__TJ__

I'm landing in Vancouver in 10 days and have no idea who is who in BC politics, anywhere I can find a cliff notes version? I've been so busy with the house/paperwork/the kids/my degree etc that I haven't had time to research it and don't want to stand there like a Pratt if it comes up in discussion.
Since I can't vote till I'm a citizen it doesn't matter what my opinion is. But every article ivefound is like war and peace!
Thanks in advance, tj

el_richo

You're best to ignore it, in my opinion.

__TJ__

Lol. Just didn't want to come accoss all thick!

el_richo

You won't, trust me.

JonboyE

OK, a very quick primer. There are three parties to note:

1) BC Liberal. Right of centre party. By the next election they will have been in power for 12 years. They changed leader last year after a tax fiasco. The new leader is Christy Clark who doesn't appear to have much substance. They are running out of steam IMO.

2) New Democratic Party (NDP) Old Labour left of centre party closely tied to the public sector unions. They also have a new leader, Adrian Dix, who is acting like his time has come. It probably has. The NDP have a remarkably consistent vote. Not enough to win power when the right is united, but enough when it is split. They will probably win the next provincial election because:

3) The Conservative Party is on the hard right and draws just sufficient dissatisfied right wing BC Liberals to split the vote. Other than this it has no relevance.

__TJ__

ahhh so basically

bc liberal = labour,
NDP = tories, and
conservatives = lib dems?

is that right? thanks for that i just want to be able to know what i dont know, as Mark Twain once said "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."

JonboyE

Not quite.

BC Liberal = Ken Clarke conservatives
NDP = Callaghan style labour
BC Conservative = thinks Thatcherism is dangerously left wing.

Oink

They're all tossers.

Novocastrian

Ah, but tossers done the three very different ways, sir.

/basil fawlty/

__TJ__

brilliant, thanks. i can nod with impunity now

el_richo

I can honestly say, in all my time spent in Canada i've not once had a conversation about politics. I intend to keep it that way

Novocastrian

You're having one now.

el_richo

Shit

__TJ__

PMSL. sorry rich. didnt mean to break your streak. im not really interested in politics here so wont be there either but if im to vote one day i figured at least a passing knowledge ofwho prime minister is would be a good idea.

thanks all.

Former Lancastrian

Dont worry about voting as until you become a Canadian citizen you cannot vote in BC at the Provincial or Federal level. A lot can happen in 3 years.
Dont forget the old addage that if you dont vote then you cant have an opinion or say in whats good or bad.

Welcome to BC have you decided which pot smoking, tree hugging, granola crunching, birkenstock wearing commune you would like to join????