Premier Christy Clark, how do you like her so far?

[steven lloyd]

While she definitely has personality and energy behind her, I'm afraid she'll turn into Obama of BC politics.

Interesting observation Captain. You could be right about that. She's going to have to be careful, get some focus, determine some priorities and develop some sort of mission, etc. Unfortunately for her (maybe?), she's going to be somewhat distracted in running another campaign for her seat - although determining some priorities and developing a mission may actually end up benefiting her with that. As you're alluding to though, while she has been able to be decisive it still appears she is a bit all over the place (trying to be everything to everyone) with no clear agenda. Still, not quite the bubblehead I think a lot of people (including myself) were expecting - so far anyway. It will be interesting to see how she campaigns for her own seat, and then (assuming she wins a seat) prepares her government to campaign against the NDP in the next election (I can only hope she has grown up enough to drop the "we gotta keep the socialist hordes behind the gates of hell" approach).

[flamingfingers]

^^ ???bubblehead???? Wait. My very humble opinion is that what has come out as 'her' initiatives have been well crafted and programmed by the back room boys. I would like to see her in open debate without them in her corner.

It would be nice if she proved me wrong... but.... And Obama clone? Naw, more like Campbell in a skirt. Time will tell tho.

[Urbane]

^^ ???bubblehead???? Wait. My very humble opinion is that what has come out as 'her' initiatives have been well crafted and programmed by the back room boys. I would like to see her in open debate without them in her corner.

It would be nice if she proved me wrong... but.... And Obama clone? Naw, more like Campbell in a skirt. Time will tell tho.

Given some of her announcements the back room boys must have changed their minds suddenly about a few things. They now have decided there will be an investigation into the $6 million covering Basi and Virk's defence and they've now decided that the minimum wage should be increased. And they've changed their minds about the organization and make-up of cabinet and they've changed their minds about the date of the HST referendum.

[flamingfingers]

^ Your point is??

[Urbane]

^ Your point is??

My point is that it really isn't back room boys. She's made some significant changes to what Campbell was doing. Good for her.

[NAB]

they've changed their minds about the date of the HST referendum

I must have missed that Urbane, when is it now???

Nab

[Urbane]

they've changed their minds about the date of the HST referendum



I must have missed that Urbane, when is it now???

Nab

Campbell had it set for September while Clark intends to move it to June.

[flamingfingers]

^ Your point is??

My point is that it really isn't back room boys. She's made some significant changes to what Campbell was doing. Good for her.

Are you sure that there has been no consultation with her advisors, i.e. the 'backroom boys'? I am not.

[Captain Awesome]

It will be interesting to see how she campaigns for her own seat, and then (assuming she wins a seat) prepares her government to campaign against the NDP in the next election (I can only hope she has grown up enough to drop the "we gotta keep the socialist hordes behind the gates of hell" approach).

Well, in her desire to be everyone's friend and repair BC Liberals image she might actually become the socialist horde...Wouldn't that be ironic.

Just saying.

[Urbane]

^ Your point is??

My point is that it really isn't back room boys. She's made some significant changes to what Campbell was doing. Good for her.



Are you sure that there has been no consultation with her advisors, i.e. the 'backroom boys'? I am not.

Some people might interpret "advisers" as a positive term and "back room boys" as a negative term. Yes, she has advisers and I'm sure she's listening to them.

[John500]

Did the finance minister under CClark took out another 900 million out of ICBC into general revenue? This on top of the 750 million last year. If so, Same old same old.

[Urbane]

Clark seems to be viewed favourably by the public thus far and opposition to the HST is waning:

A new poll suggests the B.C. Liberals are getting a bit of a boost from their new leader Christy Clark, while opposition to the HST is dropping.

According to Mario Canseco, the vice president of communications for Angus Reid, the poll suggests the Liberals have the support of 43 per cent of decided voters across B.C.

That's an increase of two percentage points from the Angus Reid last poll in February, before Christy Clark became Liberal leader and premier, and a seven per cent increase from December when the party was tied with the NDP in the Angus Reid poll at 36 per cent.

Meanwhile Canseco says the poll suggests NDP support has climbed only slightly since December to 38 per cent, meaning the difference between the parties is statistically significant.

"It's the first time we've had the B.C. Liberals ahead by more than the margin of error since the election, a five point lead right now, which is good news. It means that they got a little bit of a nice jump since the new head of government was chosen," said Canseco.

The poll suggested the Green Party had the support of 10 per cent of residents and the B.C. Conservatives had the support of five per cent.

NDP leads with women and Interior residents
The online survey of more than 800 BC voters was conducted last week after Christy Clark was sworn in as Premier and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 per cent.

"The BC Liberals hold the upper hand in Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the North, while the NDP is leading in the Interior," said Canseco.

"The governing party maintains the 14-point advantage among male voters. Among women, the NDP is five points ahead — down from a nine-point advantage last month. The NDP remains the top choice for voters aged 18-to-34 and those living in households earning less than $50,000 a year," he said.

The poll also suggests NDP MLA Mike Farnworth remains the most popular choice for NDP leader in the party's race to replace former-leader Carole James, with the support of 43 per cent of B.C. residents, while MLA Adrian Dix is a distant second with 27 per cent support.

HST opposition declines
The poll also notes opposition to the HST continues to fall, with a majority of those surveyed — 54 per cent — saying they would vote to abolish the HST in the coming referendum, down from 64 per cent in the December poll.

"The HST would be abolished if the referendum took place this month, but it is important to note that the level of animosity towards the tax is considerably lower than last year, when three-in-five respondents were ready to vote against the HST," said Canseco.

"It will be important to see if the numbers shift once the new government and the opposition define their campaign strategies," he said.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -poll.html

[Loed]

^ Your point is??

My point is that it really isn't back room boys. She's made some significant changes to what Campbell was doing. Good for her.

This is exactly what they(if they exist) would want you to think. Remember that, it's how the game is played.

I personally don't see her doing anything much difference than Campbell. Sure she's pulled some PR moves, but this early on it's impossible to view anything that she's done in a good light.

[Urbane]

^ Your point is??

My point is that it really isn't back room boys. She's made some significant changes to what Campbell was doing. Good for her.



This is exactly what they(if they exist) would want you to think. Remember that, it's how the game is played.

I personally don't see her doing anything much difference than Campbell. Sure she's pulled some PR moves, but this early on it's impossible to view anything that she's done in a good light.

What actions could she take that you would see in a good light? Restoring the gaming grants and raising the minimum wage are things that I favour. Are you against those policies?

[Loed]

Raising the minimum wage wasn't really needed, and is only going to serve to raise prices across the board some more and even out anyways. It's just a PR move, like-wise with the gaming grants really.

Thing is, truly, there is nothing she could do right now that would change the way I see someone working for that party. Her entire situation is just PR BS.