New thread for all reactions and notes for BC election day!
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BC Election Day reactions
Tue, 2013-05-14 12:39
#1
Kaitlin McNabb
BC Election Day reactions
Tue, 2013-05-14 12:41
#2
Kaitlin McNabb
Post Election Day results, reactions, and any other links and comments related to BC Election Day here.
Tue, 2013-05-14 12:57
#3
Kaitlin McNabb
Van Media Coop has an interesting piece up from Ivan Drury on why he is voting for NDP despite their "do nothing platform". Spoiler alert: the first reason is because Christy Clark is the worst.
And The Tyee has a pretty comprehensive coverage area for BC elections, with reports on polls etc, including this article "Five Reasons to Turf Christy Clarks Crew" on "useful points to consider as you head to the polls today. The devil you know is not always better when they have a track record as astonishingly shitty as the BC Liberals"
Tue, 2013-05-14 14:05
#4
I suspect the 'closing gap' is a myth and the NDP will win this one handily. I know a few people who are Harper Conservatives that have voted NDP already (indicating that many people vote for reasons other than policy - something worth spending some thought upon).
Tue, 2013-05-14 14:26
#5
Catchfire
Here is some of rabble.ca's best stories about the election so far (if you still need help deciding who to vote for, ha ha ha):
Christy Clark's excuses for child labour in B.C. defy logic and good public policy
In effect, in 2003, the BC Liberal government transferred responsibility for children's safety in the workplace from the Employment Standards Branch to parents and then took out ads in newspapers across the province announcing to employers they could now hire 12-year-olds.
Clark however, continues to ignore the demand side of the child labour equation, and clings to 'parent choice' language implying that parents, all of them, have the experience, and expertise to assess work site safety and the authority to enforce it.
Citing her own experience working when she was 12 years-old is an ignorant rationalization that betrays a narrow, middle-class, perspective that imagines child labour is about 'pocket money' and 'learning responsibility.' Clark's logic-defying conclusion that these debilitating work injuries might still have happened if the permit system was in place, reveals a stellar deficit in understanding the purpose of making and enforcing good public policy.
Ten years later it would be nice to hear some reflection from the Liberals on the now measurable impacts of child labourers, but it seems that's wishful thinking.
[Podcast] 2013 BC Election: The Missing News
Here then, in no particular order, are 10 reasons why Christy Clark and the Liberals richly deserve to be booted out of office. This could have been a much longer list.
The B.C. Liberals allowed gaping inequality to grow. Year after year, B.C. has had close to the highest rates of income inequality and child poverty in Canada. While the rich and corporations have received new tax breaks, welfare rates have remained scandalously low and social housing has received scant provincial support.
The B.C. Liberals lied and privatized BC Rail. Of the many election promises Gordon Campbell brazenly broke, this was one of the biggest. Not only did the Liberals privatize a vital public asset after saying they wouldn't, but the BC Rail scandal and subsequent criminal trial exposed the blatant corruption of the Liberals. Two senior B.C. Liberals eventually plead guilty, and the B.C. Liberal government agreed to pay their legal fees -- close to $6 million!
The B.C. Liberals' cuts hurt the most vulnerable. While allowing social assistance rates to stay at appallingly low levels, the Liberals imposed additional cuts against the poor who live with disabilities, and reduced access to assistance for those living with HIV/AIDS.
And so on.
The time for compromise has come and gone. A certain temperature increase is inevitable -- already "locked in" -- but if we are to have any chance of preventing runaway global warming and the destruction this would entail, then we need to start saying no right now to the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure. Either we stay below the two-degree warming threshold or we don't. Politicians who only get us partway there are no better than those who don't even try.
This is the issue of primary importance during the election campaign underway here in British Columbia. Environmental questions are the ones with the most profound, far-reaching, and long-lasting impacts. Air, water, land, food, climate. These are not frivolous, "post-materialist" concerns that we have the luxury to think about only when there's nothing else on the radar. They are inescapably wrapped up in our collective survival.
In this context, limiting our consideration to just the NDP and the Liberals won't cut it. We British Columbians must "think globally" while we vote locally. It is time for us to embrace the Green Party.
Tue, 2013-05-14 14:49
#6
Catchfire
And two new stories on today's front page.
RJ Aquino: Filipino community will benefit from BC NDP's policy commitments
It's been exasperating to see the BC Liberals try to court the Filipino vote through superficial events designed to be nothing but photo-ops and not engage the community by talking about specific issues. They don't seem to be concerned with providing anything substantive because they don't seem to have anything in their platform they can point to as evidence of being engaged with the community.
This is in stark contrast to the NDP. Their platform has specific points that address issues that affect our community.
Ben West: Vote 'yes' to green jobs and 'no' to Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines
The environmental movement has been asking for a strong position against the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan tar sands oil pipelines. It's been our biggest movement-wide "ask" in the months and years leading up to the election, and the NDP has stepped up and taken on the position we asked them to take. I think we need to acknowledge that the NDP has listened to this demand from the people of the province and has taken on the challenge of fighting off some of the world's wealthiest oil corporations, their billionaire owners and their best political ally, Prime Minister Stephen Harper. This is no small task and they need us to have their back in this fight.
We need people like George Heyman, the former Executive Director of the Sierra Club of BC, to get elected. George was also the president of the BCGEU, and was a progressive voice within the labour movement. He, like Van Jones, is the kind of guy that not only gets the need for environmental sustainability but he can legitimately bridge the gap between sectors and bring forward policies that create the kind of good local jobs we can be proud of.
At ForestEthics Advocacy we are actively supporting a handful of candidates we are calling "champions for the coast." Like George these are good people that will make great MLAs and strong advocates for solutions that work for people and the planet. George Heyman, Janet Routledge, Claire Trevena, Jennifer Rice and David Eby are the kind of people that deserve your vote regardless of what party they are running for.
In the last election the NDP lost in George's riding by a margin of only five per cent, a smaller number than the Green party's nine per cent tally.
Tue, 2013-05-14 15:51
#7
Kaitlin McNabb
I suspect the 'closing gap' is a myth and the NDP will win this one handily. I know a few people who are Harper Conservatives that have voted NDP already (indicating that many people vote for reasons other than policy - something worth spending some thought upon).
Seriously?! Wow. Is it a difference between federal and provincial policies.
I have a friend who votes Conservative federally (I know. Just, don't even) and Liberal provincially (again. I know.)
My parents are in Port Moody, and in that small town, seems everyone votes for the person. The old mayor is up and looks like he'll take it no prob for the NDP.
Tue, 2013-05-14 16:24
#8
Good luck to the more left-wing BCNDP candidates(the ones actually worth voting for, rather than just being the person you vote for to get the Liberal out). And good luck to everyone on the BC left who's going to have their work cut out for them pushing a Dix government(if you get one)to actually be significantly different than a Clark government.
Lesser evil...than work to lessen the lesser.
Tue, 2013-05-14 16:43
#9
Catchfire
Don't we want to increase the lesser?
Tue, 2013-05-14 16:50
#10
Don't we want to increase the lesser?
Not if it's still evil. I think that was his point.
Tue, 2013-05-14 17:27
#11
Maybe I should have said "reduce the lesserness OF the lesser"....is that a thing?
Tue, 2013-05-14 17:50
#12
Lessen the lesserness of its lessitude? Here endeth the lessen.
Tue, 2013-05-14 18:07
#13
Could this be an indication we have too many B.C. election threads?
Mind you, less might be more...
Tue, 2013-05-14 18:09
#14
Left Turn
Voted for Raj Chouhan about 3 1/2 hours ago. Have spent the lasyt 3 hours handing out reminder cards to houses of identified NDP/Raj supporters to get out and vote.
Tue, 2013-05-14 20:27
#15
excellet Left Turn - as an Ontarian, I sometimes wish that I live in BC, where NDP govts are not a rarity.
Tue, 2013-05-14 21:17
#16
excellet Left Turn - as an Ontarian, I sometimes wish that I live in BC, where NDP govts are not a rarity.
At one time we had thought of retiring to BC. Then we got an Ontario grandchild. 
Tue, 2013-05-14 21:51
#17
Hi Wilf, and I'm sure that will happen to us too and for sure I'd want to stay in Ontario.
Tue, 2013-05-14 22:12
#18
The Liberals are running very scared according to this Tyee update.
Despite heading into election day with an optimistic message to the party's membership list late last night -- entitled "Countdown to Victory" -- campaign director Mike McDonald emailed members a series of vote-pulling messages over the course of the day.
"We have been the underdogs in this campaign, but we have never given up," McDonald emailed to party members at 6:04 p.m. "I'm asking you to give it one final effort to help get people to the polls before 8pm PT. Dig deep. Phone and visit potential voters.
"It's full-on battle stations. We can do this!"
The latest email concludes with an ominous postscript for Clark's Vancouver-Point Grey riding, where she is battling the NDP's David Eby: "P.s. The Premier is in a tight race. If you know someone in Vancouver-Pt. Grey, let them know they still have time to vote."
In an email earlier in the afternoon, the party organizer observed that turnout was going in the Liberal's favour, though no figures were presented to support the assertion.
"We can see that we have a potential turnout advantage at the polls," McDonald wrote in the 2 p.m. email. "At the current rate of turnout, if we get our vote out in the next 6 hours, victory is ours."
Three hours later, the campaign manager made another observation about voter turnout, suggesting that -- unlike advanced voting's 25 per cent boost from previous elections -- fewer people than expected were showing up at polling stations.
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/05/14/Battle-Station-Libs/
As for grandchildren my wife and I have considered moving into the Kootenays but out grandchildren are all on Vancouver Island so that is were we will be going to when she retires. With out grand kids on the island ferry issues are big in this Metro household.
Tue, 2013-05-14 22:16
#19
The Liberals are running very scared according to this Tyee update.
Despite heading into election day with an optimistic message to the party's membership list late last night -- entitled "Countdown to Victory" -- campaign director Mike McDonald emailed members a series of vote-pulling messages over the course of the day.
"We have been the underdogs in this campaign, but we have never given up," McDonald emailed to party members at 6:04 p.m. "I'm asking you to give it one final effort to help get people to the polls before 8pm PT. Dig deep. Phone and visit potential voters.
"It's full-on battle stations. We can do this!"
The latest email concludes with an ominous postscript for Clark's Vancouver-Point Grey riding, where she is battling the NDP's David Eby: "P.s. The Premier is in a tight race. If you know someone in Vancouver-Pt. Grey, let them know they still have time to vote."
In an email earlier in the afternoon, the party organizer observed that turnout was going in the Liberal's favour, though no figures were presented to support the assertion.
"We can see that we have a potential turnout advantage at the polls," McDonald wrote in the 2 p.m. email. "At the current rate of turnout, if we get our vote out in the next 6 hours, victory is ours."
Three hours later, the campaign manager made another observation about voter turnout, suggesting that -- unlike advanced voting's 25 per cent boost from previous elections -- fewer people than expected were showing up at polling stations.
http://thetyee.ca/Blogs/TheHook/2013/05/14/Battle-Station-Libs/
As for grandchildren my wife and I have considered moving into the Kootenays but out grandchildren are all on Vancouver Island so that is were we will be going to when she retires. With out grand kids on the island ferry issues are big in this Metro household.
Full-on battle stations. How martial.
Tue, 2013-05-14 22:46
#20
derrick
Hey friends,
I'm nursing a cold and watching the results from home, but at least a couple of other rabble staff and/or contributors should be at NDP HQ tonight at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
A couple things I'll be watching for in particular is how the NDP candidates most strongly identified with opposition to the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines do tonight; also, of course, the riding of Point Grey will be a big one. Not just because Christy Clark could be defeated, but also because the NDP candidate, David Eby, would add a lot to BC politics -- especially around issues of poverty, the Downtown Eastside and police oversight.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:08
#21
derrick, get better and watching the results from home is just fine and dandy.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:09
#22
derrick
Thanks Jan -- yes it's all the better to Babble and Tweet while the results come in!
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:22
#23
I'm very excited derrick
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:28
#24
Catchfire
I'm sharing your cold and babysitting duties, Derrick, if not your location. So far, the big news from what I can gather wathing the coverage on TV is that CBC has discovered Vine.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:28
#25
These first numbers aren't turning out so well...
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:32
#26
30 Libs 19 NDP Green 1 Other 1
Lets hope it changes soon.
Weaver ahead.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:33
#27
this is not a good start, hopefully things start turning around soon
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:35
#28
40 Libs 22 NDP Green 1 Other 1
Lets hope it changes soon.
Weaver ahead.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:38
#29
Catchfire
Early days yet, chaps. Hold your nerve.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:40
#30
43 Libs 26 NDP Green 1 Other 2
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:41
#31
Any idea what time we'll actually get a clear idea of the outcome? I'm watching CBC Newsworld right now and the percent of polls reporting is still super low...
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:41
#32
LIB 43 - NDP 26 - IND 2 - GRN 1
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:41
#33
I am so surprised. gawd.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:46
#34
47 Libs 28 NDP Green 2 Other 3
43 is a majority
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:50
#35
44 Libs 32 NDP Green 2 Other 3
43 is a majority
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:50
#36
Catchfire
There are virtually no polls in right now. A miniscule fraction. Currently the Liberal candidate, Gabby Kalaw (who? indeed.) is leading in my riding, Vancouver-Kensington, where Mable Elmore won by over 2000 votes last election.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:51
#37
those numbers are stubborn, not moving at all
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:51
#38
So I take it this puts a stake through the heart of future "positive campaigning" attempts?
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:53
#39
So I take it this puts a stake through the heart of future "positive campaigning" attempts?
i agree
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:56
#40
So I take it this puts a stake through the heart of future "positive campaigning" attempts?i agree
too early to say! We still only have 11% of polls in.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:57
#41
It's still early, but the NDP war room cannot be happy that an hour after the polls closed it's still LIB 49, NDP 33, GRN 1, IND 1. Almost exactly the same seat count as 2009.
Tue, 2013-05-14 23:58
#42
49 Libs 33 NDP Green 1 Other 1
43 is a majority
only 1 seat not reporting yet
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:00
#43
At first light it seems the Conservative vote collapsed to goto the Liberals...
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:01
#44
Chilliwack-Hope looks like lose NDP...
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:02
#45
All the ridings have polls in.
LIB 49 - NDP 34 (-1) - GRN 1 (+1) - IND 1
7 ridings need to flip to prevent a Liberal govt, 9 seats need to flip the NDP for an NDP govt.
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:06
#46
Popular vote: LIB 46% (0) NDP 38% (-4) GRN 8% (0) CON 5% (+3) IND 3% (+1)
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:06
#47
Lib NDP Grn Con Liber- Other
tarian
% of Popular Vote 45.14% 38.41% 7.66% 5.24% 0.11% 3.44%
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:07
#48
Collapse of the Conservative vote to 5% is a big factor in the results.
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:10
#49
Green target seats
Oak Bay Gordon Head: GRN 38 - NDP 31 - LIB 28
Sannich North and the Is.: NDP 38 - GRN 32 - LIB 29
Victoria Beacon Hill: NDP 48 - GRN 35 - LIB 17
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:11
#50
It's still early, but the NDP war room cannot be happy that an hour after the polls closed it's still LIB 49, NDP 33, GRN 1, IND 1. Almost exactly the same seat count as 2009.
Still no call yet, where other provinces have been called within the hour.
Can BCers comment on whether the results are skewed? I remember a rural Saskatchewan riding initially showing a huge lead for the NDP, presumably because the First Nations polls were the first ones in.
Wed, 2013-05-15 00:12
#51
At 9:10 the CTV is declaring a Liberal win.
GRRRRRRRR
