Richard Hughes- Political Blogger
Murray Dobbin’s latest opinion piece in the Tyee has rankled some and cheered up others. Dobbin has the audacity to question to challenge the Federal NDP’s drift to the centre, more like centre right actual…
Author: Richard Hughes
Cowichan Conversations: The CVRD Whac-A Mole Game Is Becoming Tiresome
Today we have a guest post from Dara Quast. hardworking community activist and observer of the local political scene.
Dara Quast-Community Activist
The CVRD’s Whac-a-mole (The connotation of “Whac-a-mole” in colloquial usage is that of a…
Cowichan Conversations: Cowichan News Leader Editorial Critical of CVRD’s Alternate Approval Process
Our take: Can’t democracy move with the times?
A dedicated group of people mistrusts the Cowichan Valley Regional District so much it appears willing to knock on doors in the pouring November rain and risk higher taxes to take it down.
And if it turns out the community agrees with them, then hey, that’s what democracy is all about.
But we are not writing today to take sides on the CVRD’s push to make garbage collection a public utility throughout the valley.
We are writing about the frustration being expressed by these citizens about the effort they will have to put in to making their wishes public policy.
The rest of the editorial can be found here.
Continue reading
Cowichan Conversations: Fracking and the Tar Sands-Canada’s Curse
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
If we ever needed proof that our country’s political structures are inadequate and unprepared to meet the challenges facing Canada today, the Canada-China Trade Deal, FIPPA, is that proof.
While…
Cowichan Conversations: Cowichan Taxpayers Unite To Block Another Sleazy CVRD Tax Grab!
Richard Hub Hughes-Political Blogger
Taxpayers from the Far Left, the Far Right and the Far Middle unite to reject the CVRD’s underhanded Negative Billing effort, aka an Alternative Approval Process!
The common ground that unites Cowichan residen…
Cowichan Conversations: The CVRD Directors Are Trying To Bring the Eco Depot Back!
Richard Hughes- Political Blogger
When it comes to the CVRD Directors penchant for spending our money and doing it in a deceptive and sneaky manner this group of Director’s win the prize!
Does anyone recall them, any of them, pitching you on the …
Cowichan Conversations: Horgan Hassles Harried Premier Over Scandulous Spending!
Richard Hughes- Political Blogger
BC NDP House Leader John ‘the Enforcer’ Horgan has come off the bench and whistled down the Premier for her party planning frivolous fiscal behaviour. She was and is clearly offside and out of touch. I missed this release somehow, but it really is special and must to be shared.
In truth it was right there on the NDP Website where you can view it now.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Why Pot Is Illegal And Must Be Confiscated At All Costs!
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
This is in proof positive that all the pot propaganda that has been featured on this blog has been sadly mistaken. Just look at this brave reporter, outstanding in his field, rendered near senseless.
Of course a few tok…
Cowichan Conversations: Canada’s Democratic Structures Are Crumbling Under Authoritarian Rule!
Richard Hughes- Political Blogger
Everywhere we look our democracy is compromised, in some cases it is underwater. From many of our local government bodies to the senior levels democratic processes go begging.
Nationally our democracy has been hijacked…
Cowichan Conversations: Bob Erb Pot Activist Wins 25 Million Dollars
Former Marijuana Party Candidate for Mayor of Terrace wins pot, a potful of cash, 25 million and change. Bob Erb intends to spread it around. The seasonal construction workers palns to keep working, donating his paycheque to those in need.
Erb also say…
Cowichan Conversations: Lili Marlene- Marlene Dietricht
So many memories and such wonderful music that relected and softened the roughest edges of the time
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Rick Mercer Outs PM Harper Over Treatment of our Vets!
Why is it that it is our comediens who tell it like it is while PM Stephen Harper’s performance is so sadly laughable?
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Threat of Hiring 201 Chinese Workers Reveals Deep Problems
Richard Hughes-Political Blogger
The problems of so called labour shortages reflects both Federal and Provincial Government’s failed policies caused by cutting training programs at home. Labour unions understandably are ringing the bell.
The Canadian Press reports:
Controversial plans to hire 201 Chinese workers at a proposed mine in northern British Columbia have prompted Ottawa to announce a review of its entire foreign worker program, with the government suggesting the case has revealed deeper problems with a system designed to fill short-term labour shortages.
For the the rest of the article click here.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Van Dongen Goes After Christy Clark Over BC Rail Sale!
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
The long awaited charge levelled against Premier Christy Clark over her role, as then Deputy Premier, in the BCR scandal has finally materialized.
Here is a report from the Vancouver Sun
John van Dongen, the former BC Liberal MLA who now sits as an Independent, has asked B.C.’s Conflict of Interest Commissioner to conduct a formal inquiry to determine whether Premier Christy Clark broke the law in her handling of the BC Rail issue back in 2003.
For the rest of Sun Reporter Johnathan Fowlie’s story click here.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Steve Housser Seeks Cowichan Liberal Nod
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
Steve Housser says that he was inspired by Premier Christy Clark’s energy and he has decided to throw his hat in the ring to challenge Incumbent MLA-New Democraat Bill Routley.
Here is the story
Cowichan Conversations: Politicians Please Ponder Pot Policies Promptly!
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
For decades our politicians have pouted over the question of legalization often throwing their hands in the air pointing to the US War on Drugs as evidence that they could not possibly legalize cannabis here in Canada.
Well the air has just been let out of that balloon.
Washington State and Colorado residents voted for regulated legalization and will now set out to kick the plans into gear.
This has really ruffled the feathers of our BC politicians and their Federal counterparts. What to do now? OMG the pressure is on!
I’m sure glad I have a driver! I can’t stop giggling and I have the munchies!
What are our politicans thinking?
The latest polling shows 75 percent of Canadians want the funny tobacco legalized.
It is really only a minority bolstered by those who profit in the deadly drug trade that want to see legalization blocked.
It is disappointing to see our Liberal and NDP leaders ducking the issue. They have in unison kicked the ball over to the Ottawa crowd.
Christy! What was in those Timbits?
Both Premier Christie Clark and BC NDP leader Adrian Dix conveniently ignore the fact that Premiers and their Attorney Generals can take steps provincially by instructing our police forces and prosecutors to lay off busting people for simple possession of marijuana.
Canada’s Premier’s should be lobbying Ottawa to listen to the strong majority desire for and end to prohibition.
I still don’t feel any different. It doesn’t seem to work for me. Can I have some timbits?
PM Harper embraces the 1930′s ‘Reefer Madness’ attitude to the devil weed and would just as soon jail pot puffers.
NDP leader Thomas Mulcair has balked, flip flopped and spoken against liberalizing present laws that turn otherwise law abiding citizen into criminals.
He has sadly demonstrated that he too is out of touch with Canadian attudes towards the failed ‘War on Drug’s.’
Bob Rae, Federal Liberal Interim leader has said that what we have in place is not working and we really have to look at a different approach.
Federal Liberal Leadership hopeful Justin Trudeau appears to be poised to actually step up, but so far he has been bob and weaving. He may surprise in later rounds of the bout.
Thwer has been a clear call from the Young Liberals to end the prohibition that has failed miserably.
Most Canadian Politicans, not all, are out of touch with the mood of the nation.
It is not too late for our politicians to take a deep breath and seize the moment. It will be most revealing to watch the dance that follows.
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Rick Mercer Weighs In On Canada-China Trade Deal
Rick Mercer Speaks Out! Speaking truth to power on the national scene?
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: No Accountabilty For Pundits-Jon Stewart
Nate Silver nailed it but these guys give the Daily Show Host Jon Stewart plenty of ammunition. (See Nate Silver story On the Left Side.)
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Barack Obama Has Won A Second Term Over Romney.
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
Barack Obama won fighting for Medicare, the poor, the working class, the middle class, the gays, the seniors, the students. Thank God!
Every attack went into the ditch and now his second term and great…