Read more here on Bill 42, the Election Amendment Act.
28 Replies to “British Columbia’s Bill 42”
First of all, when Campbell was in opposition the NDP government tried to enact a similar bill.
Campbell is on record as being “outraged” that someone would attempt such an affront to democracy.
F*ck….I hate politicians.
Secondly, this ad campaign is funded mainly by a coallition of BC unions.
I can’t decide which side on this debate I hate the most.
Observer – I am lukewarm on Gordo (the Peter Principal in action, as I see it) and have no affection for the unions, but capping advocacy spending is just going too far. People aren’t stupid – they understand that the BCTF (the teachers’ union), the BCGEU (government employees) or the BC Federation of Labour have an axe to grind. If Gordo is afraid of policy-based criticism, he should stop enacting stupid policies; if he thinks his policies are good, he should be willing to defend them. One of the public defences of the Bill is that fixed election dates make it easier for advocacy groups (including unions) to plan their ad campaigns. Perhaps so – but as I recall, we have fixed election dates due to a dumbass election promise by Gordo and his acolytes. If it’s a real problem, then the solution is obvious, although embarrassing: admit you made a mistake and change back.
Canadian Observer I live in BC and I completely agree with your sentiments.
It is hard to know what the hell is going on in this province sometimes. On a given day Campbell seems like he has his head screwed on reasonably well, the next thing you know he is touting absolutely absurd ideas like a carbon tax.
Our local Liberal MP is truly useless, a defining example of a waste of taxpayer money, doesn’t do a damn thing, but no way ever would I EVER vote NDP.
What is one to do? I wish there was a real alternative in BC to the Campbell Liberals and the communist NDP (and in BC the NDP really are communists).
My fear is that in the next election anyone who is even remotely conservative is going to stay home out of frustration which will hand the election to the NDP. God help us if that happens.
Why is there no Conservative party in BC, or a BC Party.
“I can’t decide which side on this debate I hate the most.”
Damn you Canadian Observer,I wanted to be the first to say that.
Originally the wesite didn’t allow you to modify the protest letter but after a lot of howls the “democratic” (yea, right)unions allowed modifications.
The problem here is that Campbell and the libs are arrogant and corrupt BUT the NDP are quite simply INEPT.
Horny Toad
WE are between a rock and a hard place in BC.
First this wretched carbon tax scheme, and now this.
There is no real alternative to The Liberals, when one thinks of what happened here during the NDP years.
But, this sort of behavior screams out for a heavy backlash from people who normally would vote for them.
E-mailing MLAs lets them off the hook too easily. It is time for a terse phone call to their offices, or better yet, a personal visit.
Free speech it seems is no longer so free. It is demanding something of us.
the entire country is f*%#ed !!!
Canada has become a fascist state – a fake democracy ruled by evil socialists and misfits
as for the unions, they’re in the back pockets of government
and the reason government workers are all unionized is because a collective agreement subverts the rights of a worker….
the internet is the last vestige of democracy and the HRC is trying to regulate it…
what the f*#@ has happened to Canada?
I can’t quite believe I signed a cheque to those imbeciles last election, first the carbon tax, now this. But THE NDP in this province are vile incompentents, Carol James is appalling. I’m left seething at the options. Maybe I’ll protest vote Green, although that would feel a lot like lying in the poll booth as I am not fond of those nutters either.
MaryT wrote “Why is there no Conservative party in BC, or a BC Party.”
Mary, there is one, in name. Sadly it has an incompetent as “Leader” that no-one federally can take seriously. He can’t even organize his own riding association, let alone a round of drinks at the Kokanee brewery… Couple this with BC Liberal tentacles into the Harper government and we are truly stuck here in BC.
Watching the various union and associated group spendings on the last election, and there was a sickening ton of it, I like the restrictions.
Of course they have an axe to grind but without restriction the Dippers have multiples of the election spending allowances.
Sounds good to me. There i’ve said it. Let the nasty Pink flames begin.
The Left coast is firmly stuck in the Far(out)Side, Not much hope for sanity breaking out any time soon.
Carol Taylor smiling while she sticks people with a carbon tax, oh, the cruelty. How long does it take a Lefty to feel the pain?
What to do in BC…
The NDP destroyed the BC economy during the 90s. In a virtual sweep of the NDP, they finally were routed and a center right party was elected.
To stay elected the BC Liberals have been slowly assuming the policies of the NDP. There is a difference between the two but that gap has narrowed significantly.
I live in BC and I am completely baffled by Bill 42. Worse, I can understand the Libs wanting to cut the legs out from underneath the NDP, but sheesh…… a carbon tax.
I really do live in La La land.
This is a real dilemma. Here in the land of lotus eaters, the politics is more of a kitchen sink garbage disposal.
On the one hand you have the politicians that are in it for themselves, to get elected in the first place, bar none. To live on the taxpayer’s largesse is not bad at all. Campbell is all over the province opening this, making promise about that, all the while putting his money in the bank while paying for his adventures per diem courtesy of the plebeians.
Voting for liberals is sort of voting for lesser of two really evil entities. James, the finance person is positively giddy with the carbon tax. As it is that was not in their election platform. They would have lost the election; then again, who do you vote for?
The representatives from the Okanogan are nice and sweet to everyone with money being given here there and everywhere. Of course when you tell them to cut taxes, their behavior is much like telling a cat to sitt.
The biggest oxymoron in Canada “HONEST POLITICIAN” At least in BC if you really feel that you need to vote, even if a protest vote that’s all it is. In federal politics it does not matter who you vote for they get a buck and change. The way I figure thats about $10 more than any of them are worth.
The Liberals are behaving like any party in power for too long: badly. The carbon tax and this bill are probably just the beginning of the nonsense.
But we have nowhere to go. The NDP ruined the province and, the great intellects that they are, happily plan to do so again.
There is a reason I am getting out of this cesspool of politics called BC. I don’t understand the rampant stupidity of people when it comes to politics here. I can only assume it’s the widespread use of weed that is to blame. Maybe green, free drugs, censored, shortsighted pandering makes perfect sense when you are good and baked.
Firat off I am not a union man or supporter. However, this is the same situation that the CHRC is using to split the vote on poor legislation.
Defend the unions on free speech, deal with the union’s propensity of using their union dues from their members for political purposes, after. Send a message to your government that YOU the voter call the shots, not the government. Take back your rights to democracy and free speech, and vote against this bill.
I can see I’m not the only one that is totally frustrated with BC politics these days. In my case my frustration extends right down to the municipal level (where incompetence is rampant as well).
We really do need a good third choice in BC. Voting for the NDP is simply not an option, but the Campbell Liberals know this, so they no longer care. Increasingly they are prepared to change their colours to suit the mood of the day, rather than lead with conviction on strong centre and centre-right policies.
To their credit they have done a pretty good job on the budget and spending, but then a carbon tax? What was Campbell thinking by introducing such an utterly stupid idea?
The NDP truly scares the hell out of many of us, so unfortunately Campbell can do what he wants and still get our vote. It’s a sort of blackmail that will eventually come back to bite him.
There is an interesting parallel between federal and provincial politics here. In both cases, the party in power (CPC, BCLib) only looks good because the opposition (NDP, FEDLib) is so gawd-awful, appallingly, stultifyingly, burdock-in-your-undershorts BAD. Maybe we should be looking for better opposition instead of better government, and the system would adjust itself upwards.
Kakola not a bad line of thought.
A more appropriate response would be to ban Unions from using mandatory unions dues for any activities not directly related to collective-bargaining negotiations.
Under no moral law can workers be forced to pay commie union hacks to be activists against those worker’s own interests.
The court ruled that you can’t get out of union dues for collective bargaining but that doesn’t apply to banning unions from using those dues for activities not related to bargaining.
Barring that, these gag laws are the only other alternative. Especially after witnessing the McShifty liberal propaganda which was funnelled through Ontario public-sector unions which allowed McShifty to spend about 5 times as much money on advertising.
ulianov,
Deal.
Of course in the case of the average (non-insider) shareholders, their employment doesn’t demand payment. They can keep their jobs if they sell their shares. They, unlike the union extorted employees, have a choice.
The cases are not equal. You should not be forced to pay for union activism with forced contributions. I would not be so against this corruption is the scumbag unions used only money from voluntary sources – but they know that won’t happen as the “workers” suffer from the union’s class-warfare tax policies and agendas.
kakola @ 12:42 very good point, you’re absolutely right of course. This carbon tax really gets in my craw, based on junk science and shoved down my throat. It certainly wasn’t on any election platform that I recall.
And will GORDON CAMPBELL please stick his feet in his mouth and wiggle his toes for eight years
“Overall donations from organized labour are tiny when compared to corporate donations.”
I think Bill 42 is appalling. I take issue with your math though. BCTF spent 17 million on their campaign to elect the NDP last election. That’s one union spending more than 1/2 of the 30 million allowed for federal parties in the last election!
Peanuts my ass.
TJ at 1:05 had it absolutely correct. I guess we just have to whine to our elected representatives.(unfortunately mine is Shane Simpson, HELP!)
THE HAND OF GOD AND GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE B.C. LIBERALS WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS. SOME MIGHT CALL THIS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. BUT OTHERS SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS : A CRY FOR HELP. ENVISION A LITTLE BOY BULLIED IN THE SCHOOLYARD. FAST FORWARD TO GORDON CAMPBELL CRITICIZING AND DESTROYING GLEN CLARK. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL ON THE WAY TO DAMASCUS. GORDON CAMPBELL IS NOW ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF NAME CALLING, TAUNTING AND FINGER-POINTING THAT PREVIOUSLY SHATTERED THE CALM OF OUR AIRWAVES IN THE MONTHS PRECEEDING EVERY PROVINCIAL ELECTION. ONLY PLEASANT ADS ABOUT PLEASANT TOPICS. LIMIT THE MUD-SLINGING AND ACCUSATIONS. WHAT COULD BE A BETTER IDEA. LETS FOCUS ON OUR GOVERNMENTS SUCCESS — AND NOT ITS FAILURES. REMEMBER NOW IS THE TIME FOR B.C. TO SHINE. WE’VE ALREADY SOLD MOST OF OUR RIVERS AND CREEKS AROUND VANCOUVER AND VAST AREAS OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE REST OF THE PROVINCE. BUT B.C. IS A BIG GLORIOUS PLACE AND WE WANT TO SELL AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN TO MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES. LETS NOT BLOW OUR CHANCE. GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE B.C. LIBERALS HAVE AN IMPORTANT AGENDA FOR B.C.; IN THE SCOPE OF WHICH A PROVINCIAL ELECTION IS MERELY A WASTE OF TIME. I FOR ONE — AND I’M SURE THAT MR. CAMPBELL SHARES MY SENTIMENT — WISH THAT GORDON CAMPBELL COULD JUST LEGISLATE A WIN FOR THE B.C. LIBERALS SO THAT THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST CAN GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS AT HAND. Thanx for listening, Bob Bly, Unofficial President of the Unofficial Branch of the I Love Gordon Campbell Fan Club.
First of all, when Campbell was in opposition the NDP government tried to enact a similar bill.
Campbell is on record as being “outraged” that someone would attempt such an affront to democracy.
F*ck….I hate politicians.
Secondly, this ad campaign is funded mainly by a coallition of BC unions.
I can’t decide which side on this debate I hate the most.
Observer – I am lukewarm on Gordo (the Peter Principal in action, as I see it) and have no affection for the unions, but capping advocacy spending is just going too far. People aren’t stupid – they understand that the BCTF (the teachers’ union), the BCGEU (government employees) or the BC Federation of Labour have an axe to grind. If Gordo is afraid of policy-based criticism, he should stop enacting stupid policies; if he thinks his policies are good, he should be willing to defend them. One of the public defences of the Bill is that fixed election dates make it easier for advocacy groups (including unions) to plan their ad campaigns. Perhaps so – but as I recall, we have fixed election dates due to a dumbass election promise by Gordo and his acolytes. If it’s a real problem, then the solution is obvious, although embarrassing: admit you made a mistake and change back.
Canadian Observer I live in BC and I completely agree with your sentiments.
It is hard to know what the hell is going on in this province sometimes. On a given day Campbell seems like he has his head screwed on reasonably well, the next thing you know he is touting absolutely absurd ideas like a carbon tax.
Our local Liberal MP is truly useless, a defining example of a waste of taxpayer money, doesn’t do a damn thing, but no way ever would I EVER vote NDP.
What is one to do? I wish there was a real alternative in BC to the Campbell Liberals and the communist NDP (and in BC the NDP really are communists).
My fear is that in the next election anyone who is even remotely conservative is going to stay home out of frustration which will hand the election to the NDP. God help us if that happens.
Why is there no Conservative party in BC, or a BC Party.
“I can’t decide which side on this debate I hate the most.”
Damn you Canadian Observer,I wanted to be the first to say that.
Originally the wesite didn’t allow you to modify the protest letter but after a lot of howls the “democratic” (yea, right)unions allowed modifications.
The problem here is that Campbell and the libs are arrogant and corrupt BUT the NDP are quite simply INEPT.
Horny Toad
WE are between a rock and a hard place in BC.
First this wretched carbon tax scheme, and now this.
There is no real alternative to The Liberals, when one thinks of what happened here during the NDP years.
But, this sort of behavior screams out for a heavy backlash from people who normally would vote for them.
E-mailing MLAs lets them off the hook too easily. It is time for a terse phone call to their offices, or better yet, a personal visit.
Free speech it seems is no longer so free. It is demanding something of us.
the entire country is f*%#ed !!!
Canada has become a fascist state – a fake democracy ruled by evil socialists and misfits
as for the unions, they’re in the back pockets of government
and the reason government workers are all unionized is because a collective agreement subverts the rights of a worker….
the internet is the last vestige of democracy and the HRC is trying to regulate it…
what the f*#@ has happened to Canada?
I can’t quite believe I signed a cheque to those imbeciles last election, first the carbon tax, now this. But THE NDP in this province are vile incompentents, Carol James is appalling. I’m left seething at the options. Maybe I’ll protest vote Green, although that would feel a lot like lying in the poll booth as I am not fond of those nutters either.
MaryT wrote “Why is there no Conservative party in BC, or a BC Party.”
Mary, there is one, in name. Sadly it has an incompetent as “Leader” that no-one federally can take seriously. He can’t even organize his own riding association, let alone a round of drinks at the Kokanee brewery… Couple this with BC Liberal tentacles into the Harper government and we are truly stuck here in BC.
Watching the various union and associated group spendings on the last election, and there was a sickening ton of it, I like the restrictions.
Of course they have an axe to grind but without restriction the Dippers have multiples of the election spending allowances.
Sounds good to me. There i’ve said it. Let the nasty Pink flames begin.
The Left coast is firmly stuck in the Far(out)Side, Not much hope for sanity breaking out any time soon.
Carol Taylor smiling while she sticks people with a carbon tax, oh, the cruelty. How long does it take a Lefty to feel the pain?
What to do in BC…
The NDP destroyed the BC economy during the 90s. In a virtual sweep of the NDP, they finally were routed and a center right party was elected.
To stay elected the BC Liberals have been slowly assuming the policies of the NDP. There is a difference between the two but that gap has narrowed significantly.
I live in BC and I am completely baffled by Bill 42. Worse, I can understand the Libs wanting to cut the legs out from underneath the NDP, but sheesh…… a carbon tax.
I really do live in La La land.
This is a real dilemma. Here in the land of lotus eaters, the politics is more of a kitchen sink garbage disposal.
On the one hand you have the politicians that are in it for themselves, to get elected in the first place, bar none. To live on the taxpayer’s largesse is not bad at all. Campbell is all over the province opening this, making promise about that, all the while putting his money in the bank while paying for his adventures per diem courtesy of the plebeians.
Voting for liberals is sort of voting for lesser of two really evil entities. James, the finance person is positively giddy with the carbon tax. As it is that was not in their election platform. They would have lost the election; then again, who do you vote for?
The representatives from the Okanogan are nice and sweet to everyone with money being given here there and everywhere. Of course when you tell them to cut taxes, their behavior is much like telling a cat to sitt.
The biggest oxymoron in Canada “HONEST POLITICIAN” At least in BC if you really feel that you need to vote, even if a protest vote that’s all it is. In federal politics it does not matter who you vote for they get a buck and change. The way I figure thats about $10 more than any of them are worth.
The Liberals are behaving like any party in power for too long: badly. The carbon tax and this bill are probably just the beginning of the nonsense.
But we have nowhere to go. The NDP ruined the province and, the great intellects that they are, happily plan to do so again.
There is a reason I am getting out of this cesspool of politics called BC. I don’t understand the rampant stupidity of people when it comes to politics here. I can only assume it’s the widespread use of weed that is to blame. Maybe green, free drugs, censored, shortsighted pandering makes perfect sense when you are good and baked.
Firat off I am not a union man or supporter. However, this is the same situation that the CHRC is using to split the vote on poor legislation.
Defend the unions on free speech, deal with the union’s propensity of using their union dues from their members for political purposes, after. Send a message to your government that YOU the voter call the shots, not the government. Take back your rights to democracy and free speech, and vote against this bill.
I can see I’m not the only one that is totally frustrated with BC politics these days. In my case my frustration extends right down to the municipal level (where incompetence is rampant as well).
We really do need a good third choice in BC. Voting for the NDP is simply not an option, but the Campbell Liberals know this, so they no longer care. Increasingly they are prepared to change their colours to suit the mood of the day, rather than lead with conviction on strong centre and centre-right policies.
To their credit they have done a pretty good job on the budget and spending, but then a carbon tax? What was Campbell thinking by introducing such an utterly stupid idea?
The NDP truly scares the hell out of many of us, so unfortunately Campbell can do what he wants and still get our vote. It’s a sort of blackmail that will eventually come back to bite him.
There is an interesting parallel between federal and provincial politics here. In both cases, the party in power (CPC, BCLib) only looks good because the opposition (NDP, FEDLib) is so gawd-awful, appallingly, stultifyingly, burdock-in-your-undershorts BAD. Maybe we should be looking for better opposition instead of better government, and the system would adjust itself upwards.
Kakola not a bad line of thought.
A more appropriate response would be to ban Unions from using mandatory unions dues for any activities not directly related to collective-bargaining negotiations.
Under no moral law can workers be forced to pay commie union hacks to be activists against those worker’s own interests.
The court ruled that you can’t get out of union dues for collective bargaining but that doesn’t apply to banning unions from using those dues for activities not related to bargaining.
Barring that, these gag laws are the only other alternative. Especially after witnessing the McShifty liberal propaganda which was funnelled through Ontario public-sector unions which allowed McShifty to spend about 5 times as much money on advertising.
ulianov,
Deal.
Of course in the case of the average (non-insider) shareholders, their employment doesn’t demand payment. They can keep their jobs if they sell their shares. They, unlike the union extorted employees, have a choice.
The cases are not equal. You should not be forced to pay for union activism with forced contributions. I would not be so against this corruption is the scumbag unions used only money from voluntary sources – but they know that won’t happen as the “workers” suffer from the union’s class-warfare tax policies and agendas.
kakola @ 12:42 very good point, you’re absolutely right of course. This carbon tax really gets in my craw, based on junk science and shoved down my throat. It certainly wasn’t on any election platform that I recall.
And will GORDON CAMPBELL please stick his feet in his mouth and wiggle his toes for eight years
“Overall donations from organized labour are tiny when compared to corporate donations.”
I think Bill 42 is appalling. I take issue with your math though. BCTF spent 17 million on their campaign to elect the NDP last election. That’s one union spending more than 1/2 of the 30 million allowed for federal parties in the last election!
Peanuts my ass.
TJ at 1:05 had it absolutely correct. I guess we just have to whine to our elected representatives.(unfortunately mine is Shane Simpson, HELP!)
THE HAND OF GOD AND GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE B.C. LIBERALS WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS. SOME MIGHT CALL THIS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC. BUT OTHERS SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS : A CRY FOR HELP. ENVISION A LITTLE BOY BULLIED IN THE SCHOOLYARD. FAST FORWARD TO GORDON CAMPBELL CRITICIZING AND DESTROYING GLEN CLARK. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO PAUL ON THE WAY TO DAMASCUS. GORDON CAMPBELL IS NOW ATTEMPTING TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF NAME CALLING, TAUNTING AND FINGER-POINTING THAT PREVIOUSLY SHATTERED THE CALM OF OUR AIRWAVES IN THE MONTHS PRECEEDING EVERY PROVINCIAL ELECTION. ONLY PLEASANT ADS ABOUT PLEASANT TOPICS. LIMIT THE MUD-SLINGING AND ACCUSATIONS. WHAT COULD BE A BETTER IDEA. LETS FOCUS ON OUR GOVERNMENTS SUCCESS — AND NOT ITS FAILURES. REMEMBER NOW IS THE TIME FOR B.C. TO SHINE. WE’VE ALREADY SOLD MOST OF OUR RIVERS AND CREEKS AROUND VANCOUVER AND VAST AREAS OF PUBLIC LAND IN THE REST OF THE PROVINCE. BUT B.C. IS A BIG GLORIOUS PLACE AND WE WANT TO SELL AS MUCH OF IT AS WE CAN TO MULTI-NATIONAL CORPORATIONS IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO THE OLYMPIC GAMES. LETS NOT BLOW OUR CHANCE. GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE B.C. LIBERALS HAVE AN IMPORTANT AGENDA FOR B.C.; IN THE SCOPE OF WHICH A PROVINCIAL ELECTION IS MERELY A WASTE OF TIME. I FOR ONE — AND I’M SURE THAT MR. CAMPBELL SHARES MY SENTIMENT — WISH THAT GORDON CAMPBELL COULD JUST LEGISLATE A WIN FOR THE B.C. LIBERALS SO THAT THE BRIGHTEST AND THE BEST CAN GET ON WITH THE BUSINESS AT HAND. Thanx for listening, Bob Bly, Unofficial President of the Unofficial Branch of the I Love Gordon Campbell Fan Club.