Your vote can't be split. It is unique and fully complete -- there is NO way to split it in half, quarters, thirds, or whatever

Today my campaign manager, Alan Forseth, had a post that he made on his 'Mostly Politics' Facebook page  I liked what he had to say , and so I would like to share it with you as well. 

 

Here is what he had to say: 

 

I did a poll today and the result was 100% support for Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative candidate Peter Sharp (Elect Peter Sharp Kamloops-South). 

 

Okay that is a little tongue in cheek, and I was the only person surveyed, however the reality is each one of us does make our own choice when it comes to marking our ballot.

 

Each one of us is a poll of 'one' in the voting booth, and our vote carries as much weight as the next poll of one.

 

Some have said don't vote Green you'll split the NDP vote ... others say don't vote Conservative you'll split the Liberal vote.  Of course we BC Conservatives could also say don't vote Liberal because you'll split the Conservative vote, and likewise for the Green Party vs. the NDP.

 

The reality is, there is no vote split.  

 

Your vote can't be split.

 

It is unique and fully complete -- there is NO way to split it in half, quarters, thirds, or whatever.

 

When you head to the voting station, vote for who YOU want to represent YOU; the person who has best shown they are someone you can relate to, and that holds the same beliefs and ideals you do, or at least ones that are close.

 

You can't go wrong with that. That's how democracy works.

 

Good luck to all candidates -- and thank you for stepping up and letting your name stand to represent the people you hope will become your constituents. 

 

How many time have you heard the vote splitting argument?  This, to me, simply states it the way it really is.  Your votes is yours, and yours alone, and it cannot be split. 

 

On Tuesday -- I encourage YOU vote for the person YOU wish to have represent you.  After all, it's your choice to make.

 

Let's 'stay sharp' Kamloops.

 

I'm Peter Sharp -- I'm a BC Conservative -- and I BELIEVE in BC!

"I support strong -- and responsible -- exploration, mining and mineral processing industry in BC"

BC is Canada’s single largest exporter of coal, largest producer of copper and
the only producer of molybdenum (http://www.mining.bc.ca/bc-mining-week)

It's Mining Week in BC, and so it comes as know surprise, that in the past several days, my campaign email has been filled with messages from those supporting mining.  Near identical in nature, they generally put forward the following:

 

          Dear Candidate,

As a supporter of a strong and responsible exploration, mining and mineral processing industry in BC, I would like to know how you will support investment, growth and competitiveness in all stages of mineral resource development, if you are elected on May 14.

Mining supports jobs and families in communities across our province.  BC has 21 major mines, over 30 industrial mineral producers, 2 smelters and over 350 exploration projects.  There are also over 900 companies in BC that provide supplies and services to mining operations.  

In 2010 the BC mining industry supported over 37,000 well-paying direct and indirect jobs.  In 2011 it provided $9.9 billion to the BC economy and $805 million in payments to government to support important social programs, including education and healthcare.  

BC mines also provide the minerals and metals we need for every-day life.  Computers, bicycles, transit systems and hydroelectric energy transmission would not be possible without mining.

The mining industry will continue to play a key role in the economy of BC into the coming years if government and industry work together to support a strong exploration, mining and mineral processing industry that is committed to safety and leadership in environmental stewardship.

Please find below a set of questions developed by the www.votemining.ca campaign.  I am interested in knowing where you stand on these questions and how you will support a responsible exploration, mining and mineral processing industry if you are elected on May 14.

If you are elected ... etc ...

They then go on to ask several questions regarding my position, and that of the BC Conservatives, regarding support of mining in BC.  For anyone wondering, let me unequivocally state that; "I support strong -- and responsible -- exploration, mining and mineral processing industry in BC." 

 

Why should I have an issue with that statement?

 

I am a BC Conservative after all, and we support the good high-paying family supporting jobs, that come from safe and environmentally sound development projects. 

 

That's why I have NO problem providing the following response to these emails: 

 

The bottom line simple answer is that BC Conservative are pro-resource development, and unlike the BC Liberals and NDP, that is our starting point.  

 

Your participation in the democratic process is something no union, or political party, should take for granted.

Do we need to get big business and big labour out of political parties?

Most British Columbians seem to think, so if polls are right.

Unfortunately however the 'leadership' of the BCGEU fails to understand this, as they continue to promote and work for the NDP.

Is this something the individual membership the BCGEU has had a chance to approve?  A number of members, who have contacted me, say not.

Government should be there for the betterment of all people -- the leaders of the BCGEU however seem to think it is there to push their own personal agenda, as this portion of an email from them, promoting their "BCGEU Votes" campaign shows:
" ... up for discussion is everything from voter registration to the importance of electing a government that shares our values ... it is time for a change (part of NDP campaign slogan) ... we have the power to bring about change on May 14 ... get involved in this election ... offer to volunteer on a local election campaign. Whether it’s putting up signs, knocking on doors, or working the phones, there is plenty of work to be done.

... labour movement has won many gains at the bargaining table. But some gains can only be won at the ballot box. Between now and May 14 let’s work hard and elect a government that understands our values and will build a province of which we can all be proud ..."

The BC Conservative Party has put forward a platform that will benefit all British Columbians across the social-economic scale --- and in particular promote the kind of development that will require thousands of skilled union workers.
The NDP meantime have put forward positions that will stifle good high paying union jobs -- and yet the BCGEU calls them the friends of labor.

How does that make sense?

I'd like to encourage all voters to look closely at the platforms of each party -- and then make an informed decision.

Your vote does count -- your vote is important -- and your participation in the democratic process is something no union, or political party, should take for granted.

See what each of the party's has to offer -- investigate for yourself what each of them stands for -- and then decide which best suits your own personal beliefs.

BC Conservative Party: http://www.bcconservative.ca/what-we-stand-for/election-platform/

 

BC Liberal Party: http://www.bcliberals.com/news/in-the-news/ourPlan

 

BC NDP: http://www.bcndp.ca/ ... they do not appear to have platform posted to their website

 

BC Green Party: http://www.greenparty.bc.ca/green_book_2013

 

It is rather unfortunate that the BC NDP have not seen fit to have their policies and platform online.  I will leave it up to you to decide on why that may be the case.

I hope that our BC Conservative policies will resonate, in a positive way, with you.  If you have any questions please feel free to contact us at the campaign office at 324 Victoria Street in Kamloops.  You can also call the campaign office at (778) 471-4335.

I'm Peter Sharp --- I'm a BC Conservative -- and I Believe in BC!



FOLLOW-UP:
Since posting this late last night, the Globe and Mail has a piece online from Gary Mason: "NDP letter asking for donations has some businesses seeing red".  This letter is just one more reason for the call to have only 'individuals (not business or unions) to be the ones to support the party's they believe in:

NDP Leader Adrian Dix likes to talk about a balanced approached to governing. It now appears that philosophy extends to fundraising as well.

Some members of the B.C. business community are questioning the message they say is embedded in a fundraising letter that the New Democrats have been sending out to people who have financially supported only the B.C. Liberals in the past.

The missives are being sent out under the name of Jan O’Brien, provincial secretary of the party, but Mr. Dix’s imprimatur is prominent. The letter begins by informing the recipient that building a relationship with the business community is a top priority of the NDP Leader. It talks about how the prospective B.C. premier believes a strong private sector is key to economic development in the province – in other words, he is not a wild-eyed advocate of the communist collective.

And just so the recipients understand they would not be the first business leaders to make such a donation, the communique makes it clear that Mr. Dix has appreciated the support he’s received from other members of the financial sector. In an attempt to dispel any concern that an NDP government would favour unions, the letter says a Dix administration would include everyone at the table.

Then Ms. O’Brien gets to the point.

The letter documents the donation total that the recipient – or his or her company – has made to the Liberal Party over a specified number of years.
“It is our hope that you will adopt a balanced approach to your support in the lead up to the election in May,” it states. “I am asking your organization to make a contribution in the range of $5,000 now to show your commitment to a balanced approach to government.”

It then provides a link to a secure website where the person can immediately make a contribution.

At another time, those receiving a letter of this nature might have thought nothing of it. But in the context of the current election, one in which the New Democrats are decided favourites, it takes on a different hue.

Those getting such a dispatch might be forgiven for thinking they were being sent a pointed directive: We know who you are, we know who you’ve supported in the past, and it might be wise given the current political environment if you made a little donation to our party.

“You could say this is normal politics or you could say it’s a not-so-subtle strong-armed tactic,” said one business person who received the letter but did not want his name used. “[It’s implying], ‘You have never supported us before, but we’re going to win, and we will remember who did and who did not help us this time.’”

Another business person characterized the letter as a “political shakedown.”
It will not surprise you that the NDP says that was not the intent at all. The letter was simply intended, Ms. O’Brien told me, to reach out to corporations that have shown in the past they are willing to donate to political parties to see if they would consider the NDP.

“As part of the democratic process, political parties fund their campaigns with political donations,” Ms. O’Brien said. “But people have a choice, absolutely. We’ve just asked them to take a balanced approach to campaign donations.”
But that’s not what the letter says. It effectively states that the company should donate to the NDP as well as the Liberals in the name of taking a “balanced approach to government” – not campaign donations. Ms. O’Brien did not seem completely comfortable trying to explain what the letter meant in that regard. Or that it implies that people shouldn’t have a choice – that they should donate to both main parties.

And, of course, that’s wrong. People should be able to donate to whomever they want, and they certainly shouldn’t be leaned on by officials of parties that may soon take office and told that they should send some cash their way.

If there is any good news in all this, it’s the fact that should the NDP form government, it has vowed that donations from corporations and unions will be outlawed. Let’s hope letters such as the one Ms. O’Brien authored will be a thing of the past as well.

SHAME on you for the lies and arrogance. You can't trowel on enough of that to hide and mask the truth any longer!

So, how many watched the Christy Clark Show last night at 7pm on Global TV? 
Win, lose, or draw, Clark definitely will be deserving of the Best Female Actress award from the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television’s new CANADIAN SCREEN AWARDS, which recognize excellence in film, television and digital media productions.

 

I had been thinking of possible comments I might make, but to tell you the truth after seeing the first and only three comments my campaign manager, Alan Forseth, made -- I think he really did capture the spirit of what many were thinking.

 

So, unvarnished and unedited, this is what Al had to say last night:  

 

 

Comment #1 

Just watching the taped version of Christy's 1/2 hour info-mercial. Well right off the bat I'll ask the same thing Christy that you did ... "Why is it okay to for our government to leave our kids with a debt?"

YOU SHOULD be ashamed you've left us worse off. Your Liberal government has doubled our debt :(  

 

 

Comment #2 

Christy Clark asks: "Do we want look after our kids future -- do we want to give them choices, that they're going to want to have, to run their future -- or do we want to take away their future by saddling them with debt?"

 

Good grief ... is she really serious? How can a government that has been so completely wasteful with taxpayers resources seriously ask that question. THIS is what BC Conservatives have been asking -- because it is BC Liberals that have INDEED doubled the provinces debt -- just as the NDP did --- and BOTH of them HAVE seriously jeopardized our children's futures!

 

Shame on you Christy Clark for NOT being to embarrassed and ashamed to try and pull off that kind of phony BS! 

 

 

Comment #3 

Oh my goodness ... I'm only 5 minutes in and I don't know if I can stomach any more of this trite revisionist look at the BC Liberals. She says she wants to balance the budget so we don't saddle our children with debt?

 

Well excuse me for asking -- but what do you call the new $7 billion you will be adding to the debt over the next 3 years, if your Liberal government is re-elected. 

 

That's no magical number drawn out of thin air by the way Christy -- that IS from the BC Ministry of Finance records.

"John Cummins and the BC Conservatives have a better plan", says Kamloops South Thompson candidate Peter Sharp

The following is the latest media releasde from the Peter Sharp Campaign office:


KAMLOOPS:  "John Cummins and the BC Conservatives have a better plan." 

So stated Peter Sharp, BC Conservative Party candidate for Kamloops South Thompson, after reviewing the parties 28 page election platform released today.  

The BC Conservative Party has outlined, in detail, their vision for the future of British Columbia. Here are three highlights of particular interest to the people of Kamloops:

1. The residents of Kamloops are justifiably concerned about the state of our health care system.  BC has the lowest per capita number of nurses per 100,000 population in Canada and that is simply unacceptable.  Royal Inland Hospital is operating in crisis mode, and thousands do not have access to a family doctor.  The BC Conservatives are determined to fix this. 
2. Everyone understands fair taxes are necessary to provide essential services for all British Columbians.  But the Liberal government’s Carbon Tax is unfair.  It penalizes the ranchers and farmers who grow our food, and unfairly taxes Interior residents of BC who live in the colder parts of the province, and who have to drive much longer distances.  A BC Conservative government will repeal this unfair tax.
3. The BC justice system has declined alarmingly under the BC Liberal government.  It is underfunded, resulting “revolving door” justice, and huge delays, with some criminals walking away unpunished.  BC Conservatives believe in safer communities and will commit the necessary resources to protect BC citizens and their property.

Peter Sharp has an extensive and positive track record in local government, and community service.  He is excited about taking the BC Conservative platform to the electors of Kamloops South. 

“This is the kind of common sense plan the people of Kamloops deserve from their government.”  Sharp concluded.

Details on the BC Conservative Party campaign platform can be found at http://www.bcconservative.ca/what-we-stand-for/election-platform