Although Premier David Eby's NDP eked out the narrowest of wins, the 2024 election saw the elimination of the existing 'free enterprise' option in favour of an insurgent BC Conservative party
Terrific analysis Geoff. You reminded us in your summary that corporate interests hoped to re-ignite class warfare threatening all sorts of chaos if the "the communist hordes" were to win re-election. My sense was in this election - as was true under Horgan - voters are longer are distracted by that nonsense.
The BC NDP in the last ten years is now so effectively the party of the center-left that there is no longer any room in the center for the Conservatives who in turn are being pushed (and taken by their current leadership) increasingly to the right. Is that shift for the Conservatives a path to sustainable success? To a lesser degree, the same can be said of the Greens who are being pushed further to the sidelines.
I fear that a major threat for the NDP, in contrast, is being so spooked by this near death experience that the party abandons the big tent commitment to forming government, allowing itself to be dragged back by the ideologues on the left who have no answers nor appeal to working British Columbians in the interior, north and Lower Mainland suburbs.
That all said, as you state so clearly, delivering results really is the order of the day whatever might be the movements across the political spectrum.
Thanks, Gordon, an interesting perspective. It was illuminating to me how small a role environmental issues played in the campaign. There were no debates about labour policy, either. Part of the challenge of the big tent is communicating effectively with everyone in it, in terms they understand and reflect an understanding of their differing realities -- easier said than done.
I think a lot of voters just vote reflexively against NDP as the “big government” option. That’s my default… it doesn’t have a ton to do with wanting the government to solve my problems, but more wanting them to stop spending so much money and interfering in everything.
Great writing, observation and analysis Geoff - factual, articulate and interesting. Demonstrates that politics is complex and best when applicants for the job have experience.
Good summary, Geoff. One point you might have made is that every leader has to hold back its fringe so as not to scare voters away. The NDP has had to hold back the far left, which Barrett and Harcourt weren't quite able to do. Campbell was quite successful, giving them a referendum on First Nations rights, which he then ignored. Now Rustad has the task. We shall see what he is able to do with people like Chapman and Sapoznikov.
Neale, I wonder if Rustad is interested in reining them in, or even capable. The attack on Sturko was quite something. She certainly got no support from Rustad.
Terrific analysis Geoff. You reminded us in your summary that corporate interests hoped to re-ignite class warfare threatening all sorts of chaos if the "the communist hordes" were to win re-election. My sense was in this election - as was true under Horgan - voters are longer are distracted by that nonsense.
The BC NDP in the last ten years is now so effectively the party of the center-left that there is no longer any room in the center for the Conservatives who in turn are being pushed (and taken by their current leadership) increasingly to the right. Is that shift for the Conservatives a path to sustainable success? To a lesser degree, the same can be said of the Greens who are being pushed further to the sidelines.
I fear that a major threat for the NDP, in contrast, is being so spooked by this near death experience that the party abandons the big tent commitment to forming government, allowing itself to be dragged back by the ideologues on the left who have no answers nor appeal to working British Columbians in the interior, north and Lower Mainland suburbs.
That all said, as you state so clearly, delivering results really is the order of the day whatever might be the movements across the political spectrum.
Thanks, Gordon, an interesting perspective. It was illuminating to me how small a role environmental issues played in the campaign. There were no debates about labour policy, either. Part of the challenge of the big tent is communicating effectively with everyone in it, in terms they understand and reflect an understanding of their differing realities -- easier said than done.
I think a lot of voters just vote reflexively against NDP as the “big government” option. That’s my default… it doesn’t have a ton to do with wanting the government to solve my problems, but more wanting them to stop spending so much money and interfering in everything.
Excellent analysis, Geoff. And worrying. Thanks.
Great writing, observation and analysis Geoff - factual, articulate and interesting. Demonstrates that politics is complex and best when applicants for the job have experience.
Good summary, Geoff. One point you might have made is that every leader has to hold back its fringe so as not to scare voters away. The NDP has had to hold back the far left, which Barrett and Harcourt weren't quite able to do. Campbell was quite successful, giving them a referendum on First Nations rights, which he then ignored. Now Rustad has the task. We shall see what he is able to do with people like Chapman and Sapoznikov.
Neale, I wonder if Rustad is interested in reining them in, or even capable. The attack on Sturko was quite something. She certainly got no support from Rustad.