Editor:
I’d like to see a Bloc B.C. run in the next election. Perhaps we could also have a Bloc Maritimes, a Western Bloc for Manitoba and Saskatchewan and a Bloc Ontario or a Central Bloc Anglaises. Newfoundland and Labrador deserve their own Bloc. Heck, let’s not forget Bloc Nunavut. It has a nice ring to it. Doesn’t it? I didn’t leave out Alberta. They already have Bloc Harper.
Our Parliament is in stagnation as a result of the self-interest manifested by Le Bloc Quebecois – a party whose sole objective is to garner as many funds and privileges for La Belle province as they can, especially now that separation is, for all intents and purposes, off the table and has been for at least a decade.
I don’t blame the people of Quebec for their lack of altruism; I just want a few perks for B.C.
Harvey Ostroff, Surrey
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How should I vote? Not who should I vote for? Regrettably the party system kills many good ideas, if the opposition comes up with a good idea. Merit has nothing to do with it, it is all about the author.
Try this hypothesis. I submit the House has too many members who vote on party lines rather than that which is in the best interest of their constituents. Who among the candidates running for office would be most likely to propose or vote for something that was good for White Rock, South Surrey or Langley, but was opposed by their party? That is how I will make my selection.
Garry McIntosh, White Rock
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With the upcoming elections, I keep on reading about the various promises the candidates make if they are elected. It is often difficult to differentiate between these promises as some of them sound very much alike.
What I would really like to see – and I’m sure many Canadians would agree – is a comparison of what was promised and what was actually delivered.
I realize that with a minority government this may not always be fair, e.g. the gun registry that the Conservatives promised to dump and the other parties, Liberals and Bloc, opposed during the current session.
An enterprising investigative reporter might look back over past majority governments and come up with such a comparison. That might clear up which promises were smoke-and-mirrors, and what was passed into law.
B. Blessman, White Rock
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I seem to recall it was only recently Hardy Staub was making a fuss about challenging Russ Hiebert for the opportunity to represent the Conservative party in our riding. I’ve always believed that different political parties in Canada represent different policies, so Staub’s flip-flop to the Liberal party seems a bit opportunistic.
I’ve never had any doubts about Hiebert’s opportunism – being designated as the local Conservative party representative when he had never lived in the area, in addition to taking the opportunity to rack up high travel expenses a year or so ago. There doesn’t seem to be much conservative spending habits at the taxpayers’ expense, which leaves me wondering what colour he really is. But I am also left wondering about Staub’s colour preference. Would that be red, or blue?
Bruce McIntosh, White Rock
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If there’s some prize for being the most conservative riding in Canada, we in South Surrey-White Rock-Cloverdale are sure to get it. Here we’ve got one lone non-conservative, NDP’er, Susan Keeping, up against six Conservatives. Really, there’s six! Count them.
We’ve got Russ Hiebert, regular, straight Conservative; then, Aart Looye, conservative running as independent; Larry Colero, conservative running as Green; Hardy Staub, conservative running as Liberal; Brian Marlatt, Progressive Conservative running as Progressive Canadian; Mike Schouten, a kind of super-conservative Conservative running for Christian Heritage.
For sure this deserves some kind of recognition, maybe a special visit from the prime minister himself.
I can’t wait for the all-candidates meeting to enjoy this smorgasbord of conservatism.
Bill Johnston, Surrey
Editor’s note: Two more independents – Kevin Donohoe and David Hawkins – signed on by Monday’s deadline.
