John Van Dongen-Independent MLA Our Canadian Democracy has been hijacked by the political party system for far too long. Slowly but possibly surely politicians are speaking out, most often it is when they are on their way out the door. Not all wait until retirement. Former BC Liberal Cabinet Minister John
Continue readingTag: Cowichan Conversations
Cowichan Conversations: The Brilliance of Regional Politics
Don Maroc Journalists and bloggers spend a lot of time tearing the hide off politicians for doing what seem to be (and often are) stupid things with taxpayers money. Being elected to be in change of the public treasury sometimes seems to cause an instant virtual lobotomy, but then sometimes
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: The NHL Players Could Walk Away And Form Their Own League!
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes- Political Blogger There are many options floating around as a result of the current NHL lockout. They run from various new leagues bringing in new rich owners to replace the old rich owners to associating with the Russian KHL and European leagues to make a truly world league
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Don’t Listen To Sharon Jackson-Here’s Seinfeld and Cramer!
Richard ‘Hub’ Hughes-Political Blogger
Web Mistress Sharon Jackson is always telling me what to do on the blog. Sometimes she is right other times not so much.
This next piece for example breaks all of her rules and instructions and many of…
Cowichan Conversations: North Cowichan Council as Christmas Grinches
When you recall the cavalier attitude displayed by the North Cowichan Mayor and Council when it came to the North Cowichan Municipal Hall upgrades and the associated costs it is difficult to accept their tight fisted response to a staff call to condu…
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Green Party Leader Elizabeth May Is The Cream of the Commons Crop!
Elizabeth May Green Party MP-Saanich, BC
The determined and focused Elizabeth May has set a number of firsts, politically speaking.
Her election as MP for Saanich on Vancouver Island marked a first for the Green Party who had been running candidates for years without even garnering strong also ran status.
In spite of her impressive victory she was written off before she started due to the fact that the fledgling party had no real status. Few gave her much chance of gaining any status or recognition as a solitary flag carrier.
Whoa! Not only were they wrong.Ms. May is Parliamentarian of the year. Here is the report from Macleans magazine.
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Cowichan Conversations: Murray Dobbin calls for NDP to get back to where they once belonged. Get Back Joe-Joe!
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…
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.
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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.
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