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The 2013 British Columbia provincial election can hardly be said to have commenced on a high note, thanks to the BC Liberals who dragged out years old comments by BC NDP candidate for Kelowna-Mission Dayleen Van Ryswyk, who promptly resigned her abbreviated candidacy when asked to do so by BC NDP leader, Adrian Dix. The BCNDP will announce a new, better vetted candidate for the south Okanagan riding later in the week.
How much the beleaguered Ms. Van Ryswyk’s aborted candidacy will impact the BCNPD remains to be seen, but as is obvious from the BC Election Prediction Project graphic at the top of this blog post, the BCNDP are a lock for 40 seats in the legislature, just three shy of a majority (85 seats are up for grabs this time around), which would seem to negate most arguments that this “misstep out of the gate” will have much impact at all.
BC Election 2013: Who To Follow on Twitter
As we’ve written previously, for breaking news, for up-to-the-minute reporting, for insight, cogent analysis (which comes with the links provided) and not a little wit and humour, as well as a fair bit of tête-à-têtes, there is no better forum through which you might keep yourself informed and engaged with what is going on in this crazy world of ours than Twitter.
On Twitter, the commentators you’ll want to follow are (click on the links): Globe and Mail reporters Rod Mickleburgh, Ian Bailey, and Justine Hunter, not to mention, columnist Gary Mason; the Vancouver Sun’s legislative reporter Jonathan Fowlie, as well as columnist Vaughn Palmer; and, let’s not forget Victoria Times-Colonist columnist, Les Leyne; 24 Hours columnist, Laila Yuile; CBC legislative reporter Stephen Smart, Global TV’s Keith Baldrey, CTVBC’s Ed Watson, and CKNW’s Sean Leslie. For a partisan NDP take, there’s David Schreck, for Liberals there’s Alise Mills, and for a barely less partisan approach, you can follow BC Election 2013. In the coming days, VanRamblings will provide further insight into / direction to Twitter accounts dedicated to British Columbia’s 2013 provincial election.
Oh yeah, you might as well check in each day with the provincial party Twitter accounts themselves, to see where the leaders are traveling, and to gain some partisan insight into the “messaging” of each of BC’s steadfast political parties, each one vying for your all important vote: the BC NDP, Today’s BC Liberals, the BC Conservatives (who seem not to have caught on to this new thingamajiggy called Twitter), and the Green Party of BC.
Former Chief of Staff to Premier Gordon Campbell, Martyn Brown – who last year published the e-book Towards A New Government In British Columbia, and has since emerged as a regular, verging on virulent, critic of the Christy Clark-led BC Liberals – has found a regular forum to publish his musings, in the Georgia Straight. Here are a few of his recent columns …
- April 16: The B.C. Liberals’ best hope. Apparently, the BC Liberals’ best hope is if the BCNPD screw up.
- April 12: Contract? What social contract? In which, Mr. Brown tears Adrian Dix for “reneging” on a commitment of the BC Liberals. Huh?
- April 10: Christy Clark, Adrian Dix, and prime-time political follies. Memories, ah such sweet memories. Nice bit of insight, though.
One imagines that the loquacious Mr. Brown will continue to publish throughout the 28-day election period. Well worth checking out on a regular basis. Good on The Straight for publishing Martyn Brown.
BC Election 2013: News from Here, There & Everywhere
The mainstream media had their say on BC Election 2013’s opening day …
- The Globe and Mail’s Justine Hunter and Ian Bailey wrapped their coverage of BC Votes 2013 with Untested leaders try to set tone on Day 1 of B.C. election campaign, while …
- the Vancouver Sun’s Jonathan Fowlie, on the Your Decision 2013 desk, weighed in with Trailing by 19 points in latest poll, B.C. Liberals launch aggressive campaign, his colleague Craig McInnes putting some bones on a platform announcement made by NDP leader Adrian Dix concerning the reform of party financing. Jessica Barrett has written a backgrounder on New Democrat Gwen O’Mahony, who took the Liberal stronghold of Chilliwack-Hope in a by-election, and why her prospects in 2013 appear strong.
- Don’t forget to check in with The Tyee each day for some rock solid coverage of British Columbia’s 40th election. You’ll want to read Doug Ward’s piece on the Top 10 BC ridings to watch, and why, and Tyee Elections Editor Robyn Smith and practicum student Allison Griner’s Setting the stakes: 18 groups on what matters this election.
- the CBC’s On The Coast Election Panel weighed in on the first day of Decision BC 2013.
- the good folks who manage the Politics, Re-Spun twitter account, nary a partisan among them, it seems, had this to say: “Global TV endorses Christy Clark with vomit-inducing puff piece of hugs & unicorn tears.” Hmmm. One wishes folks would just tell us how they really feel.
- And while we’re on the subject of Global TV, here’s some video of their Q&A with the leaders of BC’s four main political parties.
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These are early days in the 40th British Columbia provincial election. The parties are out on the hustings, the candidates are out door knocking, across BC there’ll be burmashaving galore (in Canada, the word burmashaving is used to describe politicians holding signs and waving to traffic by the side of the road, a common sight during election campaigns), you’ll be inundated with suppertime newshour ads, and with more robocalls than you’ll probably be able to handle.
But you can thank your lucky stars that in Canada you are afforded the opportunity to exercise your democratic franchise free of intimidation from the state, and that thanks to the efforts of the good folks at Elections BC - who are doing everything in their power to ensure that come May 14th (or at the advance polls, May 8th through 11th, 8am til 8pm) - you can cast your ballot in peace. Voter, and voting, info may be found here.
(For the latest VanRamblings election coverage, click on Decision BC 2013)
(For those of you who arrived here looking for coverage of last week’s Kitsilano Community Centre AGM — as sorry an example of untoward democratic engagement as you’re ever likely to witness — VanRamblings’ coverage of the KitsCC AGM may be found here. The Vancouver Courier’s Sandra Thomas has written about the KitsCC AGM, as well, her coverage of the delirious, anti-community meeting to be found here.)
