The list remains fairly open so far in the race to replace BC NDP leader Adrian Dix, but for one high profile NDPer, the longer the race will go, could be key as to whether he does or doesn't take the political plunge.
Nathan Cullen, the NDP MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley has been going over the possibilities in the last few months, trying to reach a decision on what is best not only personally, but politically for both he and the region he currently represents.
However, it seems he's at least finding some parameters to work with, when it comes to a timeline for his decision.
In an item for the Huffington Post, the NDP MP stressed that in his case, the prospect of a leadership campaign in 2015 would be better than one in 2014 and that may very well make the difference in his decision.
In the Huffington Post article, he offers up a fairly in depth review of his thoughts and some key points for the party, many of them on the nature of the BC NDP race and what the party needs to examine as they move forward.
But in the end, after all that consultation and soul searching, it may turn out to be what day on the calendar the leadership race begins, that may sway his decision one way or another.
With the BC Conservative Party looking to make a change at the top, one of the would be leaders of the provincial party is planning a quick trek through the Northwest this week.
And while the BC Conservatives' leadership race isn't quite as news generating as the one now underway to replace the NDP's Adrian Dix, for those Conservative supporters on the provincial scene, these are key months to keep the focus on their agenda for British Columbia.
His stop in Prince Rupert on Tuesday night (a little advertised stop over) part of a tour of the region that also takes him to Smithers, Terrace, Kitimat and Burns Lake.
It's seemingly a rather low profile tour of the Northwest for the leadership hopeful. With an itinerary that offered up little more than place names on the map. No times or locations for the get togethers with the public were advertised, near as we can tell.
So, if there were any potential new Conservative supporters to court, we're not sure how they would have be courted. This under the radar approach, would seem to be a rather strange concept for a political party that still has a pretty low profile in the region.
For the most part, the tour seems to be more designed to touch base with those that are already in the Conservative fold.
Mr. Brooks has however, made time to show the flag with the media . Making time for a few stops with a number of media outlets in the region, perhaps leaving the more public events to a later date, should he find success in his quest to lead the party.
The Northwest tour is part of his lead up to the party's next Annual General Meeting in Vernon on October 18th, where the first of the real political moves are expected to take place in the quest for the party leadership.
It's at that gathering where further details are expected to be outlined regarding the leadership convention, scheduled for April of 2014.
Brooks , who has been a long time resident of the Vanderhoof area (though he recently moved to the Kamloops area to commence his campaign for the leadership) , will be looking to learn more about the Northwest and perhaps seek out support from dis-satisfied voters, who may find the BC Conservative message to their liking.
It was a message however that in the most recent provincial election, that didn't seem to capture much in the way of traction with the province's voters.
Mr. Rustad recorded 54.5 percent of the vote in that campaign, with the NDP candidate, Sussane Skidmore-Hewlett second at 27 percent.
As part of bid to claim the BC Conservative party's leadership, Brooks has developed a website portal to outline his platform, concerns and core beliefs as part of his run for the leadership.
He also has a twitter feed which updates potential BC Conservative followers as to the latest developments with his campaign and the party.
Brooks is one of two declared candidates thus far to throw their hat in the ring for the party leadership, with Vancouver businessman Rick Peterson launching his campaign in late September.
Some background on Mr. Brook's political past and where he would like to see his future can be found below.
Don't give up hope on this portal, we're hoping to be more productive in the weeks and months to come, maybe tweak a few ideas so as to generate much more content than the previous months have allowed for
At the moment however, there is Turkey to eat...
To our faithful readers (and those that are just passers by) A Very Happy Thanksgiving.
We hope you have had an enjoyable weekend thus far, surrounded by family and friends, football (today) and food, lets not forget, the food.
As the final day of this three (maybe four) day Canadian festival comes to a close, a helpful reminder from Citizenship Canada about this fine tradition...
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It's a somewhat wonderfully Canadian thing, to have a holiday that comes with a disclaimer (see opening moments again (5-6 second mark) in case you missed it)
Enjoy the day, pass the Turkey, and be sure to leave room for the Pumpkin Pie!
While, Nathan Cullen, the NDP MP for Skeena- Bulkley Valley is a fairly well known personality around his riding, in recent years he has found that his profile has been increased in the nation's capital as well.
A process that finds him regularly sought out for media panel discussions, profile pieces and for those quick news bites that make the media cycle of Ottawa part of the national dialogue.
Still, for many we imagine, Nathan Cullen is a bit of an unknown figure on the national stage, but if so, it seems we're going to learn a lot more about him in the months to come.
With the NDP's arrival as official opposition in the last Federal election, and Cullen's promotion as Opposition House Leader, his efforts on Parliament Hill have caused many to take notice.
Parliament has become a forum where the MP for Skeena-Bulkley Valley seems very much more and more at home in, as each parliamentary session arrives and departs on the calendar. Making Mr. Cullen very much a fixture on the national scene.
With the recent defeat of the provincial NDP, there was thought from some corners of the provincial party that perhaps he may wish to return back to British Columbia, should the NDP decide that the Adrian Dix era has come to an end.
That however, appears to be a subject that Mr. Cullen seemed to dismiss rather quickly when it was floated last month and with his increased responsibilities on the national stage, it appears that the federal scene is where he plans to remain.
He seems inclined to further his impact on Parliament and within the Federal NDP, weighing in on any number of topics of interest on the Federal political scene. The latest, some observations on the current political climate in the Capital and the recent challenges that have arrived for both the Conservative and Liberals.
It's helpful biography of sorts for those that perhaps don't have much knowledge of the Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP, what his background is and where and how his political philosophy has been formed.
Councillor Jennifer Rice submitted her resignation by letter on Monday evening, stepping down from Prince Rupert City Council after almost two years of service to the course of civic governance.
As we've catalogued on the blog in recent months, the prospect of her stepping down from Council has been a discussion point going back to the days of her entry into the recent provincial election run up.
Ms. Rice's success over PRDTA President Joanne Larson, secured her nomination for the NDP and from that point on, it would seem she was on a clock, with only the end of her running time on council to be determined.
The topic of Ms. Rice's future only intensified with her successful quest for provincial office. With many offering up their thoughts on her future with her pending decision to be discussed, debated and/or argued in any number of forums around the city.
Monday night, the newly elected MLA for the North Coast, provided the post script to her Council days (though she wasn't on hand to deliver it personally).
Councillor Carlick-Perason followed up the announcement, by providing her tribute to the departing Councillor, a sentiment echoed by the Acting Mayor for the night Nelson Kinney.
Not surprisingly, the Northern View was the first of the media outlets in the city to herald her decision.
Over the last six months or so, the Northern View has been the most adamant on the theme that the Councillor had to step aside, at times with a fascination that bordered on the fanatical.
The tone of the editorials from the publisher Todd Hamilton in particular seem to have provided a sub plot to the debate as Rice supporters (and even the MLA elect herself), offered up the rebuttal's to Mr. Hamilton's at times rather incendiary polemics.
Her departure now provides Prince Rupert City Council with a decision to make, as they work out the requirements and cost out the prospect of a by election to fill her seat.
As they consider that decision to come, they may wish to include a referendum on some outstanding civic issues, including the recently deferred Emergency Services building.
Or perhaps they will take guidance from the City of Golden which at the moment is considering reducing the number of councillors that sit on that City's Council, dropping the number from six to four.
That is a suggestion that we imagine that could fall under the "working smarter" mantra of council of late and a recommendation that might make for an interesting discussion around the Council chamber, but perhaps is one that is most likely for a later date.
Tonight's City Council session provides a variety of themes for Rupertites to watch for, as the City gets set to enter a new era of Administration.
Taking up his duties this evening will be the City Manager, Robert Long, who has been on the job since May 15th, tonight marks the first Council meeting under his watch.
From Council's agenda for this evening, we learn that Ms. Corrine Bomben will be getting the move upwards on the city's staffing roster, set to take on the duties (if approved by Council tonight) as the Acting Financial Officer.
As Ms. Bomben moves up, the City Administrator appears set to move on, as Robert Grodecki will be leaving that post shortly, we're not sure of the timeline on that planned departure, but the search for his replacement is already on.
And while the upper ranks of civic administration continue with what now appears to be a fairly major overhaul, we still have yet to learn the intentions of the newly elected MLA for the North Coast, Councillor Jennifer Rice.
She has provided some feedback to both the Northern View and the QCI Observer as to her thoughts on her success at the provincial level and what she may be taking on when in Victoria.
But her plans for her council seat, and where we go from here, is a topic that is still in development it would appear, her current thinking being that she will remain on Council for the time being.
And if that's not helpful towards her planning, there are some interesting thoughts from other new MLA's, who like Ms. Rice also hold municipal office.
Some points to ponder that might give her some research material for the decision ahead.
As we outlined earlier this month on the blog, The Councillor has much in the way of company when it comes to making a decision on what to do about the twin positions of municipal and provincial office.
Among the more notable of thoughts from those in the same situation.
Mayor Dan Ashton of Penticton who has reportedly offered to cover the cost of the byelection required for his departure from civic office, the newly elected Liberal MLA has said he would be willing to pay for the cost of a byelection, something which could set him back some 35,000 dollars.
It was an offer that Langley's Mayor Peter Fassbender wasn't particularly thrilled to hear about, suggesting that the Mayor of Penticton wasn't doing any favours for the remainder of the elected of the migrating municipals.
Fassbender intends to step down from Municipal office, but doesn't seem inclined to cover the cost of the by-election process.
In Delta, Scott Hamilton faces a similar decision as Ms. Rice, though he would seem to be leaning towards staying on as a councillor if possible, as he puts it to save the community the cost of an election.
However, he does state that he would not be taking on two salaries should he decide to stay as a member of Delta Council, providing perhaps what may be the best guiding statement for anyone in a similar quandary.
In his comments to the Delta Optimist Hamilton stressed that "he wouldn't take both salaries if he remained in both jobs, saying he'd happily give one to charity", adding "that would be the ultimated in double-dipping and I wouldn't do that"
Whatever decision Ms. Rice may make, the need to declare her long term intentions has arrived.
There's much work ahead for her on the provincial level and as we learned through the emotional budget discussions many challenges for the City moving ahead.
In her recent media interviews both in Prince Rupert and on Haida Gwaii she seems clear as to her ambitions for and the challenge ahead with her new duties with the NDP, which perhaps should suggest she may wish to concentrate on those looming tasks.
With all the introductions and farewells of the last few weeks it seems like a timely moment for an announcement.
And while it's not on the Agenda for tonight's council meeting, tonight's session may provide the perfect venue for Councillor/MLA elect Rice to declare her intentions, providing some closure to a topic that has dogged her and City Council since she secured the NDP nomination in January.
In a chamber of 85 members, 11 of the new class of 2013 will have made the migration from municipal office with this election, a change on the resume that will leave their various communities on the hook for a by election to fill that now vacant seat.
There has been some thought in the past, that she might be able to hold both jobs until her Council term comes to an end, but that would seem to be an unwise idea.
Considering the many challenges facing Prince Rupert, having a councillor that can devote all of his or her time to local issues, would most likely be the preference of Prince Rupert residents.
Of the ten other municipal politicians, a few have already indicated that they will be giving up their municipal seats, while others are still giving some thought as to what they will do, now that they've found success at the provincial election.
As the CBC outlines it's an expensive prospect to replace one member with a by election process, a situation that could require some creative thinking to help defray the cost of continuity.
In Penticton, Mayor Dan Ashton who won a seat in Victoria for the Liberals, has offered to cover the cost of the by election in his community.
A solution that Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender, who also succeeded in his provincial quest, isn't particularly inclined to do, in fact, if anything he sounds a tad annoyed at his Penticton compatriots gesture.
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Where Councillor Rice, now the MLA elect for the North Coast is on the whole theme remains to be seen.
As for the Council seat, should it become vacant, perhaps an option could be to go back to the last election count of 2011 and ask the last candidate at the cut off of six, if he is willing to serve the remainder of this Council session.
In this case that would be Rob Vallee who trailed Judy Carlick-Pearson by 141 votes on election day on November 19th of 2011.
We're not sure whether that's a workable solution within the Community Charter, or if Rupertites are more inclined and dedicated to have another chance to cast a ballot this year.
Maybe Council will just decide to go forward with but five members in the Chamber upon Ms. Rice's departure.
But with another trip to the municipal polls not set until 2014, a city that is looking to work smarter and save money wherever it can, might just wish to use the 2011 election results as a short list of applicants.
Asking Mr. Vallee if he is willing to step in and serve out Councillor Rice's term, could provide a short term and fiscally sensible solution, to what could for the City be a very expensive farewell to the new MLA elect.
Update: A helpful reader to our blog, with some knowledge of Municipal governance, made contact by way of our email address to set us straight on municipal succession. Providing an advisory that our fanciful project to save money isn't allowed under the Community Charter.
So, at some point we imagine we'll let democracy rule and cast a ballot for a replacement, or not...
