New Premier with new promises

This evening BC Liberals chose Christy Clark as their new leader and Premier. She speaks of a new beginning in BC, with an emphasis on "family". But Gordon Campbell's old guard still surround her, and will they welcome change? She will have to be very strong willed to resist their influence.

When she speaks about family, I hope that she remembers that grandparents(SENIORS) are

the foundation on which families are built. Gordon Campbell was not very kind to seniors in this province. When she goes to the polls in the next election, she will have to convince seniors that she is different, and this really a new beginning for the Liberal party.

Seniors ballroom dance group

This evening I attended the Chinese New Year session of the Cameron seniors ballroom dance group. It was a brave attempt by Lisje to organize a dinner for her group of sixty at the lowest possible price of $5 each. That she managed to provide a plate for everyone is to be applauded. If anyone complains, I would say to them that they got more than they paid for. It was interesting to see the organization of the group. She has a great number of willing volunteers. there were glitches that were not their fault. Some outlets in the kitchen did not supply the necessary power for the rice cookers in the small kitchenette whose equipment needs to be overhauled. The more up to date kitchen equipment was in the room rented to the Baptist church.

This is another example of the lack of space in this Seniors Centre. Seniors have to curtail their activities to manage with the limited space at their disposal.

BC leaderless political parties

The political scenario in BC is a very interesting one at the moment. Some people may even find it very amusing. We have the two main political parties in the provincial government without aleader. Both leaders, Gordon Campbell of the Liberal party and Carole James of the NDP party resigned shortly one after the other. Gordon Campbell recognized his unpopularity with the BC people, and Carole James was pushed out by 13 dissidents in her own party.

We now have a number of politicians contesting the empty leaders' seats. On the NDP side we

have the spectacle of a party at odds with its own constitution the demands that one of the three top posts in the party be occupied by a woman. On the Liberal side, we have ex-ministers of the Gordon Cambell government, disclaiming having had any part in the sale of BC Rail.

Christy Clark is the only outsider, who was not in Gordon Campbell's government when he resigned. I do not believe that Ms Clark had any part in the sale of BC Rail. It is quite clear that she supports a referendum on the HST in June, earlier than the September referendum supported by her political opponents. She is the only one who has taken up a clear-cut position. PersonallyI would give my support to her in her quest for the leadership of the BC Liberals.