premier, but as party leader, too.
“And I don’t think. That’s what you know I am really saying. Of course, there is plenty of evidence that the majority alliance has the numbers it needs to actually govern. It’s just that that scares the shit out of me. Because I’ll be gone. And because I will look like the pathetic, ridiculous, and failed conniver that I am.
“What I’m really saying, in so many words that I haven’t said, is that I am hoping that only B.C.’s notional head of state will be too stupid to see that. I’m praying—because you also know how devoutly religious I am—that she will do me the courtesy of aptly responding to my non-advice, to send John Horgan packing whenever he shows up.
“Did I mention it was Canada Day weekend? There’s no denying that.
“Like the song says, ‘I don’t want to spoil the party, so I’ll go.’ But only if that’s the LG’s wish. Which I’m hoping it won’t be, as a past contributor to my party and as someone who I’m guessing might want to keep me around, me being so much fun and all.
“Anyway, I’ve always liked those birthday cakes with the trick candles that won’t blow out. Can you imagine the look on the opposition members’ faces if I’m still in the catbird’s seat on Canada Day?
“Now that would be a party for the ages, whatever turmoil it causes for those idiots who believe in democracy, who believe in ‘majority rules’, and who have faith in the lieutenant governor to invite the change in government that the legislature has voted for.
“There are other things I am truly not going to say when I go to chat with Ms. Guichon after the vote.
“I sure won’t point out that Government House will be Ground Zero for a protest, the likes of which we have never seen before in Canada, if she should decide in the absence of my advice to steal power from the NDP-Green alliance and to run roughshod over the majority’s wish for a change in government.
“Nor will I say how I know that the current Liberal speaker won’t agree to stay on, once my government falls. I mean, he hasn’t resigned yet and he has been careful not to categorically answer that question, which he has said would not appropriate, under the circumstances.
“Let’s just say, it’s safe to assume that he will play his part in frustrating the people’s wishes, by stepping down from his new gig, soon after my government gets the boot. I have no evidence of that fact. I’m not saying I do. But I do control his party nomination, after all, and he does hold the seat next door to mine. Just saying. Not.
“In short, going out with class and dignity never was my thing. Nothing is beneath me. I think I’ve proved that in spades over the last six years.
“That should serve me well enough to win another snap election that I want and need, but won’t be calling for. Screw B.C.—my butt’s on the line, and I refuse to say what everyone knows I mean, whether I meant to communicate that or not.”
http://www.straight.com/news/931042/martyn-brown-christy-clark-bcs-worst...
Fri, 2017-06-30 02:24
#19
Is Christy Clark B.C.’s worst-ever premier?
Has B.C. ever had a more guileful, unprincipled and unworthy premier than Christy Clark?
Well, for starters Martyn Brown, there was the guy that you worked for
Thu, 2017-06-29 23:49
#20
Finally 16 years of scumbag Liberal politics has come to an end in BC
Thu, 2017-06-29 23:51
#21
But the right are not like the left as for the right winning is everything so Clark might as well hang up the skates now as she is done like dinner and she will be replaced so fast it will make your head spin
Fri, 2017-06-30 00:56
#22
Fri, 2017-06-30 01:45
#23
Pogo
But the right are not like the left as for the right winning is everything so Clark might as well hang up the skates now as she is done like dinner and she will be replaced so fast it will make your head spin
A) She is designed for the opposition benches. B) If they turf her she may resign her seat.
Fri, 2017-06-30 08:15
#24
Kelowna is full of rich Albertans who will continue to vote right-wing no matter what
Fri, 2017-06-30 08:33
#25
Finally after 16 long years BCers get a chance to start looking after the less privileged in our society the disabled and the poor with the elimination of MSP premiums, $15 min wage, childcare etc
it is a new beginning for BC as we celebrate Canada's 150th birthday this weekend
Liberals will complain if the Speaker becomes partisan but nothing would be more partisan than the Liberal Speaker resigning as A Macleod said last nite
Jack Layton rest in peace brother as you helped contribute to this great people's victory in BC on May 9
Fri, 2017-06-30 08:42
#26
BC Premier-designate Johnny Horgan needs to take Martyn Brown out for lunch to thank him for his consistent unwavering and thorough exposure ov what Liberals are all about
http://www.straight.com/news/928996/martyn-brown-will-real-steve-thomson...
Fri, 2017-06-30 08:50
#27
Total nonsense but typical of Canada's right-wing's media's relentless attack
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/canada/british-columbia/clark-horgan-guichon...
Mon, 2017-07-03 12:10
#28
This guy is brilliant, no wonder Gordon Campbell survived for as long as he did, and Horgan would do well to listen to what he has to say
http://www.straight.com/news/931951/martyn-brown-how-long-will-john-horg...
Thu, 2017-07-06 10:39
#29
Never gonna happen but good editorial!
Could Bond rhyme with orange?
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/opinion/editorial/could-bond-rhyme-wi...
Thu, 2017-07-06 20:37
#30
So Tues July 18th it is.
Not too shabby!!!
Who is going to be in John Horgan's B.C. NDP cabinet?
http://www.straight.com/news/933791/who-going-be-john-horgans-bc-ndp-cab...
Fri, 2017-07-07 11:42
#31
Thu, 2017-07-06 21:17
#32
What kind of lazy-ass, copy-paste post was that??
Everyone, please let's discuss the bear encounter at Norgaard lookout, until NR can be bothered.
Fri, 2017-07-07 00:05
#33
What kind of lazy-ass, copy-paste post was that??
Everyone, please let's discuss the bear encounter at Norgaard lookout, until NR can be bothered.
What about the naked man in the dumpster?
Fri, 2017-07-07 00:35
#34
What kind of lazy-ass, copy-paste post was that??
Everyone, please let's discuss the bear encounter at Norgaard lookout, until NR can be bothered.
What about the naked man in the dumpster?
Wasn't that Rich Coleman?
Fri, 2017-07-07 11:49
#35
Being CEO of BC's burgeoning credit union central is, to say the least, huge. I wonder what per cent of BC's banking business is now done through credit unions as it must be large.
Horgan gets it right by naming Wright deputy minister
John Horgan's appointment of Don Wright as his deputy minister will bring instant credibility to the new B.C. NDP government, writes columnist Vaughn Palmer (who according to some consider him to be the dean of BC political analysis).
http://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/vaughn-palmer-horgan-gets-it-...
Tue, 2017-07-11 11:40
#36
Issues that John Horgan will have to deal with include this nightmare:
B.C. wildfires and floods show climate chaos is upon us
http://www.straight.com/news/934271/bc-wildfires-and-floods-show-climate...