maplesyrup Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 No-name party takes on B.C.'s Liberals British Columbians are hardly starved for political choice.In the 2001 provincial election, 22 parties fielded candidates. They ranged from the Liberals, New Democrats and B.C. Marijuana party, which were the only ones to contest all 79 ridings, to the People's Front running in 11 and the Party of Citizens Who Have Decided To Think For Themselves And Be Their Own Politicians with two candidates. But if John Ranta gets his way, voters in each of the province's ridings will have another choice by the time they go to the polls next May 17. And, unlike the typical creator of a fledgling political entity, Ranta is not looking for moral victories or a place to get his ideas a public airing. He sees a movement that can grow from nothing to a contender for power. "I'm into 25 per cent in the polls in the first month and I don't think that's unreasonable," says Ranta, a disaffected provincial Liberal and mayor of the small Interior town of Cache Creek. "I'm trying to create a middle-of-the-road alternative for people. "After going back and forth between the NDP and the Liberals, that's what they want." It's easy to dismiss Ranta's comments as the misguided bravado of a small-town mayor grown too big for his britches. And he's the first to admit that talk of a new party seriously contesting with the two frontrunners for power may come to nothing. But it's important to remember that this is B.C., a province where political fortunes rise and fall with the tides and governments often perish from self-inflicted wounds. Well. less than one year to go to get rid of Gordo so this should come as no surprise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
takeanumber Posted August 14, 2004 Report Share Posted August 14, 2004 BC politiks are fuct. The province is bipolar. Always has been. I don't see that changing anytime soon. So I think the pendulum will continue to swing from one extreme to the other, with no competent alternative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Well, I would be interested in his party if he can get it moving. We do need something a little more centered. Of course. We shall see what he can do. The liberals came from nowhere to become a party of interest then it was hijacked by this bunch of right wingers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slavik44 Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 I hope he succeeds, right now I really don't see any party I want to vote for, and I still don't know which party is the lesser of the two evils, so if we get 3 evils it may be easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maplesyrup Posted August 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Given up on the Greens, eh? I don't blame you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoker Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 Given up on the Greens, eh? I don't blame you. Nope. Greens or Conservatives........who's ever higher in the polls......maybe Libs if they are running neck and neck with the NDP in my riding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cartman Posted August 15, 2004 Report Share Posted August 15, 2004 The contrast b/w Alberta and BC is incredible. Personally, I think that we should just abolish elections in Alberta. Why bother? Rarely does anything change anyways. We could save a lot of tax money and make the PC's pay for elections (from within the Party). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caesar Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Not really, Cartman. Alberta , may just be a few years behind. Remember WAC Bennett ruled for years. After, he finally lost to Barrett's NDP. the following leaders including his son and Vander Zalm sent the party into obscurity. After the Barrett NDP; just about about every Premier here has faced charges of some sort of corruption. Harcourt was honest. Campbell was the first that actually had to spend time behind bars. others came close. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maplesyrup Posted September 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 But who will be his prom queen?Independent Liberal MLA Tony Bhullar has suddenly become the most popular student in the classroom. Two government insiders confirm Premier Gordon Campbell scheduled a meeting with Mr. Bhullar early last week to discuss his impending decision on whether to join the provincial Conservatives (which may merge with Unity this weekend). But that meeting, which took place on Friday in the West Annex, wasn't Mr. Bhullar's only social engagement. Public Eye has learned the MLA was in discussions with Unity leader Chris Delaney yesterday about the role he might play in the merged party. In an interview at the legislature earlier today, Mr. Bhullar would neither confirm nor deny whether he had met with Premier Campbell and Mr. Delaney. Things are definitely heating up in BC with our next provincial election just over 8 months from now. Like the federales, maybe we will be getting a minority government in BC which would not necessarily be a bad thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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