Provincial election candidates, tell us the costs
During every election period, it should be standard policy that every party or candidate submit a tentative budget showing revenue and proposed spending.
This would make it easier to know what we are voting for.
Myna Lee Johnstone
Salt Spring
Lessons for both parties after the election
The astonishing collapse of the NDP majority in the recent election should be a clear lesson to both the NDP and the Conservatives.
Unfortunately, Premier David Eby’s post-election assessment of his party’s performance while in office, “We have to do better,” signals he just doesn’t get it.
The Conservative voters aren’t saying do things better. We should expect that of all our political parties, win or lose.
The lesson for Eby and the NDP is that the voters are saying, do things “differently.”
So, start working with the Conservatives (and Greens) on finding an agenda that reflects as broad a consensus as possible.
Equally disappointing was Conservative Leader John Rustad’s post-election statement that the Conservatives will use every chance to bring down an NDP government.
Sure, that may be the emotion of the moment given the razor-thin electoral margin, but it is not the mark of strong leadership in a democracy when parties with roughly equal support of the voters simply stick to their guns.
Rather, the leaders need to acknowledge that the electorate is divided, that change is at hand, and get to work to govern collectively in the public interest.
Tim McGee, KC
Victoria
More lessons from the provincial election
In view of the nail-biting results of the provincial elections, perhaps the NDP (if indeed it forms the new government) will be persuaded finally to change the electoral system from “first-past-the-post” — which wasted an untold number of votes (for all parties) — to a ranked-ballot one.
If it’s good enough to elect party leaders, it should be good enough for electing MLAs.
Also, in view of the Island’s continued predominant support for the NDP, perhaps the new administration could show its appreciation by funding a restored and upgraded E&N railway instead of yet more highway interchanges, thereby stimulating the economy across the Island, encouraging population dispersal, and relieving housing pressures within the Capital Regional District.
Or is that too much to ask?
Jonathan Stoppi
Saanich
Clear majority were opposed to NDP in election
Premier David Eby commented on the “clear majority for progressive values” indicated by the provincial election.
I hope he realizes that by this same logic, there is also a “clear majority” that did not vote NDP.
Rosalia Carlson
Saanich
New government should look at our region
The most impactful way for the new provincial government to support Greater Victoria is by addressing the need for regional amalgamation.
It’s a glaring embarrassment by national standards that successive B.C. governments have neglected this fundamental aspect of municipal oversight. A decade ago, residents from across the Peninsula, Esquimalt and even Langford voted in favour of reviewing regional governance.
Yet, here we are in 2024, and the region remains fractured. This inaction has allowed the province to effectively strip away local powers and undermine the democracy of its residents.
Municipal disunity persists, solutions to shared regional challenges are stifled, and social equity has been eroded. It’s an insult that the previous government has ignored the clear will of the people.
In Esquimalt alone, 70% of residents supported a review of amalgamation, yet their voices have been sidelined, and their democratic rights disregarded.
The province’s continued inaction not only hinders growth but makes any claim of regional success feel disingenuous — a hollow victory for a regional community whose real power has been taken away.
John Vickers
Miramichi
Time for Green party’s Sonia Furstenau to move on
I want to add my voice to many others in my complete opposition to Sonia Furstenau negotiating a new coalition agreement with the NDP or B.C. Conservatives.
Furstenau lost her campaign, her views were rejected and she does not answer to the public.
She has no place at the negotiating table and I call on the two new Green MLA’s to reject her ongoing involvement. Her time is over, it is time to move on.
Mike Houle
North Saanich
Right-wing candidate for federal Liberals
So, former premier Christy Clark wants to lead the Liberal Party of Canada. Perhaps Stephen Harper will be up for the job as well, or maybe Jason Kenney.
Does the rest of Canada realize what the Liberal Party of B.C. is/was? That when the Socreds imploded, Gordon Wilson’s Liberals swooped in to rescue their constituency, becoming B.C.’s de facto right-wing party?
Orwellian times, indeed, if Christy can pull this off.
Matthew Webster
Victoria
Speed limits in school zones need to be enforced
Several days a week, my wife and I drop off and pick up our eight-year-old granddaughter at Rock City Elementary School on Departure Bay Road in Nanaimo.
The road is quite busy and all the necessary signs through the school zone are clearly visible.
I am always shocked, horrified even, by the number of vehicles that speed through the school zone at well over the 30 km/h speed limit. Surely any driver must know the importance of abiding by the speed limit in the presence of young children. I can only conclude that they don’t care!
Can we please see some enforcement of this speed limit before a child gets seriously injured?
Chris Healey
Nanaimo
Proportional representation should be required
It looks as if British Columbia will have a minority government needing the support of another party to govern. The absence of Sonia Furstenau from the legislature is sad, but the Green Party holds the balance of power and she can negotiate from outside.
I suggest one issue be foremost in those negotiations, that of ensuring B.C. never again faces such polarization. Revision of the electoral act to require a single transferable vote system must be the deal-breaker.
A second prerequisite could be for the prospective governing party to sacrifice a safe seat to allow Furstenau into the legislature via a byelection.
More might be gained beyond those two terms, depending on what is palatable to both partners. Perhaps vacancy controls would serve the objectives of both.
An end to nicotine and vaping sales in pharmacies could also be achievable.
Still, proportional representation is the most important issue by far.
Alanne Gibson
Victoria
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