The Official 2017 Provincial Election Thread

[Gerbs]

[QUOTE=6o4__boi;8837638
even the nicer, quiet hikes of the past are fucking packed to the brims now (though vanshitty buzz's 25 places you should check out bullshit is partly to blame)[/QUOTE]

That's so true. All the hikes I went on early this season, which would normally be empty few years ago. Have at least 10 15 groups at the peaks.

I haven't met anyone that moved away yet. Other than for work in the U.S. or back to Toronto for a pay increase.

[Hondaracer]

if you live past 176th and Highway 1, the amount you're going downtown in a month can be counted on one hand, if that. It's such a chore to spend an evening or even a day in Vancouver coming from anywhere east of that, let alone if you live off the highway.

IMO, i think people are now realizing that downsizing isnt always the answer because when they look at what prices are in the Valley, to have some cash in their pocket but live in a 150 unit townhouse complex, or rely on savings, RRSP's, pensions, etc. and stay in a comfortable home in an area your familiar with i think more and more people are turning towards the latter.

I've seen it time and time again, people move away from homes they could have afforded with a bit of work, perhaps picking up a part time gig somewhere, etc. only to move to Chilliwack, the island, the interior etc. Away from all their friends, family etc. thinking they are moving to easy street, only to be constantly back in the lower mainland doing things, couch surfing, etc. because all their friends and activities, doctors, etc. are here.

When houses in chilliwack are going for 800k, "cashing out" of Burnaby at 1.2 doesnt look so appealing.

[RRxtar]

so the green party wants to increase income tax on the middle class who earn over $100k/year, and roll MSP into payroll taxes.

so the green party wants to punish the hardest working demographic of the work force. the small business owners who grind 60 hour weeks to get a little bit ahead. 100k isnt even high income. thats middle class works a little harder trying to get ahead income level.

those 2 things alone would cost me $10k/year out of my pocket.

[Hondaracer]

And triple the land transfer tax on houses over a mill..yea dat helps..

But yea the higher taxes over 100k is insane.

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by RRxtar

so the green party wants to increase income tax on the middle class who earn over $100k/year, and roll MSP into payroll taxes.

so the green party wants to punish the hardest working demographic of the work force. the small business owners who grind 60 hour weeks to get a little bit ahead. 100k isnt even high income. thats middle class works a little harder trying to get ahead income level.

those 2 things alone would cost me $10k/year out of my pocket.

If you make $108,460 of taxable income per year (increasing each year with inflation), you'll pay $0 more in taxes under their platform (assuming you already pay MSP).

It's increasing the tax rate on income earned in excess of $108,460 (plus inflation) by 1% per year up to 3%. So unless you're planning to clear $350k/year in taxable income in 2021 (and have the gall to call that middle class), you're not paying $10k more per year in taxes under the Green's economic platform.

[RRxtar]

Originally Posted by Jmac

If you make $108,460 of taxable income per year (increasing each year with inflation), you'll pay $0 more in taxes under their platform (assuming you already pay MSP).

It's increasing the tax rate on income earned in excess of $108,460 (plus inflation) by 1% per year up to 3%. So unless you're planning to clear $350k/year in taxable income in 2021 (and have the gall to call that middle class), you're not paying $10k more per year in taxes under the Green's economic platform.

if they roll MSP premiums into payroll taxes, since I employ about 10 epmloyees that is about $9000 a year

I cant actually find details on what they plan to do for increasing taxes on people who earn $100k but I did jump the gun tho and forgot to realize that is taxable income above $108k so since I cant actually find the details on what that new tax table looks like, I can't say how much that will affect me personally, at this point. The article I read simply said "on those earning $108k/year". My point still stands tho. I dont think $150k/year is "I make too much disposable income" level. That is the income range for people who work their fucking ass off in middle class society. I know quite a few people in that income level, and none of them work anything resembling 9-5, and none of them are the kinds of people you would expect to be high earners (STEM educated, etc).

[Jmac]

Originally Posted by RRxtar

if they roll MSP premiums into payroll taxes, since I employ about 10 epmloyees that is about $9000 a year

I cant actually find details on what they plan to do for increasing taxes on people who earn $100k but I did jump the gun tho and forgot to realize that is taxable income above $108k so since I cant actually find the details on what that new tax table looks like, I can't say how much that will affect me personally, at this point. The article I read simply said "on those earning $108k/year". My point still stands tho. I dont think $150k/year is "I make too much disposable income" level. That is the income range for people who work their fucking ass off in middle class society. I know quite a few people in that income level, and none of them work anything resembling 9-5, and none of them are the kinds of people you would expect to be high earners (STEM educated, etc).

It's in their 97-page platform PDF

Here's the current tax rates in BC:
Tax Rates - Province of British Columbia

On income earned in excess of $108,460 (tied to inflation), the current tax rate is 14.7%. Under the Green's platform, that rate would increase to 17.7% by 2020/2021.

Sorry, I didn't realize you had employees.

Someone making $150k/year with no employees, would pay around $1050 more in taxes in the final year of a Green term. Around $2200 total over the 4 years.

[Traum]

Does it really matter what the Green's detailed tax plans are? It isn't like they'd have a chance to win enough seats to even form a minority government.

Speaking of that, would anyone foresee a loose or formal coalition government of some sort between the NDP and the Greens?

[Jmac]

Right now, the Greens are polling at around 20% of the popular vote and have been trending up. I don't think they'll win, but crazier things have happened. Clark and Horgan are so focused on slinging mud at each other, it's entirely possible they sewer themselves. NDP has been trending down in the polls (still leading) and Liberals have remained flat.

[pastarocket]

Apparently, many of Stephen Harper's staff at his consulting firm are supporters of Crusty's Liberals.


https://www.pressprogress.ca/associa...to_bc_liberals

Guess who's lurking in the shadows?

It turns out a group planning a $2 million smear campaign has connections with both Christy Clark's BC Liberals and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's consulting firm.

Business interests in the natural resources and hospitality sectors are reportedly bankrolling a group calling itself "Future Prosperity for BC" that plans to blanket British Columbia with attack ads targeting NDP leader John Horgan in advance of BC's 2017 provincial election.

But according to a new report by Vancouver-based news website theBreaker, key names behind the shadowy group look to be a mix of anti-union lobbyists, BC Liberal donors, appointees to BC government boards and people who currently work for Stephen Harper.
The group is headed by John Winter, former head of the BC Chamber of Commerce, who was praised as a "tireless advocate for free enterprise" by Premier Clark but is described as a "BC Liberal surrogate" by others.

Another name that shows up on press releases as the group's media contact is Shaun Webb:

Who is Shaun Webb? For one thing, he works for Stephen Harper.
Webb's LinkedIn profile says he's previously worked for former Conservative MP Andrew Saxton and later worked as an advisor in Harper's Prime Minister's Office.
Today, Webb lists himself as an "associate" at "Harper and Associates Consulting," where he offers advice to those looking to do business overseas – he also sits on the advisory board of the Canada-China Innovation Network, an organization that looks to "break-down regulatory and cultural barriers" to increase trade and business opportunities with China.

[RRxtar]

sounds good to me!

[Ch28]

Originally Posted by pastarocket

Apparently, many of Stephen Harper's staff at his consulting firm are supporters of Crusty's Liberals.


https://www.pressprogress.ca/associa...to_bc_liberals

Guess who's lurking in the shadows?

It turns out a group planning a $2 million smear campaign has connections with both Christy Clark's BC Liberals and former Prime Minister Stephen Harper's consulting firm.

Business interests in the natural resources and hospitality sectors are reportedly bankrolling a group calling itself "Future Prosperity for BC" that plans to blanket British Columbia with attack ads targeting NDP leader John Horgan in advance of BC's 2017 provincial election.

But according to a new report by Vancouver-based news website theBreaker, key names behind the shadowy group look to be a mix of anti-union lobbyists, BC Liberal donors, appointees to BC government boards and people who currently work for Stephen Harper.
The group is headed by John Winter, former head of the BC Chamber of Commerce, who was praised as a "tireless advocate for free enterprise" by Premier Clark but is described as a "BC Liberal surrogate" by others.

Another name that shows up on press releases as the group's media contact is Shaun Webb:

Who is Shaun Webb? For one thing, he works for Stephen Harper.
Webb's LinkedIn profile says he's previously worked for former Conservative MP Andrew Saxton and later worked as an advisor in Harper's Prime Minister's Office.
Today, Webb lists himself as an "associate" at "Harper and Associates Consulting," where he offers advice to those looking to do business overseas – he also sits on the advisory board of the Canada-China Innovation Network, an organization that looks to "break-down regulatory and cultural barriers" to increase trade and business opportunities with China.

That's because the BC Liberals are not affiliated with the federal Liberal party and are actually Conservatives hiding under the Liberal name. There's a reason Clark is so buddy buddy with Harper.

[Mr.HappySilp]

Cursty Clark is most likely going to win again.

Both NDP and Green plans seems to increase tax one way or another. At least with Clark she is just mostly selling BC away which most people don't really care as long as there are no tax increase.

[G0rilla]

Hmmmm get fucked through housing prices or get fucked through taxes?

[Mr.HappySilp]

Originally Posted by G0rilla

Hmmmm get fucked through housing prices or get fucked through taxes?

I chose to get fuck over housing price.... coz I already got one so doesn't matter to me

[6o4__boi]

Polls don't mean shit.

Greens are still a few years, if not decades away from having any real impact in Provincial politics.

Libs are gonna win again regardless, NDP strongholds will remain strongholds and few, if any, ridings will change. If there were playnow odds on this i'd put my money where my mouth is.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Jmac

Right now, the Greens are polling at around 20% of the popular vote and have been trending up. I don't think they'll win, but crazier things have happened. Clark and Horgan are so focused on slinging mud at each other, it's entirely possible they sewer themselves. NDP has been trending down in the polls (still leading) and Liberals have remained flat.

Greens are a non factor other then stealing votes from the NDP.

[quasi]

Originally Posted by Hondaracer

if you live past 176th and Highway 1, the amount you're going downtown in a month can be counted on one hand, if that. It's such a chore to spend an evening or even a day in Vancouver coming from anywhere east of that, let alone if you live off the highway.

This is me to a tee, I live east of the Fraser I might get downtown once or twice every couple years. I go West of the Fraser maybe once every couple months, everything I need is on this side of the river.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by 6o4__boi

Polls don't mean shit.

Greens are still a few years, if not decades away from having any real impact in Provincial politics.

Libs are gonna win again regardless, NDP strongholds will remain strongholds and few, if any, ridings will change. If there were playnow odds on this i'd put my money where my mouth is.

I wouldn't say polls don't mean shxt. But the problem is, sometimes they are reasonably accurate; other times they are absolute garbage. With such a wide variability in accuracy, it's hard to take their numbers seriously.

I was reading yesterday or the day before that the NDP has some good chances in taking over a couple of Liberals stronghold in Metro Vancouver:

How the NDP could thump the Liberals in Metro, still lose the election | Vancouver Sun

The parties likely have these seats at the top of their list of targets: Vancouver-Fraserview, where Liberal cabinet minister Suzanne Anton’s in trouble; Burnaby North, where Kinder Morgan could dislodge Liberal Richard T. Lee; the two Maple Ridge ridings, where low-profile Liberal incumbents are threatened; two Surrey ridings, where cabinet ministers Peter Fassbender (Fleetwood) and Amrik Virk (Guildford) are fighting for their lives; and Delta North, where Liberal Scott Hamilton is at risk of being overrun by NDP Olympian Ravi Kahlon.

But the problem is, even winning new seats in Metro Van could still mean they have a good chance at losing the election.

And so a question that came up in my mind is -- is it at all possible that the NDP and the Greens seek to form a governing coalition, even if the NDP didn't get the most seats?

[6o4__boi]

Originally Posted by Traum

With such a wide variability in accuracy, it's hard to take their numbers seriously.

So...they're trash. I know what you mean though. But in all honesty, polls are pretty useless as indicators. In my field of work, it's unfiltered trash. There's still some treasure to be gleaned but for the most part, it's so polluted, it's trash.

Think of polls like shit after eating corn. Sure, you'll see some kernel of truth here and there, but for the most part, it's a messy shit.

Originally Posted by Traum

And so a question that came up in my mind is -- is it at all possible that the NDP and the Greens seek to form a governing coalition, even if the NDP didn't get the most seats?

Doubt it. Horgan doesn't strike me as someone who's willing to form a coalition. The NDP overall doesn't strike me as a party willing to go there either.

[Traum]

Originally Posted by 6o4__boi

Doubt it. Horgan doesn't strike me as someone who's willing to form a coalition. The NDP overall doesn't strike me as a party willing to go there either.

You know, this is something that has always baffled me. The numbers need to work out in a certain, specific way for it to work, but if there is an opportunity for a political party to seize power in the form of a coalition government, why are they not going for it? Of course you have to share power and compromise with your governing coalition partner for this to work, but sharing power sure beats just being the official opposition party, doesn't it?

Of course when you are campaigning, everybody campaigns to win -- even the Greens. But when the ballots are in and you have this chance, it seems stupid to me that the political parties are not capitalizing on the opportunity.

The late Jack Layton is very smart in this regard -- while he never participated in any coalition governments, he was pretty much working in some of that capacity when the NDP was often bolstering the Conservative minority government in exchange for political favours.

[6o4__boi]

Lol someone pointed this out on my timeline

Christy Clark praises Trump, rips Obama over softwood lumber negotiations | Globalnews.ca

It would have been hard to do any worse than the previous president when it comes to softwood lumber, she added.

0-100 real quick

[Blueboy222]

[pastarocket]

-going to the advance polls this weekend to cast my vote.

A.B.C.! Anybody but Crusty!

[GS8]

When I read the 'polls' about Brexit, the 2016 US Election yada yada, I knew polls meant fuck all.

I mean just because 70% of millennials don't approve of Clark, that in no way means she's going to lose. What % of millennials actually fucking vote?

Though part of me wonders if Alberta of all places went from Conservative to NDP, could BC would follow suit?