373 replies to this topic

[dasmo]

Any photographers out there? They should help this guy out.

[Victoria Watcher]

The latest polling ahead of October’s provincial election suggests the BC Conservatives continue to surge in support.

 

This latest survey from Leger puts the Conservatives neck and neck with the governing BC NDP.

 

Leger says its poll found support for the NDP sits at about 42 per cent, with the Conservatives just narrowly behind at 39 per cent — a 13-point boost in just a few months for John Rustad’s party.

 

The poll also found the Conservatives are doing well with younger British Columbians, which experts say is a little odd.

 

 

https://vancouver.ci...s-gain-support/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 13 August 2024 - 07:16 PM.

[LJ]

The only problem is that young voters don't vote in nearly the same numbers as older voters.

[Mike K.]

The only problem is that young voters don't vote in nearly the same numbers as older voters.

 

Are you saying that will give the Conservatives an edge?

[Mike K.]

The United have pledged to eliminate income tax for the first $50k in earnings:

Today, Kevin Falcon announced that a BC United government would implement the largest tax cut in British Columbia’s history.

BC United will eliminate provincial income tax on the first $50,000 earned by every British Columbian. The plan would result in the complete elimination of provincial income tax for 60 percent of people, while putting an extra $2,050 per year back into the pockets of British Columbians.

BC United will make life more affordable by:

Putting $2,050 in your pocket: Increasing the Basic Personal Exemption from the current $11,980 to $50,000.
Eliminating income tax for 60 percent of British Columbians: Ensuring more than 2.4 million British Columbians will pay no provincial income tax.
Providing relief for average earners: Nearly eliminating provincial income tax for average taxpayers (average income is $54,450).
“BC United will implement the largest tax cut in B.C.’s history by eliminating the provincial income tax for 60 percent of British Columbians. This historic tax cut will put an average of $2,050 back into your wallet, helping you afford essentials like food, gas, and kid’s extracurricular programs,” said Falcon. “David Eby’s NDP have made British Columbia unaffordable with a blizzard of taxes over eight years in power. BC United’s tax cut policy would immediately be reflected in higher paycheques for folks across the province who are struggling right now. Only BC United will create a more affordable British Columbia.”

For the first time in more than a decade, more people are leaving B.C. than moving to the province. This historic tax cut will put more money back into the pockets of students, families, and seniors.

“Completely eliminating income tax for 60 percent of British Columbians in the middle of this NDP affordability crisis will ensure our children, nurses, doctors, and families can actually afford to live in our province again,” added Peter Milobar, BC United Shadow Minister for Finance and MLA for Kamloops North-Thompson. “British Columbians will keep more of the money they earn in their own pockets while a BCU government balances the budget and brings back fiscal responsibility to B.C. It’s time to rein in the high tax attitude of government and create a better B.C. — for all of us.”

[Nparker]

And then raise the provincial sales tax to 8%.

[Mike K.]

A Victoria firefighter who was critical of the Dowler Place facility has been suspended without pay, it sounds like. From the Thielmann campaign, which just issued a press release:

 

Victoria, BC – August 14, 2024, 9:30 PST: The Conservative Party of BC condemns the “chilling retaliation” against Victoria firefighter Josh Montgomery, who raised safety concerns with a proposed drug consumption site in an open letter to the Premier last month.

 

Mr. Montgomery was scheduled to speak as a representative of Victoria’s North Park neighbourhood at a town hall hosted last night by Tim Thielmann, Conservative Party of BC candidate for Victoria-Beacon Hill. But attendees learned from Stephen Andrew, a journalist and the event’s moderator that Mr. Montgomery had been forced to cancel and had just been suspended without pay for his letter to the Premier.

 

“This is a man who risks his life to save ours. Every day. A man who’ll stand up for the safety of his children and his neighbours. And they want to make an example out of him simply for writing to his Premier? I don’t think so. The people of British Columbia won’t stand for this,” said Mr. Thielmann.

 

In his letter, Mr. Montgomery asked the Premier to suspend a proposed drug consumption site that would service 300 unhoused people just 100 feet from where his young daughters, ages 4 and 6, play outside his house.

 

Victoria firefighters now require a police escort to answer emergency calls on Victoria’s troubled 900 block of Pandora Avenue, the site where a paramedic was recently attacked and first responders swarmed by approximately 60 hostile street residents. A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered by police days later.

 

“We demand an account. Was Mr. Montgomery’s suspension at the insistence of the Mayor or did it come from the Premier himself? Mr. Montgomery and B.C.’s first responders deserve an explanation and a formal apology for this outragenous and vindictive attack,” said Mr. Thielmann.

 

“I’ve spent my entire legal career getting governments to consult. Plenty didn’t want to. But this is the first time I’ve seen a government that’d go after a man’s job simply because he wrote a letter with some tough questions. As a lawyer I’m shaking my head. As a father, I’m standing with Josh,” said Tim Thielmann.

[Nparker]

Just more woke/NDP fascism. What a hateful, spiteful abomination they are.

[Mike K.]

A colleague saw a police escorted response to the 900-block of Pandora the other day.

 

She said first, a VicPD police cruiser stopped traffic. Then entered the ambulance (and I think?) fire truck, then a second VicPD cruiser entered the block, and the initial cruiser then moved out of the way of traffic, and vehicles were once again allowed to proceed.

[Nparker]

Enabling illicit drug use is a unmitigated disaster.

[Victoria Watcher]

I’m not defending the suspension. But it might be against the rules to use your position in public discourse like this. If I said “as a Telus worker I oppose this new initiative” you might be called to account.

In any event, he has a union to support him.

How long was the suspension?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 August 2024 - 09:20 AM.

[Nparker]

...In any event, he has a union to support him...

The way the BCGEU supported government employees who wanted to keep their health care and medical histories private?

[Victoria Watcher]

How long was the suspension? That’s a pretty critical component of the news. One day? So like $250 in lost wages?

[Victoria Watcher]

How long was the suspension? That’s a pretty critical component of the news. One day? So like $250 in lost wages?

Nobody knows? A lot of rage with zero context.

ANSWER the questions, people. Those who say he is suspended without pay should know the period.

But silence.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 August 2024 - 12:10 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Dishonestly in reporting here.

Prove me wrong.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 14 August 2024 - 12:13 PM.

[Matt R.]

Union probably told him to stfu, lawyers told his bosses the same.

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

[Nparker]

I see nothing in Mr. Montgomery's letter to the Premier to indicate that he was speaking on behalf of his employer.

[Mike K.]

Union response:

‘International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 730 is dealing with an internal employee-employer matter with regard to recent member discipline. There is a process to be followed under the collective agreement and that has been initiated.’
-
President Jeremy Wilson

[Mike K.]

A contact in the first responder industry tells me his employer sent out a warning two weeks ago to refrain from speaking to media regarding the no-go zones without police escort.

[Nparker]

Stephen Andrew appears to be looking into the Josh Montgomery suspension matter.