iN DISCUSSION: Tara Armstrong’s outsized role in BC politics

This is where cold hard facts give way to the hottest of takes, mostly mine I suppose. I’m the editor, Marshall Jones.

Want to include yours? Listen, this isn’t the comment section, this isn’t social media. Discussion and debate requires context and a wee bit of bravery — we need your name and where you’re writing from. Include it in your account or email me anytime.

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If you’ve been reading this newsletter for any time, you know how badly I wanted to tell you this week that the campaign to recall Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong was on.

Well, it’s not.

And I have a feeling we’re not only going to be stuck with her for some time yet, I think Armstrong still has an outsized role yet to play in BC politics.

Look, there are many good faith reasons why voters from all ends of the spectrum should come together to punt her, I’ve made the case myself many times. ‘Queer Grandad’ Wilbur Turner long ago took on the job of organizing against her. He was convinced by the BC Conservatives to delay the recall until after they chose a leader because they ostensibly wanted to help unseat her.

Which brings us now to summer… and another delay… and that’s all well and good.

But they chose Kerry-Lynne Findlay as leader (hands up if you saw that coming) and that probably changes everything.

Findlay was Armstrong’s pick, their politics are similar — more similar than 49% of members who wanted a different leader. Armstrong fits better than fellow-former-insider-now-outside Amelia Boultbee (Penticton-Summerland).

Why would Findlay keep an ally on the outs (presuming Armstrong would even return, she was the one who left, after all)? Why wouldn’t Findlay step closer to removing the NDP and welcome her back, at least until the next election?

Just because some of the more active middle-road conservatives in the Okanagan want her gone, doesn’t mean anyone else in the party does. She can still be recalled, but it’ll be a lot harder without the Conservatives. If the party rallies around her, well, I don’t have much faith voters in that riding won’t repeat their mistake.

But here’s the trip. What happens when Findlay does welcome her back? And Dallas Brodie? The party just showed us how fractured it is. Half want to win elections under a big tent, the other half want to score points for Team Right Wing in the culture wars. They’ll have enough trouble living together without the added stink from Brodie and Armstrong.

I really wanted Armstrong to have a Wikipedia entry as the first MLA recalled in BC, I think she deserves that. I’d be fine if it were Brodie.

But being the straw that split the BC Conservative Party in two? That might be more fun.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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I don’t understand why Kelowna mayor Tom Dyas and Kelowna city councillors are so shy about their secret strategies.

It’s not really a secret any longer, but since Dyas was elected there’s been an undeclared and therefore unexplained and frankly uninterrogated push for independence from the region as a whole.

This is about Kelowna, but every town and city needs to listen up, because the dominoes are going to force us all to decide our relationships with our neighbours.

Kelowna has already had to maneuver to go it alone on homelessness and policing. It has long ago stated its intention to work alone on water treatment and supply. It’s considering a tiered pricing strategy for Kelowna residents for recreation, appears to want to fight regional emergencies on its own.

Now it’s targeting regional economic development, which once was a dynamic office producing real results but unfortunately is where no one seems to even pick up the phone or do anything useful anymore, so is likely due for an overhaul at the least.

But pull out entirely? Again, none of this was discussed in the last election, but it’s being laid out like a grand strategy. Vernon is somewhere on a similar path.

It’s certainly justifiable. It mirrors, in a way, the ‘Big Dog’ approach taken by the White House, tariffing and taxing friends and allies. Are those the results Kelowna is looking for? Alienating themselves and making everything far less efficient?

Let’s follow this path. Kelowna will presumably make its own economic development arm. Probably hire its own film commissioner, too.

Now theoretically West Kelowna will have to duplicate (and follow that down the line to Summerland etc and north to Vernon etc). They’ll compete, probably start trying to outdo each other for relocation incentives and race industrial/commercial tax rates to the bottom again.

Too bad for the entire region if Peachland or Lake Country was the better option for scouting or business expansion and are never shown.

Except it’s not theory, it’s a race to the bottom we’ve seen many times before.

Eventually, noses will get out of joint, if they aren’t already. Next thing you know, cities are fully competing instead of cooperating.

It’s not only inefficient, I worry it’s just plain not safe. I’m not sure what I imagined for future fire seasons or drought, but it certainly wasn’t less cooperation among authorities.

If Kelowna councillors had the stones to tell us where they intended to take that city, by now we could have the discussion we really need to start having — amalgamating West Kelowna and Lake Country into Kelowna.

I’d love your thoughts. Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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After what seemed like a ridiculously long leadership campaign, the BC Conservatives have their champion.

Kerry-Lynne Findlay, 71, promises to bring a new brand of ‘free enterprise’ conservative politics with heavy doses of populism.

But now, a few more shoes have to drop.

Conservatives convinced Recall Tara Armstrong (Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream) to wait for the campaign so they could resolve their leadership because they said they wanted to help. Does that still happen? Findlay was endorsed by Armstrong, will she be welcomed back and supported again?

What about the other former Conservative MLAs in the hinterland? Findlay doesn’t seem like an obvious choice for Amelia Boultbee (Penticton-Summerland).

Fellow former leadership contender Peter Milobar (Kamloops-North Thompson) no doubt has some soul-searching to do after Findlay involved his family in the mudslinging.

But here’s the thing, folks. This party simply decided how it wanted to present itself to you, the voters. The product is packaged and sitting on store shelves, the question is, does anyone want to buy it.

Well? Do ya? Email me at mjones@infonews.ca.

Mj

Marshall Jones

Managing Editor

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iN RESPONSE

City of Kamloops allows OneBC event but isn’t happy about it

We need another recall here.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

iN PHOTOS: Wild looking wildlife spotted in Thompson-Okanagan

Keep your eyes open, nature will surprise you.

— Brian Lapointe via iNFOnews.ca

iN RESPONSE to Monday’s newsletter opinion-editorial on the BC Conservatives new leader

In one word? No. I wouldn’t vote for the Conservatives of BC even if Rick Hansen was the leader.

— Patrick Longworth via email

iN RESPONSE to May 29’s newsletter opinion-editorial on the situation faced by a disabled Kelowna man

I see why his GoFundMe went nowhere, yet someone raised $4,500 for their dog attacked by a coyote. What does that tell you? Couples today substitute dogs for children. And those people have no compassion for needy children, they only love their pampered pets they lavish like a very pampered child might be if the parents could afford it.

— Patricia Graham via email

Just read your article about Randy. I realize there are a whole lot more Randy’s out there but it really sounds like a talent is being wasted. After reading, I thought of a GoFundMe. Unfortunately I am not in a position to help financially. I am fortunate to be in a home with a wife. But I have all the same symptoms as Randy with diabetes and all the issues that go along with it. I am 76 years old and trying to exist on pensions. I hope you or someone in your readers community can help this talented guy out.

— Harold Smitheman via email

Oliver senior who slapped waitress on bum convicted of sexual assault

Everyone’s different, and a hard hit on the ass can be traumatizing depending on the victim and circumstances.
Regardless, since 98% of sexual abusers currently see no jail time (because many still see it as somehow the victim’s fault), ANY CONSEQUENCE is a win for women. When half your population is being regularly attacked and killed by members of the other half, ANY intrusive act must be taken very seriously, no matter the victim’s outcome.
And the truth is, it’s not just women. Many of these perpetrators also torture and kill children. It’s clear the legal system does not value or protect us.

— Karen Klein via iNFOnews.ca

I absolutely feel that he and any person who does what he did needs to be dealt with. However, to hear how many express that they are suffering from long term trust issues after similar incidents, seems like a stretch.

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

Kamloops man sexually assaulted disabled step daughter but his drinking did him in

WOW that’s it? Ridiculous!

— Bonnie Derry via iNFOnews.ca

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