A Jeckyl-Hyde Clark Rips Off Much Of NDP-Green Agenda And Passes As Her Own In Desperate Attempt To Cling To Power!

BC Liberal leader Christy Clark has always had a habit of being all things to all people before and some of her previous attempts to appeal to the electorate's wishes on a host of issues has served her well but that was when she was elected with an overwhelming majority. But she seems to have lost all credibility with her latest shape-shifting act of adopting pretty well most of the major NDP-Green policies and campaign promises that those parties ran on but Clark vehemently opposed in run up to the election and in the election campaign that put her just one seat out a majority government. But in a last-ditch bid to hold onto power as her minority government faces defeat in a legislature showdown next week, Clark's Throne Speech Thursday basically made her look like a desperate political caricature who is either suffering from dementia or hallucinatory dreams where she woke up as an NDPer but wearing the same ruffled BC Liberal clothes.

By R. Paul Dhillon – Editor-Founder DESIBUZZCanada / DESIBUZZbc

VICTORIA — Who knew BC Liberal leader Christy Clark would show her true colours and then change again and again and again… all in a ludicrous and credulous attempt to cling on to power.

Clark has always had a habit of being all things to all people before and some of her previous attempts to appeal to the electorate's wishes on a host of issues has served her well but that was when she was elected with an overwhelming majority.

But she seems to have lost all credibility with her latest shape-shifting act of adopting pretty well most of the major NDP-Green policies and campaign promises that those parties ran on but Clark vehemently opposed in run up to the election and in the election campaign that put her just one seat out a majority government.

But in a last-ditch bid to hold onto power as her minority government faces defeat in a legislature showdown next week, Clark's Throne Speech Thursday basically made her look like a desperate political caricature who is either suffering from dementia or hallucinatory dreams where she woke up as an NDPer but wearing the same ruffled BC Liberal clothes.

And judging by the rightful drudging she has received from the media, the voters and even a large segment of her own party – Clark may also have written her own political obituary as she will now be facing serious challenges to her leadership when next week her government falls at the hands of the NDP-Green coalition.

Many expect her to resign following the bringing down of her government next week at a scheduled confidence motion most likely next Thursday but if she had any sense or decent advisors she would have stepped down from government and assumed the Opposition Leader's post and fought her way back in the right way to reclaim the throne possibly in the next election.

But she has instead chosen nonsensical shenanigans and have desperately tried to cling on to power which begs the questions – is she is doing this to hide stuff that has gone on in her administration as it has been one of the most secretive BC regimes in history.

Only time will tell and she doesn't have much New Democrat and Green party  will take reigns of power in BC after 16 years of BC Liberals in office.

"I believe the B.C. Liberals have lost their way," said NDP Leader John Horgan. "I believe they no longer represent and reflect the values of this diverse and dynamic province."

Among Clark's throne speech promises included key NDP campaign promises, including eliminating bridge tolls and raising monthly welfare rates by $100.

The Liberals said they would also hold a referendum on electoral reform after the opposition parties came out in support of proportional representation. Two previous referendums on electoral reform have failed in B.C.

Green Leader Andrew Weaver told Canadian Press he was heartened to see the Liberals adopt Green policies, but his party remains focused on toppling the government in a confidence vote.

"We cannot have confidence in a government that for 16 years has argued against these policies and in the last few days has suddenly recognized that they are in the best interests of British Columbians," Weaver said in a statement.

The election gave B.C. its first minority government in 65 years, with the Liberals winning 43 seats, the NDP 41 and the Greens three in the 87-seat legislature. The NDP and the Greens signed an agreement to combine their seat total and vote down the Liberals in a bid to form a minority NDP government.

"British Columbians spoke loud and clear – they're looking for a better balance between economic, social, and environmental priorities," Clark said in a press release. "Together, we have built the most solid economic foundation in Canada – and with that, an opportunity to take better care of each other, and invest in the services we all need."

Clark said the throne speech shows her government is willing to change after hearing from voters but that mostly fell on deaf ears to holler of jokes and laughter as that makes as much sense as Clark's shape-shifting.

Among all the political fallout from Clark's Throne Speech, former Liberal cabinet minister Steve Thomson was acclaimed Speaker in what might be a short-term appointment.

Thomson, a former minister of forests, lands and natural resource operations who represents Kelowna Mission, said he is not looking beyond his duties in the event of the Liberal government's defeat and it would be up to a new government to appoint a Speaker.

Here are all of BC Liberal turnarounds and promised from the Throne speech:

* A comprehensive ban on corporate, union, and third party donations, including in-kind, to political parties.

* Impose a maximum donation limit for individuals to political parties.

* A referendum on electoral reform.

* Strengthen lobbyist legislation and regulations.

Child care and Early Childhood Education

* An immediate $1-billion investment over the next four years – the largest in B.C.'s history – to create 60,000 new spaces, in addition to the 13,000 already committed.

* Cover an additional 150,000 children with full or partial child-care subsidies.

* Increase the number of early childhood educators.

* Explore partnerships with school districts to co-locate new child-care spaces at elementary schools.

Fairer, Healthier Society

* A new provincewide Poverty Reduction Strategy, with a particular focus on children.

* A $100/month increase to social-assistance rates, with a process to recommend future annual increases.

* Index annual Disability Assistance rate increases at CPI going forward.

* A plan to expand and build on the proven success of the Single Parent Employment Initiative .

* Basic income support for youth aged 18 to 24 transitioning out of care.

* A commitment to fully implement Grand Chief Ed John's recommendations in the Report on Indigenous Child Welfare.

* Increase legal aid funding by 25%, ensuring families can better access and navigate our legal system.

* Increase the number of RCMP officers dedicated to drug enforcement by 30%.

* Create a new Minister of State for Mental Health, Addiction and Recovery.

* Build a new Centre for Mental Health and Addictions in Surrey.

* Work to accelerate immediate access to MRIs, hip and knee operations.

* Increase access to family doctors by training 112 more general practitioners, bringing the total to 400.

* 500 more residential care beds to support our seniors.

* Ensure clear, measurable daily care-hour standards are in place, monitored and enforced.

* Double the Home Renovation Tax Credit and create a new Respite Tax Credit to help families who care for their ageing loved ones.

* Work to fully eliminate MSP for B.C. families.

* Establish a Royal Commission on Education to ensure the next generation of students and educators both have the resources, training and tools they need.

* Increase accessibility requirements on new construction and in the design of public spaces.

* Increase the minimum number of suites in multi-unit residential buildings designed with basic accessibility features.

Communities and Transit

* Immediate action to expand public transit in Metro Vancouver, including the Broadway corridor and Surrey LRT.

* End the referendum requirement for new transit revenue sources.

* Work with our neighbours in Washington State on high-speed rail between Vancouver and Seattle.

* Work to build light rail on southern Vancouver Island and a passenger ferry connection between Vancouver and Nanaimo.

* Conduct feasibility studies to connect Lower Mainland and North Shore communities by transit and light rail.

* Convene an all-party committee for extensive consultation with the public and stakeholders on ride sharing.

* Eliminate tolls on the Port Mann Bridge, work with TransLink to eliminate tolls on the Golden Ears Bridge and expedite the replacement of the Patullo Bridge.

* Fully fund adult basic education and ESL programs to help new British Columbians adapt and integrate.

* Double BC Arts Council funding to build capacity in order to be a leader in the new economy.

Housing Affordability

* Work with local governments and the private sector to increase supply, particularly along transit lines and corridors while supporting municipalities to eliminate backlogs and speed up construction.

* Build 50,000 new units over 10 years as part of a new Rent-to-Own program for the middle class.

* Protect renters' rights by prohibiting landlords from skirting rent-control protections and ensuring tenants are respected when landlords make improvements to their buildings.

* Host a Housing Summit to be convened in fall 2017 with all levels of government and stakeholders. Real estate speculation will be one of the challenges put before participants.

Rural Communities

* Double the Rural Economic Dividend to ensure small communities see the benefits of the wealth they create, and are able to diversify their economies.

* Work to open eight new mines by 2022, and invest $18 million to improve mine permitting, oversight, compliance and enforcement.

* Ensure food security and protection of agricultural land by doubling the Grow Local program and bringing an additional 91,000 hectares of agricultural land into production by 2020.

Environment and Innovation

* Move forward with Site C to transition our economy away from carbon and help reach an ambitious emissions-free target for all new non-commercial vehicles in Metro Vancouver by 2035.

* Raise the carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year, starting in 2019, up to a total of $50 per tonne by 2022.

* For all future carbon tax increases, the PST will be reduced by a corresponding amount.

* $50 million expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure throughout B.C.

* $50 million more for BC Parks and double the number of conservation officers.