Good Sunday Morning!
This was one of those weeks when I kept thinking “a week is a lifetime in politics.” I thought it was a time-worn phrase, but I doubled-checked and found it was coined by UK PM Harold Wilson as “a week is a long time in politics.”
So long ago was Harold Wilson prime minister that “Mr. Wilson” made it into the lyrics of the Beatles’ 1966 “Taxman.”
Still, the events of this week make a case for changing “long time” to “lifetime.” Significant upheavals at both federal and provincial levels with the BC shenanigans of Kevin Falcon folding up his party without warning its members, a bit more than a week ago on August 28, and Jagmeet Singh ripping up (at least figuratively) his agreement with Justin Trudeau on Wednesday, September 4.
Falcon’s folding up reminded me of the collection of really dumb consumer warning labels – as in the one on baby strollers, “Remove child before folding.” Should political parties have a label “remove your MLAs before folding?”
In both cases, I think Greens have benefited. Certainly, provincially I am feeling a change in the political climate as more voters look for a new political home. The collapse of anything looking “centrist” in the dominant parties leaves Sonia Furstenau as the only adult standing. The fleet of great – and sensible Green candidates – are gaining new supporters. I love canvassing with Saanich North and the Islands candidate Rob Botterell. We have so much fun. I cannot wait to be working with him in the ways Adam Olsen and I have innovated, removing the artificial political boundaries to collaboration. Our Southern Gulf Islands Forum meets monthly with Trustees from Islands Trusts, Mayors, CRD representatives, Indigenous Chiefs, municipal council members and community groups. We get a lot done with the silos down! Here are photos of me canvassing Friday with Rob on Friday, and with BC Greens Deputy Leader Dr. Lisa Gunderson at the Saanich Fair last weekend.
In the big news… drum roll, yesterday when John was singing on the main stage of the annual Spence’s Bridge music festival – Desert Daze – he let the crowd know he will soon be announced as the BC Green candidate in Cariboo-Chilcotin!. Few candidates get to hear a crowd cheer at a political announcement at a music fest! Sadly I missed it, but I did spend Saturday at the wonderful Salt Spring Fall Fair with Rob Botterell. You can still catch Rob there today. I will be holding my town hall for Cordova Bay residents this afternoon (at the Cordova Bay 55+ club – next to the school on Cordova Bay Road). Cariboo-Chilcotin does include John’s farm in Ashcroft and covers a lot of territory. I plan to get there as often as I can. I really love that cowboy I married, and campaigning together is one of our favourite things!
The impact of Singh’s announcement is likely to be underwhelming. Contrary to Poilievre’s demand that we have a fall “carbon tax election,” Singh’s withdrawal from the Confidence and Supply Agreement does not trigger an election. Poilievre’s arithmetic skills need work. With 24 NDP votes, with the agreement in place it is true the minority Liberals had no fear of losing a confidence vote, but there are 32 Bloc Quebecois MPs and they now have more clout for Quebec goodies in the spring budget. And no point pretending Singh actually wants to go to the polls. Pulling out of the Confidence and Supply Agreement was likely triggered by poor polling numbers for the NDP in two upcoming federal by-elections. Voters in Montreal’s Lasalle-Emard-Verdun riding and Winnipeg’s Elmwood Transcona, an NDP stronghold, go to the polls on September 16. I will be in Winnipeg tomorrow to campaign with our candidate and Shadow Cabinet Labour Critic, Nic Geddert and on the 15th in Montreal with Green candidate Jancy Mercier – an urban bee-keeper and old friend!
Please also consider joining Rob Botterell for his Official Campaign and Office Launch on Wednesday, September 11th from 6-8 pm at the new Sidney office (10030 Resthaven Dr, next to the Shoal Centre). We are thrilled to have Sonia and Adam joining in, but I will have to miss it for my town hall on Galiano Island. Adam and Sonia will share highlights from the campaign trail. Adam will host a Dutch auction and there will be lots of time for mingling. Snacks and drinks to be served. Please RSVP here if you can make it.
Rob and I are also jointly attending events on Pender Islands on Friday September 13 – and later that day on Salt Spring for a tribute to Adam Olsen before my regular Salt Spring Island town hall that evening. Check this website for other local BC Green events in the lead up to the October 19 election – events will be updated regularly: https://www.bcgreens.ca/san_events
It will be a very busy fall! And I hope, when the dust settles, we see more hope in our future, Trump gone under that dust and more Greens standing!
Thanks again for all your encouraging messages! Onwards and Upwards!
Much love
Elizabeth