The BC Liberals’ convention wrapped up in Whistler today.
Delegates turned their sights on unions today.
They easily passed motions calling for disclosure of union finances and to prohibit public sector unions from spending union dues on any political purposes.
But a motion that called for allowing teachers to opt out of the BC Teachers’ Federation ran into opposition.
“So if we’re going to approve this motion in theory we should approve the same motion in respect to teacher-oriented respective accounts — lawyers, doctors, engineers… all the other professions.”
The motion was soundly defeated.
Meanwhile, delegates rejected a motion that called for compulsory voting.
The proposal called for fines to be levied against people who don’t vote, similar to the current system in Australia.
“this would correct distortions that occur within our political system where different demographics who tend to vote more are over-represented in policy priorities, the government would be able to govern for all British Columbians. It also makes it more difficult for special interest groups or radical groups to hijack the system by mobilizing a small but vocal group of voters.”
But other delegates said Canadians have a constitutional right not to vote, and the motion was defeated.
There were lots of big cheers behind closed doors at the convention as delegates heard strategy tips from election guru Stephen Carter, who helped Alison Redford overcome a 17-point deficit in the polls to win the Alberta election earlier this year.
The session was off limits to the media–but reporters managed to catch a few snippets while leaning against the doors….Carter told the crowd not to trust pollsters or pundits who have already written off the Liberals.
Premier Christy Clark took a few shots at the NDP in her keynote address.
Clark said her government has delivered on its jobs plan, while the NDP is keeping its plan secret…..and she mocked opposition leader Adrian Dix for talking about a “modest” agenda if he wins the election.
“we have a big vision for British Columbia, we have a bold vision for our province we don’t have a modest vision for British Columbia we have a bold vision for British Columbia and why not?”
Not much in the way of hard news from the election-style speech, but Clark did promise an anti-bullying summit to be held in two weeks in the wake of the Amanda Todd suicide.
NDP House Leader John Horgan says Clark is trying to scare British Columbians.
“again more fear in her speech today rather than just some practical realities that have a relevance to the people of British Columbia. Good for her to keep the true believers excited inside this room but I don’t believe anything that happened in there today will have any impact on the streets of British Columbia.”
Horgan also accused the Liberals of having their own secret plan, a charge Clark has levelled at the opposition.
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