There’s a reason they’ve never held power federally, the NDP, and they never will. They’re a sidebar party that helps keep the two main parties in check, but God forbid if they should ever get in power.

When people are upset now, they vote for the two extremists parties, the socialist NDP or the fantasy world Greens. You’ve seen the NDP take power provincially in other provinces only to be removed quickly.
- Pacificgem

The liberal party agenda essentially makes the NDP irrelevant. The federal liberals have absorbed most of the old NDP talking points of labour equity and social justice.

I think it’s a smart move because the party can now steal the votes of folks who are hard and fast democratic socialists that see the Conservatives as a threat to their ideology.

As the NDP move away from their labour roots (their core supporters) and move into some weird academic utopian philosophy, they have bled votes. The liberals were masterful in recognizing the vacuum created by that.

ii wasn't old enough to vote mulroney which is good because i despised him. still do... and his lame ass son too.

anyway, despised mulroney. but my first federal vote was for (well party leader not mp) was kim campbell.

kim campbell was a great leader and great pm but couldn't keep together that which mulroney destroyed.

and i'll fight anyone on that point. come at me!
- RealityChecker

Mulroney brought in the GST, Free Trade and the Air Quality agreements. The party had it's flaws but was pretty progressive.

Chretien righted the ship but for a conservative party these are huge deals. Free trade was a huge adjustment but is beneficial in the long run. I remember working as a teen when the GST replaced the FST. It was a huge deal for an industry that still used price guns.

As for the environment, when's the last time you've heard the term 'acid rain'?

The liberal party agenda essentially makes the NDP irrelevant. The federal liberals have absorbed most of the old NDP talking points of labour equity and social justice.

I think it’s a smart move because the party can now steal the votes of folks who are hard and fast democratic socialists that see the Conservatives as a threat to their ideology.

As the NDP move away from their labour roots (their core supporters) and move into some weird academic utopian philosophy, they have bled votes. The liberals were masterful in recognizing the vacuum created by that.
- bloatedhefty

Meh, the NDP is keeping the liberal party in check and without them the PC's would be in power. The Green Party also call's out the NDP on some of their policy.

As I recently read, all 4 major parties in Canada would easily fit within the parameters of the US Democratic party.

To me, the Federal libs were always centrist. They've gotten away from that mostly due to rise of Layton. They could win half the elections being who they are, there's no need to try and out-left the NDP.

There’s a reason they’ve never held power federally, the NDP, and they never will. They’re a sidebar party that helps keep the two main parties in check, but God forbid if they should ever get in power.

When people are upset now, they vote for the two extremists parties, the socialist NDP or the fantasy world Greens. You’ve seen the NDP take power provincially in other provinces only to be removed quickly.
- Pacificgem

Roy Romanow 10 years Saskatchewan
Gary Doer 10 years Manitoba

Well, there goes the Green’s influence on BC policy making.

Meh, the NDP is keeping the liberal party in check and without them the PC's would be in power. The Green Party also call's out the NDP on some of their policy.

As I recently read, all 4 major parties in Canada would easily fit within the parameters of the US Democratic party.

To me, the Federal libs were always centrist. They've gotten away from that mostly due to rise of Layton. They could win half the elections being who they are, there's no need to try and out-left the NDP.
- golfingsince

You don’t think the federal Liberals have become more left of central? Nothing says “left” more than a doubling your national debt.

You don’t think the federal Liberals have become more left of central? Nothing says “left” more than a doubling your national debt.
- bloatedhefty

Yes they have which means we have 3 parties left of centre and one right of centre. We no longer have a centrist party which is a shame.

Yes they have which means we have 3 parties left of centre and one right of centre. We no longer have a centrist party which is a shame.
- golfingsince

I agree 100%.

I agree 100%.
- bloatedhefty

I'd like to reshape the Green Party. Being far left of centre on environmental issues while being more centrist on finance and some social issues would give us a legit shot to handle the most pressing world issue while allowing us to afford it with moderate reform.

We'll never get everything we want at once, it's not realistic to pretend you can bend everyone's ear at the same time. People, by nature are resistant to change. You have to tackle issues one, two, a few at a time and handle them well. Then it becomes the new normal.

The Green Party in Canada is still small enough that people can still join and shape policy more easily. Maybe it takes 8 years but then you're in a position to make a difference while exerting increasingly more pressure.

I'd like to reshape the Green Party. Being far left of centre on environmental issues while being more centrist on finance and some social issues would give us a legit shot to handle the most pressing world issue while allowing us to afford it with moderate reform.

We'll never get everything we want at once, it's not realistic to pretend you can bend everyone's ear at the same time. People, by nature are resistant to change. You have to tackle issues one, two, a few at a time and handle them well. Then it becomes the new normal.

The Green Party in Canada is still small enough that people can still join and shape policy more easily. Maybe it takes 8 years but then you're in a position to make a difference while exerting increasingly more pressure.
- golfingsince

Good plan.

Good plan.
- Marwood

You cool with the outcome of the provincial election? I would have preferred the NDP to stay as a minority government...

You cool with the outcome of the provincial election? I would have preferred the NDP to stay as a minority government...
- bloatedmosquito

I always want a minority government, but these BCLiberals are an arrogant bunch and got what they deserved.

Wilkinson has now resigned.

You cool with the outcome of the provincial election? I would have preferred the NDP to stay as a minority government...
- bloatedmosquito

I prefer minority governments. I glad the Liberals were humiliated but I would have liked to see the Greens make bigger gains. We'll see how the NDP does. BC is long overdue for a major political scandal.

You cool with the outcome of the provincial election? I would have preferred the NDP to stay as a minority government...
- bloatedmosquito

Personally I’m happy he got a majority, he no longer will be kept in check by another party, now get to see the real unfiltered John Horgan, which I think is a good thing. Now it’s his time, sink or swim.

I prefer minority governments. I glad the Liberals were humiliated but I would have liked to see the Greens make bigger gains. We'll see how the NDP does. BC is long overdue for a major political scandal.
- Marwood

so true.

Personally I’m happy he got a majority, he no longer will be kept in check by another party, now get to see the real unfiltered John Horgan, which I think is a good thing. Now it’s his time, sink or swim.
- Pacificgem

Not a fan of Horgan. He’s lived off the public purse his whole life accept when he became a lobbyist with a bunch of other bureaucrats.

Not a fan of Horgan. He’s lived off the public purse his whole life accept when he became a lobbyist with a bunch of other bureaucrats.
- bloatedmosquito

That kind of sounded like I was a fan of his, I’m not, I’m just saying that you’ll get to see the true person, good bad or indifferent, as he won’t be held back anymore. I’m sure by the time the four years is up, something will have gone wrong

Not a fan of Horgan. He’s lived off the public purse his whole life accept when he became a lobbyist with a bunch of other bureaucrats.
- bloatedmosquito

I'm not a fan either, I think it was despicable calling an election a year before in a second wave of a pandemic.

But the bolded is actually called a career, several people choose politics as a career, this makes it sound like he is a part of the new homeless situation where everything is given, and god forbid you criticize anyone receiving free benefits.

I'm not a fan either, I think it was despicable calling an election a year before in a second wave of a pandemic.

But the bolded is actually called a career, several people choose politics as a career, this makes it sound like he is a part of the new homeless situation where everything is given, and god forbid you criticize anyone receiving free benefits.
- Makita

Was it okay that New Brunswick did the same and Saskatchewan did nothing to try postpone their election?
Would it have been okay if the Green's forced an election?
Some would say it was smart politics, calling an election, when your popularity is soaring, as there is zero guarantee this pandemic will be over next October.

Stay safe my friend.

Was it okay that New Brunswick did the same and Saskatchewan did nothing to try postpone their election?
Would it have been okay if the Green's forced an election?
Some would say it was smart politics, calling an election, when your popularity is soaring, as there is zero guarantee this pandemic will be over next October.

Stay safe my friend.
- Reubenkincade

I'm going to jump in and answer even though it wasn't directed at me.

With respect to the other provinces, although their circumstances may be slightly different, no it was not okay for them to hold elections. Encouraging people to congregate in enclosed spaces (even trying to socially distance) is not good modeling behaviour. What I mean is, "hey, if it's safe to have elections, I guess it's safe enoug to..." So, my point is, no, it wasn't a good idea. It was politically expedient choice which leads to your next point.

Sure, it was good politics if you look at it in the very short term which is not necessarily bad if you're trying to hold on to your job.

However, if you look at the situation in hand, they could have had another year plus a majority. Anyone who has half an eye on BC politics can see that the Liberals are in disarray and that they have no/weak leadership. This means that the NDP have a weak opposition.

This also means that they would never be beholden to the Green. While the Greens support is necessary to pass legislation, what option do/did the Greens have but to support the NDP? If they threatened a confidence motion or somesuch, the NDP could say, sure go ahead, we'll get a majority so we're fine with you taking the blame for the election.

Basically my point is that the NDP played craven politics and it wasn't really to their maximum benefit. I contend that they could have maintained their popularity (good not great but better than the Liberals) through a prolonged pandemic as long as they continued to put the doctors outfront more than the pols.

In an extended pandemic they would be able to pass the legislation they wish because the Liberals are a feeble opposition and the Greens have no real threat power (as an election would help the NDP.)

So, they would have had an extra year and then gotten a majority. Adding 1 year of guaranteed governing. By doing it one year early, they give the Liberals 4 years to get a new leader and get their house in order.

Long story short: the NDP helped the Liberals by forcing them to re-build 1 year early.

Moral of the story: don't play only for the season in front of you even though that helps you out in the standings and even with the fans.

I'm going to jump in and answer even though it wasn't directed at me.

With respect to the other provinces, although their circumstances may be slightly different, no it was not okay for them to hold elections. Encouraging people to congregate in enclosed spaces (even trying to socially distance) is not good modeling behaviour. What I mean is, "hey, if it's safe to have elections, I guess it's safe enoug to..." So, my point is, no, it wasn't a good idea. It was politically expedient choice which leads to your next point.

Sure, it was good politics if you look at it in the very short term which is not necessarily bad if you're trying to hold on to your job.

However, if you look at the situation in hand, they could have had another year plus a majority. Anyone who has half an eye on BC politics can see that the Liberals are in disarray and that they have no/weak leadership. This means that the NDP have a weak opposition.

This also means that they would never be beholden to the Green. While the Greens support is necessary to pass legislation, what option do/did the Greens have but to support the NDP? If they threatened a confidence motion or somesuch, the NDP could say, sure go ahead, we'll get a majority so we're fine with you taking the blame for the election.

Basically my point is that the NDP played craven politics and it wasn't really to their maximum benefit. I contend that they could have maintained their popularity (good not great but better than the Liberals) through a prolonged pandemic as long as they continued to put the doctors outfront more than the pols.

In an extended pandemic they would be able to pass the legislation they wish because the Liberals are a feeble opposition and the Greens have no real threat power (as an election would help the NDP.)

So, they would have had an extra year and then gotten a majority. Adding 1 year of guaranteed governing. By doing it one year early, they give the Liberals 4 years to get a new leader and get their house in order.

Long story short: the NDP helped the Liberals by forcing them to re-build 1 year early.

Moral of the story: don't play only for the season in front of you even though that helps you out in the standings and even with the fans.
- RealityChecker

Solid reply RC, and my thoughts exactly.

Was it okay that New Brunswick did the same and Saskatchewan did nothing to try postpone their election?
Would it have been okay if the Green's forced an election?
Some would say it was smart politics, calling an election, when your popularity is soaring, as there is zero guarantee this pandemic will be over next October.

Stay safe my friend.
- Reubenkincade

It was OK in New Brunswick, we had no active cases that weren't isolating due to travel. We've had very few cases in NB despite having all kinds of borders both within and outside of the Atlantic bubble.

We kind of wanted an election to put the conservatives in because they've handled the pandemic very well.

I wonder if the orange king will let it all burn?

I wonder if the orange king will let it all burn?


- bloatedmosquito

Walmart pulling their guns and ammo from displays across that magnificent country. Citing "isolated civil unrest" as a caution.

I might have to make a playlist of burning and fire songs for next week.

Walmart pulling their guns and ammo from displays across that magnificent country. Citing "isolated civil unrest" as a caution.

I might have to make a playlist of burning and fire songs for next week.
- Marwood

When Trump wins again I hope we can put the American politics aside for the next four years