North Vancouver Politics.com

First Community Garden: District of North Vancouver

2009-07-10T00:17:00.006-07:00

Coming to a neighbourhood near you very soon. On Monday night District Council will be voting on a recommendation to invest a miniumum of $15,000 in a "community garden" for residents in a " pre-defined portion of Lillooet Park". In addition the staff recommendation would allow three one-time grants in amounts of up to $2,000 each (for a total of $6,000) for seed funding to enable and facilitate small urban agriculture projects in the District using Funds from the 2009 Financial Plan.

The $15K would apparently be used to construct 6 foot high plots to enable residents to work the garden without bending over (also something about making the garden wheelchair accessible). As part of its commitment to the community garden the District would run water to the property to ensure the garden is adequately watered.

Great idea or not?

I Like Taxes

2009-07-08T18:58:00.002-07:00

Our esteemed moderator Barry Forward has invited me to contribute to this site. I'm honoured, and delighted, and have been thinking about how to introduce myself. In a nutshell I've worked twenty plus years in non-profit and charitable organizations, have always been on the Left politically, and have worked on a few campaigns.

My first inclination is to speak of my intense embarrassment at our Prime Minister's actions at the funeral of Romeo LeBlanc, but honestly there's not much to be said.

So I'll return to local issues and begin by saying that I like paying taxes.

I like contributing a little bit each year keep the wonderful Lynn Valley Library operating. A good library is one of the single most important institutions in any town.

I like paying my part to support schools and education. I can't think of anything more important than making sure that all children and young people learn essential skills like reading and writing and math, and an equally essential appreciation for music, and art, and literature. I even think it's great that they get a wide ranging education in physical fitness, cooking, or auto-repair.

I like paying for the excellent North Shore gyms and playing fields, and the parks where my dog runs and plays. I like paying for theatres and galleries and farmer's markets and all of the things that make the North Shore a great place to live.

I like paying for (our admittedly poor) bus service, and for the SeaBus, and for the Skytrain.

And of course I like paying for clean drinking water and a reliable sewer system.

Too often in forums like this it seems that all taxes are a bad thing, and that the goal is for no-one to ever pay taxes, or at least to never pay taxes for anything that they don't personally use on a daily basis.

That's nonsense. We're all in this together and the goal is to share what we have so that everyone benefits. It worked in the lunchroom in Grade Three, and it works for grown-ups too.

Should the City outlaw smoking in multi-unit buildings?

2009-07-07T09:51:00.002-07:00

At last night's North Vancouver City council meeting, Mr. Sean Soper made an interesting presentation recommending that the City prohibit smoking in multi-unit dwellings.

While 85% of British Columbians do not allow smoking in their homes, very often residents of rental or strata buildings are forced to endure second-hand smoke in their own homes. Mr. Soper, noting that the City has already outlawed smoking at bus stops, asked Council to consider passing a bylaw prohibiting smoking in such buildings.

Council unanimously voted to ask staff to consider the measure and prepare options for Council's consideration.

What do you think? Should this be something left to strata councils and rental property owners or should the government act?

Code of Conduct: NorthVancouverPolitics.com - Lest We Forget

2009-07-06T09:22:00.003-07:00

A friendly reminder to all visitors, members and commentators of our Code of Conduct here at NorthVancouverPolitics.com

The Code of Conduct was revised on August 31, 2007, and I ask that everyone who posts or comments on our little blog take another look at it.

I continue to push for an active, open and civil forum here. This kind of open dialogue is difficult - a balance between an active, engaging forum (with anonymous contributors) and a controlled, strictly policed scenario (every comment is moderated and screened before it is posted).

Many of us sitting behind our computer screens forget that, hmmm, we are sitting behind our computer screens. We need to choose our words (anonymous or otherwise) much in the same way we do when we are sitting in a coffee shop or in the line-up at the movies.

Please remember that we are all, no matter what side of the political fence we sit, valued members of the community.

Personal attacks are easy. Well thought out issued-based responses take time to articulate. Let's be respectful of each other, and, just as importantly, let's give the local issues the respect they need.

I believe this community forum has a place in North Vancouver, and I will continue to push for a true free speech type of blog. Where we encourage open and free debate.

I recognize that sometimes this dialogue cuts close to the line, and in the heat of the argument people get personal (often unnecessarily). I truly hope that everyone who contributes here takes a close look at how they participate: Are they truly adding to the depth of debate, or simply taking the easy way out and resorting to mean spirited personal attacks.

That being said, I believe strongly that we need to fight for our right to say things, and call those into question who take advantage of this freedom.

To view the NorthVancouverPolitics.com Code of Conduct click on the following link:

Code of Conduct August 31, 2007

District of North Vancouver Parks Rolls Out Red Carpet for Soccer Tournament

2009-07-05T17:24:00.008-07:00

Congratulations to the District of North Vancouver for setting the stage this weekend for a fabulous four days of soccer for ~60 teams from across the province. The girls' teams were in town for the BC Soccer Associations Provincial Cup Championships, hosted by North Shore Youth Soccer.

The site of the tournament was Inter River Park, and District crews did an amazing job prepping the fields and cutting the grass leading to an almost perfect setting for one of the major soccer gatherings of the year.

There was only one thing that would have made this event better. That would have been a clubhouse and washroom facility at Inter River to house the throngs of visitors who came to the North Shore to play a little soccer and spend a few pennies in our community.

* Tournament Photos available at www.mpmccue.com/galleries

Happy Canada Day: North Vancouver Style!

2009-07-01T18:20:00.015-07:00

Happy 142nd Birthday Canada!

Celebrations in North Vancouver took place at Waterfront Park. The weather was perfect, the entertainment was great, and the politicians cut cake!

http://www.northvancanadaday.com/about.html

North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton summed it up best telling the crowd that we live in an amazing country!

North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Naomi Yamamoto and MP Andrew Saxton.

District Mayor Richard Walton, MP Andrew Saxton, and North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite cutting cake!

North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton speaking to the crowd.

New Lonsdale School Board Admin Building Dubbed 'Taj Mahal'

2009-06-26T11:29:00.014-07:00

Comments from the advertised display board and discussion Tuesday night at the Harry Jerome Memorial Centre regarding the School Board / Polygon development at the Lonsdale School site. (June 24th, '09)

Several observations:

Improvements: from the earlier plan
- The residential buildings are sited north and south to give some outlook and massing relief to the buildings across on both 22nd and 21st streets.
- The HYAD project is nicely incorporated into the Chesterfield area and has adequate parking for caregivers to the residents.
- The parking ingress and exit for all the residential buildings is now located off Chesterfield Ave
- The 21st street parking access is only for the school admin building and none of the existing Rey Sargeant Park needs to be used

Concerns:
1) Local residents are browned off at the residential buildings heights changing from 4 stories to 5 stories. Density, views, outlooks, privacy, traffic and parking, shadowing etc. For the development, this will add 45 suites, bring the total to 260, plus 16 HYAD units (14 resident, 2 mgmt stes).
2) all residential visitor parking is located in the underground parkade off Chesterfield and not likely to be used by visitors, which will create traffic jams and overload traffic on 22nd street which is a very narrow street. ( front entrances to the residential buildings are on 22nd st.)

Big concern:
- A question was asked to the school board. How many staff will work in the school board office? Answer = approx 110-120 staff.
How many parking spaces are in the underground parkade? Answer = 86 spaces. (includes 5 visitor spaces.)

Special Events:
NV City and the School Board have agreed that Centennial Theatre parking can be an overflow for special events at the school board and 'Arts for Kids' and vice versa for special events at the Theatre. Wonder how many of the public will be aware ....

3) Problem: Woefully inadequate parking at the school board admin office building.
- Inadequate parking for staff
- Inadequate parking for students who will attend some classes at the school board admin offices
- Inadequate parking for visitors
- Inadequate parking for teachers who will attend workshops/meetings at the school board offices
- Woefully inadequate parking for the 'Arts For Kids' students. 1800 dist 44 school children are offered participation in this program 3 days a week, all year. Some of this is all day school hours (drop off and pick up by parents). There are also regular after school and weekend programs. In addition for special events, the children will be bussed to the site.
The only planning for parent drop-off and pick-up parking is on Lonsdale in front of the building.

Local Resident and Guest comments:

"The School Board is planning to build a 'Taj Mahal' administration building, 90 ft high, with 5 stories for staff office and classrooms above the 2 level 'Arts For Kids' lobby level, plus a sub-penthouse boardroom, and a penthouse for whatever? (query-lunchroom?), while the student population is declining .... "

"They are trying to force this overloaded density onto a residential neighborhood, to pay for the $38 million dollar construction of the 'Taj Mahal' School Board office on Lonsdale, when they have property at the Queen Mary School site and at the Lucas Centre."

The planned admin building on Lonsdale will be 90 ft high. "Towering over Lonsdale, the entire length of the school board property. A straight up and down facade. No set back." "It doesn't fit in with the neighborhood of 3 and 4 storey buildings."

And the new plan requires the school board building be sited closer to Lonsdale. "Can we save the chestnut trees on Lonsdale?" No answer, no arborist report available at the meeting.

When asked why they need all this density revenue, the School Board replied that they need 3 1/2 million for the Ridgeway School upgrade and similiar upgrades to Queen Mary School. (compare $3.5 x 2 to the cost of$38m to build the admin office bldg.)

When asked why they need so much space in the admin bldg, the School Board replied "with declining student enrollment, we need to find new sources of funding, such as overseas students, and we need more staff to do this."

When asked why they are not using monies from selling/developing the land at the Queen Mary School location, they replied that "the funds from the sale of lands are years down the road, maybe 5 years". A comment from the crowd "My bank understands asset values. Doesn't theirs?"

When asked why they are not relocating the school board administration site to the Lucas Centre location and upgrading/rebuilding the buildings there and keeping the 'Arts For Kids' location there, with all the adequate parking and ideal quiet surroundings, there was no time to answer this question. Except "we need the funds in the present budget. This is what we have planned."

A Townhall meeting is planned for September.

Harbourside: Concert Properties' Proposal for North Vancouver Waterfront

2009-06-24T16:10:00.000-07:00

Today's coverage in the North Shore News describes the development as a transformation of the City of North Van's waterfront into a mixed-use, beachfront community. Concert Properties' sketches show a mixed-use neighbourhood laid out along the Spirit Trail route. It features a boardwalk, beaches and a dock for kayakers.

Concert Properties' Chairman David Podmore is quoted as saying the plan "is a really unique opportunity to make the waterfront more accessible for more people, and make the waterfront more lively."

In the North Shore News item, Podmore says the proposal isn't a plan, but "an idea or suggestion to start the conversation".

City Council doesn't seem to eager to rush this project through, saying "that while the plan is attractive, city planning staff are too busy to make studying it a priority."

The property at 801 Harbourside Drive is a 136,000 square foot waterfront development site that is currently the site is zoned commercial/light industrial.

Councillor Bob Fearnley was probably the most pointed with his opposition to the plan saying: "I'm going to vote against this," said Coun. Bob Fearnley. "It's a good plan, but we have policy here about preserving industrial land and we should stick to it. We have an OCP. The process to amend it is a lengthy one and it should not be done on the fly."

The Concert Properties' "ideas" apparently involve: "525,000 square feet of residential space, 320,000 square feet of office space and a range of community amenities."

Source North Shore News

Again...a breach of process by the District of North Vancouver

2009-06-24T16:09:00.001-07:00

The following is quoted from page A3 of today's North Shore News:

Regarding the Apartment propsal for a 14-unit Capilano Road plan, we have problems with the process of densification. Councillor Lisa Muri said, "There has not been a neighbourhood-wide re-engagement. There has been no consultation process since we defeated this prior to the election."

Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn said the lack of further consultation, coupled with staff's premature hearing notice was enough for him to vote against proceeding.

"We messed up," he said. "No public hearing."

[Mayor] Walton joined Bassam, Nixon, Hicks and Little in support of holding the public hearing, which was scheduled for June 23, after this paper's deadline.

Where is the adherance to democratic process?

Identity DNV 2030: Engaging Youth?

2009-06-21T20:38:00.006-07:00

The second event of what has been dubbed "Identity DNV 2030" of the District of North Vancouver's Official Community Plan (OCP) process took place Saturday afternoon at Norgate Community School.

The OCP is about defining who we want to be as a community and what kind of a place we want the District to be in 2030.

Saturday's session focused on People - Who exactly are we planning for? Are the demographics changing? What are our community’s greatest strengths and needs? How can we bring people together?

Much of the discussion focused on the "Missing Generation" - the District's young people who are leaving the District to live elsewhere after finishing high school and are simply not here anymore.

The question: What will it take to keep them here and get those who have already left to come back.

Saxton Touts Conservative Accomplishments in this Parliament

2009-06-19T15:24:00.002-07:00

News Release from North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton's office:

Today marks the end of the spring sitting of Parliament. Despite being faced with a minority parliament, Canada’s Conservative Government has successfully implemented an ambitious governing agenda, responding to the real priorities of Canadians.

“I am glad that the opposition put aside partisan interests and supported our Economic Action Plan”, said Andrew Saxton, MP for North Vancouver. “I look forward to spending more time in our community this summer and meeting with the constituents of North Vancouver.”

In response to the global recession, Canada’s Economic Action Plan - the largest economic recovery program in Canadian history - was introduced on the second day of the session. Canada’s Economic Action Plan:

· lowers taxes for Canadian individuals, families and businesses

· creates jobs through stimulus spending and public works projects

· improves access to credit and strengthens the financial system

· provides help for Canadians who have been hardest hit by the global recession.

During the first few months of this year, the Lower Mainland experienced an unprecedented level of criminal activity. The Conservative Government acted quickly by introducing:

· mandatory minimum sentences for gang and drug-related crimes

· tougher sentences for repeat and violent offenders

· an end to 2 for 1 sentencing credit, and the elimination of the “faint hope” clause

· stricter rules for conditional sentencing and house arrest.

The Harper Government took action to cut through political and bureaucratic red-tape to implement Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A few days ago, the Prime Minister announced that 80% of this year’s commitment under Canada’s Economic Action Plan is already being implemented. North Vancouver is seeing the results of this plan and jobs are being created and secured for our community. Some local projects already benefitting from federal support include:

· A rehabilitation of the structure of the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge

· The continued operation of the North Shore Youth Safe House

· Infrastructure improvement projects along the North Shore waterfront, totaling $225m of investments

· Upgrades to Capilano Road to improve traffic flow

· Modernization of the Capilano Salmon Hatchery

New 8th Wonder of the World

2009-06-18T12:42:00.005-07:00

At this late date, I am simply tilting at a windmill, but it should be pointed out that at 211 feet the proposed Grouse Wind Turbine is considerably higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro (168 feet).

"Affordable Housing" a carrot to approve densification

2009-06-17T14:47:00.001-07:00

I write in response to the front page story in today's North Shore News: "Residents sue city over development."

"NEIGHBOURS who opposed a controversial 18-unit development on Bewicke Avenue on the grounds it was too dense for their neighbourhood are in B.C. Supreme court this week, trying to have the project's approvals overturned..."

"....The North Vancouver project has long pitted those who want the city's official community plan upheld with those who argue greater density is needed to create more affordable housing....."

What is sadly lacking in this report is that all comments regarding "affordable housing" are inane. I have paid REAL attention to politics on the North Shore for 5 years and I don't see any "affordable housing" created. Perhaps I am wrong. If you bloggers would point out my error regarding this issue I would be humbled. There are housing advocates who write letters to the editor and attend meetings, however...there has been ZERO "affordable" housing produced on the North Shore, to the contrary it has been torn down and reduces the rental stock.

Where are the "affordable housing" initiatives on the North Shore? It is simply a developer and municipal staff and council spin to approve developments that produce only market housing.

I will say again, "There is not now, nor has there ever been, a shortage of market housing on the North Shore."

Naomi Yamamoto - Minister of State for Intergovernmental Relations

2009-06-10T14:46:00.002-07:00

Congratulations to North Vancouver - Lonsdale MLA Naomi Yamamoto on her promotion to the cabinet.

While I personally had high hopes for Ralph Sultan (who I consider if anything over-qualified for the provincial cabinet) who is once again the bridesmaid but never the bride, it is good to see the North Shore back in the cabinet.

District of North Vancouver Kicks Off OCP Community Events Tonight

2009-06-09T10:22:00.003-07:00

Billed as a "fun and engaging panel" with Theatre Sports to "get you thinking and talking about the future of your community", the first of three community events focusing on the revamping of the District's Official Community Plan is scheduled for 6pm to 9pm tonight. Tonight's session is titled ~ “Our Future”.

The panel, moderated by North Shore News’ Dee Dhaliwal, includes:

Dr. Brian O’Connor, Medical Health Officer, North Shore Region
Peter Robinson, CEO David Suzuki Foundation and former head of Mountain Equipment
Co-Op
Bev Van Ruyven, Executive Vice President, Customer Care and Conservation, BC Hydro
Dane Nicholson, former member of the District’s Community Planning Working Group and Transportation Planning Advisory Committee.

More details regarding tonight's session and the next two events can be found on the District website (DNV.org)

Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff Makes Pitstop to North Shore

2009-06-07T14:29:00.004-07:00

West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast Liberals held an afternoon BBQ today in honour of Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff.

Ignatieff met with local supporters and politicians, and moved easily into an afternoon of handshaking and kissing babies at Horseshoe Bay Park.

Funding: North Vancouver National Maritime Centre

2009-06-07T09:15:00.006-07:00

From today's North Shore News:

AFTER more than four years on the drawing board, North Vancouver's much-anticipated National Maritime Centre is still awaiting government funding, and some of its backers are wondering who or what is behind the hold up.

City of North Vancouver Coun. Bob Fearnley believes it's Ottawa that's dragging its feet.

"The federal government has been studying this thing for so long, we're now at a point where we have to redo our study because the study they were studying is (too old)," he said. "It's ridiculous."

North Vancouver MP Andrew Saxton has a different take:

"Because of the recent provincial election, projects like this have had to wait," he said. "As soon as the new provincial cabinet is sworn in, I will be contacting the new minister to make sure the ball keeps moving."

Added Saxton, "The province is still conducting some final reviews and I remain hopeful."

However, a statement on the city website, relating to the province's $9-million commitment from last year, suggests the ball is in fact in Ottawa's court:

"With this commitment of financial support from the provincial government, the National Maritime Centre . . . now awaits a similar commitment from the federal government."

Full Story visit: www.nsnews.com

Lack of Vision by DNV Council and Staff

2009-06-06T12:19:00.002-07:00

I sent the following to the North Shore News:

It is Friday, June 5, and I am reading the North Shore News. I see on Page A4 a "District Dialogue" outlining a public forum called Identity DNV 2030. It seems like a great idea. I will be attending. The forum will run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

Then, on Page A25, buried at the back of your great paper, I see an ad entitled: PUBLIC INFORMATION HEARING regarding the "Cliff Walk" proposal at Capilano Suspension Bridge. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.

I find it to be a breach of democratic process that these two meetings are being held simultaneously, and that so little notice is being given to the public for both of them.

The "District Dialogue" advertises the forum as: "Envisioning our Future." How appropriate! I don't see much "vision" for the District of North Vancouver if its residents cannot attend both these very important meetings.

District Council sends Seylynn Village to hearing; Huge development proposes 690 units

2009-06-05T11:14:00.004-07:00

From today's North Shore News:

A mixed-use development proposal that would see 690 residential units added to District of North Vancouver housing stock adjacent to the busy traffic corridor of Mountain Highway and Fern Street will go to public hearing June 16.

Council approved the first step in a bylaw process Monday that could create a comprehensive redevelopment -- dubbed Seylynn Village -- that calls for 50,000 square feet of commercial space, 620 condos and live/work unites and 70 affordable rental apartments.

"This is a catalyst for positive change in this area; this is a legacy project that I think we're all going to be very proud of," said Coun. Doug MacKay-Dunn.

Full Story: www.NSNEWS.com

Link to Seylynn Village website: www.seylynnvillage.com

Link to Hynes Developments website: www.hynesdevelopments.com

District of North Vancouver on Facebook

2009-06-03T15:56:00.005-07:00

77 fans can't be wrong.

You have to hand it to the communications folks at the District of North Vancouver for attempting to generate some interest in what is going on at District Hall, particularly the Official Community Plan review, through social media darling Facebook.

At the very least on the DNV's Facebook page everyone will have an opportunity to see what the District is promoting today, whether it be the new Concession at Cates Park, the June opening of the Parkgate Seniors Wellness Park or "Identity DNV 2030" the 18-month long planning and engagement effort to get community input on the new OCP.

77 Facebook fans is a good start. It will be interesting to see if this social media strategy gets any legs and truly engages residents in what is going on at the District.

You can also follow the DNV on Twitter - 83 followers at last count.

North Vancouver Conservatives: AGM

2009-05-31T22:08:00.004-07:00

Local federal Conservatives held their Annual General Meeting yesterday.

And to no surprise, supporters of elected Conservative MP Andrew Saxton carried the day at the meeting attended by over 100 party members.

The riding association also passed a motion limiting the number of members on the local executive to 20 Directors. Riding association President Ramona Materi was also re-elected, with 19 other party faithful joining her on the executive.

$5.2 Billion Recreation Facility Overhall: North Vancouver?

2009-05-29T09:24:00.004-07:00

From this morning's Vancouver Sun:

B.C.’s aging recreational facilities need a $5.2-billion overhaul in the next 10 years to bring them up to standard and meet the changing needs of the population, a new report says.

The cost could swell even more if outdoor recreation facilities — such as trails, playing fields and parks — are also upgraded, the B.C. Recreation and Parks Association said in its report, A Time For Renewal.

“We’re at a bit of a crisis,” said the association’s chief executive, Suzanne Allard Strutt. “Three-quarters of [B.C.] facilities will reach the end of their life cycles all at once. ... Some are estimated at five to 10 years [of useful life remaining], but some could collapse tomorrow.”

The report found 68 per cent of arenas, pools and recreation centres in B.C., most of which were built during the lead-up to Canada’s 1967 Centennial, are at least 25 years old and unable to cater to an increasingly diverse population that’s expected to reach six million by 2035.

Besides seismic issues or three-quarter-sized gyms, older facilities are also falling behind the times because they don’t have family changing rooms or all-in-one amenities such as a swimming pool, library, fitness centre and ice rink.

Full Vancouver Sun Story Click Here

Metro Vancouver 2040 Shaping our future

2009-05-29T07:37:00.001-07:00

I was at the meeting last night at District Hall.

I voted in favour of all of the following:

1. Keep urban development within the Urban Containment Boundary

2. Focus growth in Urban Centres and in Frequent Transit Development Corridors

3. Protect the region's rural lands from urban development

4. Provide diverse and affordable housing choices

5. Develop complete, inclusive communities with access to a range of services and amenities

6. Connect land use and transportation to support transit, walking and cycling

7. Connect land use and transportation to support an efficient regional roads and goods movement network.

However, when I posed the question regarding TransLink to the moderator, I got zilch. The point is that without TransLink onboard to facilitate these excellent goals, we have nothing. Where is TransLink in this equation?

I left the room after a fellow Lynn Valleyite asked the question about their map. The map points out that Lynn Valley is a "town centre" and there is a little blue line which means that there is potential TransLink involvement.

The answer was, paraphrasing....it is progressing very well.

What? This in my mind means that further densification in Lynn Valley is a done deal and no matter what DNV Council says or does, and no matter what we, the residents of Lynn Valley say, we will have highrises.

This is a breach of democracy.

We have lost our beautiful Lynn Valley.

What makes a good candidate?

2009-05-25T20:22:00.003-07:00

The following was written by Barry Rueger in my last post entitled, How do we get people to vote? I had asked Barry what the solution was to obtaining quality candidates. This was Barry's answer. I apologize in advance as it is 200 words over the honourary 5oo limit.

The first challenge is that in almost every province, and federally, the voter is limited to choosing between two parties. Yes there are third party candidates and independents, but realistically if you're not Liberal or NDP in BC (Or Liberal or Conservative federally) your odds of being part of the government are pretty much zero.

Because our system is winner take all, and because once in power a party is pretty much unstoppable, a candidate who has no chance of being on the winning team also has little chance of election, and minimal influence if he or she does wind up in the Legislature.

Since the days of Vanderzalm and Bennett politicians have understood that the Opposition offers much noise and fury, but really can't stop anything. As long as the party in power hands out piles of goodies in the six months preceding the election, and promises everything to anyone who would vote, they stand a better than even chance of being re-elected.

The other reason why party endorsements are the only way to get elected is that election campaigns run on money. I don't know the exact figures, but looking at the campaign budgets listed the North Shore News I'd say that the Liberals outspent the NDP by at least five to one. Time and again we've seen that those signs and ads and resources translate to votes.
That fundraising of course leaves parties beholden to contributors.

None of the above is news - it's just the reality of North American politics.

Joe Voter winds up holding his nose and choosing between the Liberals, or what ever other party is backed by Business, or the NDP, who keep creeping to the right in the vain hope that business will love them too. Or, increasingly voters toss their vote to a third party candidate who they know doesn't have a hope of winning.

Voters are cynical, candidates are cynical, and I have NO doubt that party leaders are cynical.
What is needed?

Remove the financial pressures. Give every nominated candidate from any party (or not) a lump sum to spend as they choose, and eliminate all other donations. $15,000 x 350 candidates would cost a paltry $5.2 million.

If you can't buy the election then maybe candidates will need to stand in front of their nieghbours and discuss real issues.

Make integrity and honesty a crucial part of the process. Eliminate candidates with unpardoned criminal records. Refuse nomination to candidates or even sitting members who can be shown to have lied to the public. I don't think any of us can't recall times we watched a politician flat out lie to us.

Give the media a kick in the butt and get them to do REAL reporting, not just parrot whatever the Leaders are saying in press conferences. The Tyee did some of this in the past election, but imagine if BCTV and the Sun also critically examined the claims that were being made?
Get a cattle prod and zap the first politician who refuses to answer a straight question, or who completely refuses to acknowledge hard queries.

Bring in effective recall processes so that voters can remove a politician who proves to be dishonest.

Reduce the salary for MLAs to say the 75th percentile of salaried workers. Make the job NOT lucrative. Eliminate perqs and excessive pensions. Reimburse reasonable expenses, and contribute to an RRSP about the same amount as a private sector wage earner would get.
Make it illegal for any elected politician to be employed or otherwise enriched by any company that does business with the government for at least five years after they leave office.
If you can eliminate the money, you'll attract people who run because of their principles, or their desire to help their communities, not people who crave power and money.

If a truly honest and caring person of intelligence wants to run, they can so so on the strength of their beliefs and personality, not because they are able to hit up friends or mortgage their house to finance a campaign.

Really, it's about the money isn't it? Remove that from the equation and the whole game will change.

Barry Rueger

Bloggers indicted for inventing web hits: Country to prosecute for 'click fraud'

2009-05-23T16:58:00.002-07:00

I quote from an article in today's Vancouver Sun written by John M. Glionna and Ju-Min Park. Page B7

"SEOUL, South Korea -- In its fight to tame an often-lawless Internet, South Korea has added a new charge to its criminal ledger: click fraud.

This isn't any for-profit racket to manufacture any phony Internet hit counts and scam advertisers who pay for each new visitor.

There is no financial gain from this kind of hit manipulation. Many say it's innocuous. It involves bloggers who bolster the number of web vistors to generate more interest in their online comments -- which in the case of the four bloggers were anti-government rants.

In what South Korean Authorities say may be the first prosecution of its kind, four bloggers were indicted this week for inventing web hits on their writings in an online forum."

It goes on and on....