Ok so here's why I am voting for Brian Wilson: 1) The BC Liberals have done things that make it so I cannot vote for them again. Moreso, they fail to recognize that they have alienated much of the fragile "free enterprise coalition" that made up their members and supporters. They keep doing things the LIBERAL way and not the free enterprise way, and they seem to think that people like me are the problem. 2) Brian Wilson is a good man and worthy of my vote. 3) In North Vancouver Seymour, chances are, even if the vote splits down the middle for free enterprise between the BC Libs and Brian Wilson, the NDP still wouldn't win. That was true in 2009, not in 2005, true in 2001 and also 1996. 4) The BC Liberals are NOT the party of free enterprise - the first three policy initiatives under Christy Clark - i) Raise business income taxes, ii) raise minimum wage when it didn't need to be and iii) raise payroll taxes by instituting an un-necessary stat holiday. 5) North Vancouver (Seymour) has a track record of doing the RIGHT thing with our votes early and earnestly - we did so when we abandoned the Mulroney PC's to vote in Ted White, we did so when we moved to vote in Daniel Jarvis and we will do so again. Time for change! For the better!
While I agree with much of what you can, RePete, what did Daniel Jarvis ever do for us? Once he got elected, he basically sat on his hands for eight or nine years. As for the minimum wage being raised, when it costs so much to live in the most populated areas of BC, I do feel it was only fair. Most businesses are paying more than that anyway, so it was only a small percentage of jobs that were affected. Face it, how many major corporations pay their employees minimum wage except McDonald's?
Nice to see the Conservatives step up with a reasonable candidate.
I voted for Jane last time - but never again. She spent her entire time bringing the Government's interests to the people - and never figured out her job was to bring the people's interest to the Government. After she voted for the HST - a move which cost her constituents millions of after-tax dollars but served to benefit none of them directly - I was done with her.
For the first time in my life, I was seriously considering a "throw-away" vote for this election. But now that we seem to have some right wing competition in Seymour - I'm in...
1. If elected, will you support the right of parents to be the prime determiners of the nature of their children’s education?
Yes __________ No _________
2. If elected, will you stand up for the continued right of parents, under financial conditions at least as favourable as at the present, to have their children educated in separate schools, by distance education, and by homeschooling?
Yes __________ No __________
3. Under the Corren Agreement, activists were guaranteed that organizations favoured by them would have a right to input into the changing of curriculum.
Will you work to ensure that the provincial government guarantees parents a voice in opposing the introduction of curriculum that contradicts their moral standards?
Yes ___________ No __________
4. Will you work to allow parents to withdraw their children from classes when material will be introduced which parents may regard as too sensitive for their children or which they consider contradicts their family moral standards?
Yes, I will work to procure the recognition of this right. _________
No, I do not support this right. _________
5. Will you work to change the Infants Act so that schools are not allowed to refer students for abortions or to abortion-providing agencies?
Talk about loaded questions. I seriously doubt that any of the candidates would answer a definitive "yes" or "no" to any of the questions as posed unless they were pandering to certain electors to win their vote. Different circumstances often call for a different response and to expect anyone to answer yes or no is unreasonable, unless of course they are as extreme in their thinking as Mr. O'Flynn.
Yeah, If I were Brian I wouldn't answer those on here. :)
Mr. O'Flynn's position is probably only popular with a handful of people, but he does have a point that the schools should never be recommending abortion, but they should be making the student aware of all of the services that are available including clinics, adoption services and teen mother support programs.
Also, I am not supportive of equal funding for private, religious based, education, and other costly programs of choice should be shared with the parents.
DO they recommend abortion? That is not what he said, only that they refer them to an agency. I assume they would do that only on request, and that, in my opinion, is reasonable. To NOT refer or to refuse to refer would in effect be taking the position that they NOT get an abortion, which would be equally reprehensible as what Mr. O'Flynn is suggesting.
Unfortunately I am forced to guess what kind of curriculum Mr. O'Flynn wants oversight over...
Evolution must be taught in science classes. You can deprive your kids if you wish...
Sex Ed has been proven time and again that teaching it early and often, reduces std's and teen pregnancies. Again, you can expose your kids to a higher std rate or birth rate if you wish...
I do appreciate the quick response of Independent North Van-Seymour Candidate Jamie Webbe. Hopeful you will respond in short course.
"Thanks John, of course I'd be happy to answer your questions.
Please let me know if you want any additional details on my views or responses.
Kind regards, Jaime 1. No 2. Yes 3. Yes 4. No 5. No"
1. If elected, will you support the right of parents to be the prime determiners of the nature of their children’s education?
Yes __________ No _________
2. If elected, will you stand up for the continued right of parents, under financial conditions at least as favourable as at the present, to have their children educated in separate schools, by distance education, and by homeschooling?
Yes __________ No __________
3. Under the Corren Agreement, activists were guaranteed that organizations favoured by them would have a right to input into the changing of curriculum.
Will you work to ensure that the provincial government guarantees parents a voice in opposing the introduction of curriculum that contradicts their moral standards?
Yes ___________ No __________
4. Will you work to allow parents to withdraw their children from classes when material will be introduced which parents may regard as too sensitive for their children or which they consider contradicts their family moral standards?
Yes, I will work to procure the recognition of this right. _________
No, I do not support this right. _________
5. Will you work to change the Infants Act so that schools are not allowed to refer students for abortions or to abortion-providing agencies?
griffin - your advisement to possible community leaders to avoid dialogue is notable - but hopefully there is no fear by those who wish to lead us to answer.
Your questions are inappropriate on this forum and any candidate(s) who answer them are doing so at their own peril, especially when they have little or nothing to do with what's going on in the riding in which they are running. Period!
Anon 11:42, because half the people who participate in this blog probably don't know what Mr. O'Flynn is talking about and the other half probably don't care. I'd be surprised if he needed all his fingers and toes to count the people who would agree that his questions represent burning issues in this campaign, OR at any other time either.
If he wishes to home-school his children, or send them to schools with a curriculum which is in line with his principles, that is his prerogative. Private schools already receive funding from the government and in cases of hardship, they usually find a way to cover all or part of the student's tuition.
There are already enough special interest groups being funded by government - where will it stop?
I believe that when it comes to education, parents should be able to choose the best educational program for their child, for example parents could send their child to a faith-based school in the independent school system. In BC, this currently includes traditional public schooling, distributed learning, homeschooling, or attending an independent school. The Independent School Act gives independent schools the ability to provide education in a way that has a particular cultural or religious component, as long as it is consistent with the guidelines set out in the Act, and I believe this is appropriate.
The BC Liberal Government has also been focused on bringing more flexibility and personalized learning to public education. 18 months ago the BC Education Plan was launched, focused around five areas: personalized learning for every student, quality teaching, flexibility and choice, high standards, and learning empowered by technology. I support this exciting plan and I want to continue its goals.
I encourage parents to have input into their child's education in many ways, and that includes having input into curriculum through contact with their teachers, school trustees, their school board, and the Ministry of Education.
There are some real issues with these questions that cannot be and should not be addressed appropriately with a simple "yes" or "no", especially given the reality of our multicultural and multidemonitional society. However, I feel compelled to answer in very general terms:
1) Yes 2) Yes 3) Yes 4) Yes 5) Yes - a personal/family matter, not the school's
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Brian R. Wilson BC Conservative Candidate North Vancouver- Seymour
On July 01, 2010, the BC Liberal government instituted the HST. The jist of this tax was to reduce the tax burden on BC businesses, and shift that burden to residents. While this move would surely have benefited both businesses as well as towns/cities/areas that are industry intensive, it removed benefit from areas that are primarily residential. The riding of North Vancouver - Seymour falls in the latter.
Using information gained from the 2008 census, the average income in BC was $67,675 while the average income in North Vancouver – Seymour was $97,584. This represents an average riding salary 44% higher than the provincial average. In August 2010, the Canadian Centre for Policy studies published a study by David Murrell, PHD titled “Impact of HST on Ontario and British Columbia Household by Income Quintiles”. In this study, he places the financial impact of the HST on the average BC household at $230. Extrapolating and using this data, the average impact of the HST on North Vancouver – Seymour households, was approx. $331.
Again, using 2008 Census numbers, the population in North Vancouver – Seymour was 51,685. Using Statistics Canada information this equates to approximately 3 people per household or a total household count in the riding of North Vancouver – Seymour of 17,230. This means that commencing July 01, 2010, the residents of North Vancouver – Seymour paid out an additional $5.7 million tax dollars when compared to the year prior – strictly due to the HST. The tax was then repealed by referendum and ceased to exist effective March 31, 2012 for a total life span of approx. 33 months. When standard inflation rates are incorporated, and the total added up, the riding of North Vancouver – Seymour paid out a total of $16.1 million dollars in additional taxes over the life span of the HST. When we back that number into the population, the HST cost each and every household approx. $950. Keeping in mind that this money represents “after tax” dollars, and when taking the average salary into consideration, this is the equivalent of reducing the average household income for every single household in North Vancouver – Seymour by approximately $2400 for the time the tax was active.
The money that was collected from the HST went into the abyss that is the provincial government. There was no direct benefit returned to the constituents of the riding. Had those same tax dollars been collected and spent locally, they would have funded the entire operating budget for either the RCMP or the Fire and Recuse service for the entire district in 2010, or funded the entire Parks operating budget for over two years.
The riding of North Vancouver – Seymour is unique, in that there is not a lot of industry here that actually benefitted from the introduction of the HST. A such, and because there was a substantial and very measurable net loss to the constituents of the riding, the MLA at the time (Jane Thornthwaite) had an obligation to her constituents to represent them and vote against the implementation of the tax. But she did not do that and instead, chose to vote against her constituent’s best interest and wishes in the name of maintaining harmony with her political party. In this $16.1 million decision, she made a choice – and that choice was to represent Government to the people – when in fact she was elected to represent the people to the Government.
Because of this significant error in judgment, and when stacked on top of other errors in judgment that were the result of previous criminal charges, for the first time since I can remember, the BC Liberal Party will not be getting my vote in a Provincial election. the Conservatives will.
The reality is that Seymour residents are wealthy not because of some magical wish fairy, but because they are the heads of many small and large businesses. They work their butts off and the health of their businesses is more important than a minimal personal tax change.
HST was a good policy for most businesses, particularly businesses that spend much of their revenue on developement of a product, such as the film industry. So when you say there was "not a lot of industry here that actually benefitted", you are wrong. There are over 5,000 jobs on the north shore that are directly related to the film industry.
I am a conservative, but I parted with the BC Conservatives on this issue.
For my part, I don't think the HST helped as many businesses as people try to make out. For retail businesses; those in the business of buying and selling taxable goods, the HST was not all it was cracked up to be. In my industry, well over 90% of purchases are exempt under PST as they are for resale... and the savings of claiming back the HST on the other 5-10% were easily erased by both the carrying costs of 12% more money tied up in inventory and the nasty "RITC" which clawed back much of the HST input credits for businesses with over $10million in revenues. Now add the polictical aspects of losing local control over taxation (and therefore policy) and the mess of how they botched implementation and reversion to the PST and there you have why the Liberals SHOULD and WILL lose this election.
Sad really, because people aren't figuring out that the best thing for the province is to vote not Liberal, not NDP but Conservative (or almost anybody other than the NDP or Libs).
28 comments:
Well, at least they've chosen someone with a successful track record in business!
Thank you! Now we have someone else to vote for instead of Jane. Brian Wilson is a good candidate.
Ok so here's why I am voting for Brian Wilson:
1) The BC Liberals have done things that make it so I cannot vote for them again. Moreso, they fail to recognize that they have alienated much of the fragile "free enterprise coalition" that made up their members and supporters. They keep doing things the LIBERAL way and not the free enterprise way, and they seem to think that people like me are the problem.
2) Brian Wilson is a good man and worthy of my vote.
3) In North Vancouver Seymour, chances are, even if the vote splits down the middle for free enterprise between the BC Libs and Brian Wilson, the NDP still wouldn't win. That was true in 2009, not in 2005, true in 2001 and also 1996.
4) The BC Liberals are NOT the party of free enterprise - the first three policy initiatives under Christy Clark - i) Raise business income taxes, ii) raise minimum wage when it didn't need to be and iii) raise payroll taxes by instituting an un-necessary stat holiday.
5) North Vancouver (Seymour) has a track record of doing the RIGHT thing with our votes early and earnestly - we did so when we abandoned the Mulroney PC's to vote in Ted White, we did so when we moved to vote in Daniel Jarvis and we will do so again. Time for change! For the better!
While I agree with much of what you can, RePete, what did Daniel Jarvis ever do for us? Once he got elected, he basically sat on his hands for eight or nine years. As for the minimum wage being raised, when it costs so much to live in the most populated areas of BC, I do feel it was only fair. Most businesses are paying more than that anyway, so it was only a small percentage of jobs that were affected. Face it, how many major corporations pay their employees minimum wage except McDonald's?
Ah, that should be that I agree with much of what you say.... Talk about an editing problem!
First Predictions!!
North Vancouver - Seymour
Jane Thornthwaite BC Liberals
Brian Wilson BC Conservative
Jim Hanson BC NDP
Jamie Webbe Independent
North Vancouver - Lonsdale
Craig Keating - BC NDP
Naomi Yamamoto - BC Liberals
Jeff Sprague - BC Conservative
Ryan Malcolm - Green Party
West Vancouver - Capilano
Ralph Sultan - BC Liberals
David Jones - BC Conservative
Terry Platt - BC NDP
Nice to see the Conservatives step up with a reasonable candidate.
I voted for Jane last time - but never again. She spent her entire time bringing the Government's interests to the people - and never figured out her job was to bring the people's interest to the Government. After she voted for the HST - a move which cost her constituents millions of after-tax dollars but served to benefit none of them directly - I was done with her.
For the first time in my life, I was seriously considering a "throw-away" vote for this election. But now that we seem to have some right wing competition in Seymour - I'm in...
anon 09:21 are you an economist?
Brian,
If you could answer the following questions:
1. If elected, will you support the right of parents to be the prime determiners of the nature of their children’s education?
Yes __________ No _________
2. If elected, will you stand up for the continued right of parents, under financial conditions at least as favourable as at the present, to have their children educated in separate schools, by distance education, and by homeschooling?
Yes __________ No __________
3. Under the Corren Agreement, activists were guaranteed that organizations favoured by them would have a right to input into the changing of curriculum.
Will you work to ensure that the provincial government guarantees parents a voice in opposing the introduction of curriculum that contradicts their moral standards?
Yes ___________ No __________
4. Will you work to allow parents to withdraw their children from classes when material will be introduced which parents may regard as too sensitive for their children or which they consider contradicts their family moral standards?
Yes, I will work to procure the recognition of this right. _________
No, I do not support this right. _________
5. Will you work to change the Infants Act so that schools are not allowed to refer students for abortions or to abortion-providing agencies?
Yes ______________ No ___________
Kind Regards,
John O'Flynn
Talk about loaded questions. I seriously doubt that any of the candidates would answer a definitive "yes" or "no" to any of the questions as posed unless they were pandering to certain electors to win their vote. Different circumstances often call for a different response and to expect anyone to answer yes or no is unreasonable, unless of course they are as extreme in their thinking as Mr. O'Flynn.
Yeah, If I were Brian I wouldn't answer those on here. :)
Mr. O'Flynn's position is probably only popular with a handful of people, but he does have a point that the schools should never be recommending abortion, but they should be making the student aware of all of the services that are available including clinics, adoption services and teen mother support programs.
Also, I am not supportive of equal funding for private, religious based, education, and other costly programs of choice should be shared with the parents.
DO they recommend abortion? That is not what he said, only that they refer them to an agency. I assume they would do that only on request, and that, in my opinion, is reasonable. To NOT refer or to refuse to refer would in effect be taking the position that they NOT get an abortion, which would be equally reprehensible as what Mr. O'Flynn is suggesting.
Unfortunately I am forced to guess what kind of curriculum Mr. O'Flynn wants oversight over...
Evolution must be taught in science classes. You can deprive your kids if you wish...
Sex Ed has been proven time and again that teaching it early and often, reduces std's and teen pregnancies. Again, you can expose your kids to a higher std rate or birth rate if you wish...
Dear Brian Wilson,
I do appreciate the quick response of Independent North Van-Seymour Candidate Jamie Webbe. Hopeful you will respond in short course.
"Thanks John, of course I'd be happy to answer your questions.
Please let me know if you want any additional details on my views or responses.
Kind regards, Jaime
1. No
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. No
5. No"
1. If elected, will you support the right of parents to be the prime determiners of the nature of their children’s education?
Yes __________ No _________
2. If elected, will you stand up for the continued right of parents, under financial conditions at least as favourable as at the present, to have their children educated in separate schools, by distance education, and by homeschooling?
Yes __________ No __________
3. Under the Corren Agreement, activists were guaranteed that organizations favoured by them would have a right to input into the changing of curriculum.
Will you work to ensure that the provincial government guarantees parents a voice in opposing the introduction of curriculum that contradicts their moral standards?
Yes ___________ No __________
4. Will you work to allow parents to withdraw their children from classes when material will be introduced which parents may regard as too sensitive for their children or which they consider contradicts their family moral standards?
Yes, I will work to procure the recognition of this right. _________
No, I do not support this right. _________
5. Will you work to change the Infants Act so that schools are not allowed to refer students for abortions or to abortion-providing agencies?
Yes ______________ No ___________
Still think they are loaded questions which a candidate would be ill-advised to answer, especially on this forum.
griffin - your advisement to possible community leaders to avoid dialogue is notable - but hopefully there is no fear by those who wish to lead us to answer.
Griffin,
Why not? "...especially on this forum."
Your questions are inappropriate on this forum and any candidate(s) who answer them are doing so at their own peril, especially when they have little or nothing to do with what's going on in the riding in which they are running. Period!
Anon 11:42, because half the people who participate in this blog probably don't know what Mr. O'Flynn is talking about and the other half probably don't care. I'd be surprised if he needed all his fingers and toes to count the people who would agree that his questions represent burning issues in this campaign, OR at any other time either.
If he wishes to home-school his children, or send them to schools with a curriculum which is in line with his principles, that is his prerogative. Private schools already receive funding from the government and in cases of hardship, they usually find a way to cover all or part of the student's tuition.
There are already enough special interest groups being funded by government - where will it stop?
Anon and anon and anon it goes!
Cute but no cigar!
John,
I believe that when it comes to education, parents should be able to choose the best educational program for their child, for example parents could send their child to a faith-based school in the independent school system. In BC, this currently includes traditional public schooling, distributed learning, homeschooling, or attending an independent school. The Independent School Act gives independent schools the ability to provide education in a way that has a particular cultural or religious component, as long as it is consistent with the guidelines set out in the Act, and I believe this is appropriate.
The BC Liberal Government has also been focused on bringing more flexibility and personalized learning to public education. 18 months ago the BC Education Plan was launched, focused around five areas: personalized learning for every student, quality teaching, flexibility and choice, high standards, and learning empowered by technology. I support this exciting plan and I want to continue its goals.
I encourage parents to have input into their child's education in many ways, and that includes having input into curriculum through contact with their teachers, school trustees, their school board, and the Ministry of Education.
Sincerely yours,
Jane Thornthwaite
Thank you for your questions.
There are some real issues with these questions that cannot be and should not be addressed appropriately with a simple "yes" or "no", especially given the reality of our multicultural and multidemonitional society. However, I feel compelled to answer in very general terms:
1) Yes
2) Yes
3) Yes
4) Yes
5) Yes - a personal/family matter, not the school's
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Brian R. Wilson
BC Conservative Candidate
North Vancouver- Seymour
On July 01, 2010, the BC Liberal government instituted the HST. The jist of this tax was to reduce the tax burden on BC businesses, and shift that burden to residents. While this move would surely have benefited both businesses as well as towns/cities/areas that are industry intensive, it removed benefit from areas that are primarily residential. The riding of North Vancouver - Seymour falls in the latter.
Using information gained from the 2008 census, the average income in BC was $67,675 while the average income in North Vancouver – Seymour was $97,584. This represents an average riding salary 44% higher than the provincial average. In August 2010, the Canadian Centre for Policy studies published a study by David Murrell, PHD titled “Impact of HST on Ontario and British Columbia Household by Income Quintiles”. In this study, he places the financial impact of the HST on the average BC household at $230. Extrapolating and using this data, the average impact of the HST on North Vancouver – Seymour households, was approx. $331.
Again, using 2008 Census numbers, the population in North Vancouver – Seymour was 51,685. Using Statistics Canada information this equates to approximately 3 people per household or a total household count in the riding of North Vancouver – Seymour of 17,230. This means that commencing July 01, 2010, the residents of North Vancouver – Seymour paid out an additional $5.7 million tax dollars when compared to the year prior – strictly due to the HST. The tax was then repealed by referendum and ceased to exist effective March 31, 2012 for a total life span of approx. 33 months. When standard inflation rates are incorporated, and the total added up, the riding of North Vancouver – Seymour paid out a total of $16.1 million dollars in additional taxes over the life span of the HST. When we back that number into the population, the HST cost each and every household approx. $950. Keeping in mind that this money represents “after tax” dollars, and when taking the average salary into consideration, this is the equivalent of reducing the average household income for every single household in North Vancouver – Seymour by approximately $2400 for the time the tax was active.
The money that was collected from the HST went into the abyss that is the provincial government. There was no direct benefit returned to the constituents of the riding. Had those same tax dollars been collected and spent locally, they would have funded the entire operating budget for either the RCMP or the Fire and Recuse service for the entire district in 2010, or funded the entire Parks operating budget for over two years.
The riding of North Vancouver – Seymour is unique, in that there is not a lot of industry here that actually benefitted from the introduction of the HST. A such, and because there was a substantial and very measurable net loss to the constituents of the riding, the MLA at the time (Jane Thornthwaite) had an obligation to her constituents to represent them and vote against the implementation of the tax. But she did not do that and instead, chose to vote against her constituent’s best interest and wishes in the name of maintaining harmony with her political party. In this $16.1 million decision, she made a choice – and that choice was to represent Government to the people – when in fact she was elected to represent the people to the Government.
Because of this significant error in judgment, and when stacked on top of other errors in judgment that were the result of previous criminal charges, for the first time since I can remember, the BC Liberal Party will not be getting my vote in a Provincial election. the Conservatives will.
I find your assessment boring and limited.
The reality is that Seymour residents are wealthy not because of some magical wish fairy, but because they are the heads of many small and large businesses. They work their butts off and the health of their businesses is more important than a minimal personal tax change.
HST was a good policy for most businesses, particularly businesses that spend much of their revenue on developement of a product, such as the film industry. So when you say there was "not a lot of industry here that actually benefitted", you are wrong. There are over 5,000 jobs on the north shore that are directly related to the film industry.
I am a conservative, but I parted with the BC Conservatives on this issue.
For my part, I don't think the HST helped as many businesses as people try to make out. For retail businesses; those in the business of buying and selling taxable goods, the HST was not all it was cracked up to be. In my industry, well over 90% of purchases are exempt under PST as they are for resale... and the savings of claiming back the HST on the other 5-10% were easily erased by both the carrying costs of 12% more money tied up in inventory and the nasty "RITC" which clawed back much of the HST input credits for businesses with over $10million in revenues. Now add the polictical aspects of losing local control over taxation (and therefore policy) and the mess of how they botched implementation and reversion to the PST and there you have why the Liberals SHOULD and WILL lose this election.
Sad really, because people aren't figuring out that the best thing for the province is to vote not Liberal, not NDP but Conservative (or almost anybody other than the NDP or Libs).
Just my 2 cents.
Currently reading 'HST and the people for democracy'. Very interesting bit of Provincial history.
Are you finished yet, John???
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