Last week, a BC Lib cabinet minister was a guest speaker at the BC Building Trades union convention, was warmly greeted and received a standing ovation. As I stated in an earlier post... that is essentially a historical political first in BC.
Today, someone inside the Steelworker's Union released an internal memo to the media... basically a scathing indictment of the BC NDP - long-time allies - another historical political first:
Quote:
Vaughn Palmer: B.C. NDP Needs Credible Economic and Jobs Plan, Leaked Memo Says
Vancouver Sun
Published on: April 14, 2016
VICTORIA — From inside the United Steelworkers comes a telling lament about the relationship with the B.C. New Democrats since the union backed John Horgan for the party leadership.
“When the leader ran for the job, he staked out positions that are at odds with subsequent action, “ says the internal memo, referencing how the NDP has lagged in articulating the economic growth, job creation and resource development specifics promised by Horgan.
Consequently, the steelworkers and other private-sector unions have been “bewildered at not only the lack of progress on a vigorous jobs agenda, but frustrated at the ease which the governing party has labelled the NDP as saying ‘no’ to economic progress.”
Even where Horgan and the other NDP MLAs have done well — “caucus has notched several good sessions of the legislature” — the memo says those accomplishments have failed to connect to the province beyond the capital.
“This is reflected as an inability to brand the government — in a political environment where there is ostensibly less anger at the incumbent government than in the last election — and an inability to brand ourselves, while successfully being labelled as the party that says ‘no’ to economic development.”
The five-page memo was drafted earlier this year by union staff, circulated to some members and party supporters, then leaked this week to The Vancouver Sun. When reporter Rob Shaw called union and party for reaction Thursday, he triggered a scramble for cover that consumed the better part of the day.
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http://vancouversun.com/opinion/colu...aked-memo-says
Quote:
Steelworkers Sharply Criticize B.C. NDP
ROB SHAW
Vancouver Sun
Published on: April 15, 2016
VICTORIA — One of the B.C. New Democratic Party’s largest union allies is expressing deep frustration with the party’s lack of organization, and questioning if it can win next year’s provincial election.
The United Steelworkers of Western Canada are losing confidence in the NDP’s ability to defeat the B.C. Liberals in 2017, according to an internal memo obtained by The Vancouver Sun.
The memo suggested the union threaten to pull its financial support for the NDP’s election campaign and blasted the party for poor planning, treating organized labour like a bank machine and failing to develop a jobs plan for the resource sector.
“Our concern at the lack of a cohesive provincial office and leaders’ office and the lack of campaign planning has culminated in our advising that there will be no more financial and in-kind assistance until a plan is developed,” said the memo, which threatened to instead only fund “local NDP candidates who best share our values.”
An apparent lack of consultation with organized labour on key issues “adds to the perception that the party only views the labour unions as an ATM; the only time our views are heard is when they are attached to a cheque,” read the memo.
“Suffice it to say, the growing level of frustration at providing financial and other support, with the lack of a message we believe our members need to hear to be successful in target ridings, has allowed us to join those who have or are losing confidence the NDP can win the next election.”
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http://vancouversun.com/news/local-n...ticize-b-c-ndp
Frankly. Unreal. Further corroborates the notion that the BC NDP is going after "green" voters and the Green Party as their major competition. Problem is that very few of the 87 BC seats have said message as a motivating vote factor - West Kootenays/inner Van City proper/southern Van Isle.
What also raised eye-brows last week is the fact that BC NDP leader John Horgan has publicly stated that a universal $10/day child care program will comprise part of their 2017 platform.
Prior to the 2013 BC election, said program was costed at ~$2 billion/annum in additional program spending. Back then the BC NDP stated "It's not an option - just too expensive". I guess the BC NDP is turning ideologically left in 2017 for the first time in over 40 years as well. BTW, apparently $billions more in annual program spending will be part of the 2017 BC NDP platform as well.
I can potentially foresee a political vacuum opening up in BC with the BC NDP turning both "green" and moving ideologically leftward.