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Yesterday, Adrian Dix and the BC NDP re-committed to directing carbon tax revenue to transit and other green initiatives. The BC Liberals are proposing referendums for regional transit.

How have Mayors in Metro Vancouver reacted to the BC Liberals plan to hold referendums on transit funding? Let’s take a look.

BC Liberal Candidate and Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender: “A referendum the way it is in a three-line platform statement raises a lot of questions.”

Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts: “… we just really need to stop playing politics and get the job done.”

Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie: “A recipe for disaster.”

White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin: “An absolute utter and total mistake.”

Port Coquitlam Mayor and 2005 BC Liberal candidate Greg Moore: ”The hypocrisy of this policy platform proposal is unbelievable.”

White Rock Mayor Wayne Baldwin: “A total abrogation of responsibility.”

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart: ”We need a solution, we don’t need political posturing.”

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson: “Ridiculous”

North Vancouver District Mayor Richard Walton: “Clearly a deflection of the province’s responsibility”

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan: “Desperate measures to make it look like they have a so-called solution” 

With such an overwhelming reaction to the BC Liberal transit funding commitment, no wonder more and more British Columbians are looking for change in this election.

People know that the NDP has taken a clear position on the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline. We believe it is not in the economic or environmental interests of British Columbia.

We also believe the Liberal government made a mistake by signing over decision-making authority to the Harper government in Ottawa. It is not acceptable that the Harper government’s decision on Enbridge has become the decision of the people of BC.

That’s why in the first week of an NDP government, we will take back that decision making authority. We believe that that is the appropriate approach—that a decision that has so much impact on the economy and environment of British Columbia should be made here in BC.

Of course, the Enbridge pipeline isn’t the only pipeline proposal BC faces. Kinder Morgan has a proposal currently in the pre-application stage. Kinder Morgan has an existing pipeline, which has been used largely to serve the west coast market, including the Chevron refinery in Metro Vancouver and other refineries such as Cherry Point in Washington State. Only about 80,000 barrels per day of the current pipeline is exported via tanker from Vancouver.

The Kinder Morgan proposal as we understand it, would dramatically transform what that pipeline does and would dramatically transform the Port of Vancouver. The Kinder Morgan pipeline would become a pipeline designed for oil sands bitumen export, with increasing dramatically the barrels per day passing through the Port of Vancouver via tankers.

We have to wait to see a formal application, but I don’t think that the Port of Metro Vancouver, as busy and as successful as it is, should become a major oil export facility.
We will conduct a made-in-BC review of the Kinder Morgan proposal and decisions will be made here in BC.

Our position is clear: we do not believe any proposal should transform Vancouver into a major port for oil export.

In this election, more of the same means Stephen Harper decides what’s right for BC. Change for the better means a made-in-BC approach to protecting our environment and our coasts.

The following is from our contributor, William Perry

“Dear Editor: Letter: Long Distant [Political] Relationships

Keeping a relationship alive across the miles is no easy task. Maintaining a healthy relationship when their just not into you is almost impossible.

A few years ago, I accused my gal Carole of cheating on me. She admitted there was another guy, full of life, nice hair, very frisky. He was Dutch! I admit we had only known one position – her in front. When the Dutch guy came along she talked about her being on top. Where did that come from?!?

Then along came Adrian. He was exotic, but familiar; well connected, yet independent; serious, but flexible. And although he had been with Glen, It was love at first sight.

Less than a year later I feel somethings wrong. His attentions have turned toward another – a BEATCH named ‘Ambition’. He also seems to be in a constant state of balagan [agitation], and I know that infighting is thinly cloaked with promises. 

I am starting to think it’s me.

Now I’m considering another long-distance relationship, which may be strained by cultural gaps.

Christy, a rose among thorns, is traveled, compromising, accepting of my need of a middle position. It is her second go-round in a relationship, but I don’t care.

Some, however, worry that Christy’s obligations shackled to her work will end up depriving me of effective guidance, and her very own aura of something big and beautiful, tolerant and pristine may not manifest.

I’m getting older, and with few domestic candidates left, the tall order compels me to choose between, familiarity with Christy’s openness to work it out, or Adrian who I don’t, in honesty, really feel connected to.

“The question is trickier than you think. “

Yesterday Joe Trasolini and the B.C. NDP won the Port Moody-Coquitlam by-election. This is a seat that was once held by Christy Clark herself. I caught up to Trasolini at his (very loud) victory celebration late yesterday evening. Here is a snippet of my conversation with Trasolini;

As well as Trasolini winning the Port Moody-Coquitlam, NDP candidate Gwen O’Mahony quite convincingly won the former B.C. Liberal stronghold of Chilliwack-Hope.

Perhaps the big loser in these by-elections was John Cummins and the B.C. Conservatives who finished in third place in both ridings.

The following letter does NOT represent the views of our editorial team. However, it is the first reaction we have received so we run it this morning. As you may know, you can comment (even anonymously) on any post or send us your letter. Click the About the Left Coast tab for more info.

Dear Editor: Sad Day for NDP

After so many weeks of campaigning, this is what the NDP comes up with?

This is the problem with leadership races of parties that have been in opposition so long, there is no distinction between them and the criticism they hurl at the government. This was a chance to be inward looking. The choice of Dix shows that the NDP is unwilling to acknowledge the faults of their own party since they are part of the problem. The result: status quo and complacency, where change only means a new leader, not a new vision. Sad day to be NDP.

William Perry, Victoria ( NDP since 1969)

We are now waiting for the third ballot voting to end in the BC NDP leadership race. John Horgan has now dropped off the ballot and it is now a two-way race between Adrian Dix and Mike Farnworth.

The results of the third and final ballot will be decisive, it will be Adrian Dix or Mike Farnworth. The real question is where will the Horganizers migrate their votes to? Could this be the boost that Mike Farnworth needs?

15 minutes of voting left before the third and final ballot is announced. Balloting has now closed.

Spencer and Irene Lanzinger are on the stage…Jan O’Brien and Moe Sihota are on stage.

Adrian Dix…9772

Mike Farnworth…9095

Adrian Dix is the leader of the BC NDP. The cheers you are hearing are probably from the BC Liberals along with the BC NDP.

I have to return now to the world of the living outside the political world. I will post video as I get it processed.

Thanks for following today’s events.

Here at the Vancouver Convention Centre we are waiting for the results of the first ballot from the BC NDP leadership race. Voting will end in a couple of minutes.

Spencer is back on stage. First ballot results soon…but first a massive plug for David Eby.

In preparation of the coming results; the results of the first ballot…

Needed to win…9997

Adrian Dix 7638 – 38.2%

Mike Farnworth 6979 – 34.9%

John Horgan 4844 – 24.2%

Dana Larsen 531 – 2.7%

So now Larsen drops off and it is a three way race. Larsen has said that his second ballot will go to Horgan. That is only 531 votes. Yikes for Horgan.

What happened to that three way race?

While people vote the Canucks game is on the big screen tvs.

Chatted with Dana Larsen after his first ballot loss. (I will post the video once I get back to the office and process it.) I asked if he expects to be welcomed into the party now that the leadership race is over. He said that he certainly hopes so. He says that he believes that he would make an excellent MLA. Being an East Van resident means that his choice of ridings is fairly limited.

While balloting continues for the second round I tracked down John Horgan. He says that he feels like he should have dropped out of the race at the end of the first ballot but he ran out of time before he could do so. When asked why he would have dropped out he says that he wanted to drop out so that we all could have left this assembly a little earlier and enjoy the Canucks game.

I also chatted with Harry Lali who said that he is also disappointed with the first ballot result. He thought it would have been a tighter three way race on the first ballot.

In preparation for the results of second ballot I give you this;

Dix…7748 – 39.3%

Farnworth…6951 – 35.2%

Horgan…5034 – 25.5%

Needed to win…9867

Going to a third ballot now. Horgan drops off.

We are now preparing for the candidate speeches at the BC NDP leadership assembly. The first speaker will be Adrain Dix.

As Joy McPail comes on stage the sound of “Hi I’m John Horgan” booms through the sound system. McPhail ran back, the sound track ended and she returned to the stage and said, “And I have lost a lot of weight.” Nice come back. McPhail introduces and endorses Adrian Dix.

Adrian Dix is now on stage and the cries of shame are echoing through the convention centre. Dix appears to be energizing the crowd. Talks of reinstating bank taxes, stopping raw log exports and using the carbon tax to help people instead of subsidizing the large corporations. Dix draws great cheers. Says that all the leadership candidates have something to add to a government he leads. Maybe Harry Lali should have stayed in the race?

John Horgan on stage. He wants to give people something to VOTE FOR. He doesn’t want to “back into government.” Horgan invites the crowd to join him to protect seniors, protect the environment and help students and to help build a province we can all be proud of. Amazing energy and people shouting “Horgan.”

Dana Larsen on stage now. Thanks the party for allowing a party member to join a leadership race. Speaks of “grassroots democracy.” You can build your own cliche at this point. Some cheers for Larsen but most people in the audience here sitting on their hands. Literally.

Mike Farnworth next on stage. Video introduction looks like it was filmed on a high school campus. reaching out to the youth voters?

Farnworth says that he is ready to lead. Farnworth says that under his leadership we can galvanize supporters and new supporters.

Will use sustainability lens on all things. He says he has outlined a plan to eliminate child poverty in BC. Speaks of democratic reform. Campaign finance reform promise. As Farnworth ends his speech the crowd energy goes wild. Building.

Irene Lanzinger and Spencer Chandra Herbert back on stage to introduce Jan O’Brien provincial secretary of the BC NDP.

The voting process, if you have not already voted sounds wildly complicated. Why anyone would leave it until today is beyond me.

And now we take a break while people line-up to vote. Be back soon.

Dawn Black, interim BC NDP leader congratulates the party workers who have worked at organizing and reviving the party during the leadership race. Rousing speech that brings the gathered members to their feet.

Moe Sihota now on stage. Brings a big bouquet of flowers with him and gives them to Dawn Black as a thanks for being the interim leader of the BC NDP.

Moe is delivering a barn-burner of a speech. Speaking (shouting) about the amazing things that Carole James did for the BC NDP.

Video tribute to Carole James begins. Absolutely mind numbingly loud and fuzzy.

Carole James on stage now with Moe Sihota standing behind her and Dawn Black to her side. Plans to keep her comments short seeing as there is a hockey game on today. As well as that other leadership business to get to.

Carole James says that when she won the leadership job people more often asked her if she was crazy rather than told her congratulations. Carole James ends her speech with “Enough of the tributes, let’s go win an election.”

Settling into my seat at the Vancouver Convention Centre ready for the politicking to begin at the BC NDP leadership assembly. The NDP saw fit to position the media hordes within about five feet of a band that is playing their tunes at concert volume. Nifty.

Adrian Dix is now on the convention floor shaking every hand in sight. Big smiles and nice energy around him.

Dana Larsen is also now here. I asked him if he was surprised that the NDP had already nominated David Eby to run against Christy Clark in Vancouver-Point Grey. He looked at me a little puzzled so I said, well if you win the leadership then you could against Clark in that riding. He didn’t look amused. He did say that his second ballot vote was for John Horgan. For what it is worth.

Mike Farnworth is now here.

Carole James and Dawn Black entered the convention floor. Mobbed by supporters and media. I did some video work of Carole. Unfortunately the sound track to my video will be the band singing some mournful song like Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley. Fabulous.

Dawn Black on stage. Begins her welcome and the sound quits on her. Yikes. It is back. She says that today the BC NDP are selecting the next premier of BC.

Spencer seems to draw the most cheers as he introduces Dawn Black, the interim leader of the BC NDP.