Keeping it Real…

Kerry-Lynne Findlay doesn’t have it.

I actually had hopes for her: I believe the current NDP government has badly damaged BC’s economy, BC’s forest/pulp industry, BC’s health care, BC’s public safety, BC’s private property rights, including a total failure to adequately deal with DRIPA, hurting BC’s investment climate, added to BC’s huge deficit, increasing BC’s skyrocketing debt and … what greater proof of mismanagement … resulted in BC’s falling credit rating.

And yet, in the latest Research Co poll, released last week, David Eby scored better (49%) than Findlay (34%) the brand new BC Conservative Leader; and Decided voters also preferred the NDP 44% to the Conservatives 39%. (You can read full results here: https://researchco.ca/2026/08/18/bcpoli-aug2026/.)

Now, that survey was done before the latest monthly list of NDP debacles was completed: spending $100,000 a month of taxpayers’ money to house ONE indigent in an otherwise empty Granville Street hotel; revelations the government paid $55 Million for the building when its assessed value was $38.6 million; and, so poorly managed the property … allowing its “tenants” to so destroy it, BC Assessment says it’s now worth only $27.5 million.

Last week, the NDP also had to admit the government made a $1.5 Billion (Yes, that’s BILLION) “administrative” error is estimating projected gas royalties in its last Budget. (Details here: https://www.biv.com/news/economy-law-politics/bc-admits-to-15b-budget-error-following-biv-investigation-12715708.)

Yet, Eby and the NDP seem preferred over Findlay/Conservatives!

Why?

Well. the pundits point to the chaos inside the Conservative party and caucus: six Conservative MLAs have left the party in the past two weeks to sit as Independents (so far) and a number of staff in the party office have resigned or been fired.

My own view is the problem is Findlay herself.

I was actually okay with her winning the leadership: she was an experienced politician, having served as an MP, occupying two Cabinet posts and have been the Opposition Whip in Parliament; plus, I found her quite articulate when I had done several stories involving her (and husband Brent … now an MLA) when they and other Musqueam lands tenants were involved in a rent dispute with the band.

What a disappointment as leader!

Findlay does not seem to realize British Columbians are centrist, not far right conservatives; many fiscal centrists lean left on social issues; and the priority for any new party leader should be to get out there, front and center, all over the radio talk shows and TV news programs, getting exposure, displaying knowledge and proposing solutions.

Three months after becoming Leader, I have seen little of that.

The RARE occasion when Findlay has faced the media … and the cameras … I’ve seen NO charisma at all, heard little to inspire and, judging by the recent poll results , neither have most BC voters.

I doubt Findlay has what it takes to become BC Premier … even with all the damage and demonstrated incompetence of Eby and the NDP.

What BC needs NOW is a common sense centrist coalition, uniting fiscally responsible and socially liberal beliefs and values under one banner … with a credible leader.

Egos and individual ambitions must be put aside for the common goals of competent BC government, elimination of DRIPA, support for BC businesses, encouragement of BC investment and respect for working BC taxpayers.

Splintering the vote among BC Conservatives, BC United, Centre BC, One BC and a slew of Independents will ensure yet another term for Eby and the NDP.

Think about that!

Harv Oberfeld

🇨🇦🇨🇦More now than ever … BUY CANADIAN!🇨🇦🇨🇦

(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on the Blog.)

Donald Trump tried to bully, dominate and subjugate Canada.

He failed.

As details emerged of US demands during the recent tariff trade talks, they sounded more like “Articles of Surrender” than a sincere attempt to achieve trade peace between two long-time partners and allies.

Trump actually thought he could force Canada into letting the US have a say in which other countries we could sell our resources to … including critical minerals … and at what price! Incredible!

And the US also wanted the right to limit/stop Canada’s signing of Free Trade Agreements with other countries. What arrogance!

Trump’s negotiators … no doubt following orders … then demanded Canada accept a 15% tariff on Canadian-assembled cars, a higher tariff on medium/heavy trucks) heading south, but duty-free entry for US-built vehicles shipped north. Ridiculous!

Meanwhile, US tariffs on Canadian forest products would remain at 45% …. three times the duty the US applies to forest products from Russia and China! Nuts!

“The suggestion that Canada would not trade with other countries or reduce our trade with other countries … would reduce us to the economic equivalent of the 51st state,” Premier David Eby said Saturday.

The US President even thought he could force Canada to abandon our Official Bilingualism language policies, eliminating the need for French on the labels of US products shipped north. (Imagine how that would play in Quebec, just weeks before a coming provincial election!)

It’s clear: the Mad Hatter was not really “negotiating” but acting like a Mafia Boss bullying, shaking down, threatening his neighbours, rather than seeking a mutually beneficial partnership.

Canada had no real choice as an independent nation (take that DJT!) but to walk away.

A new Angus Reid poll shows 76% of Canadians APPROVE of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s decision to walk away from the talks. (Last I saw, Trump’s own approval rating at home was down to 33%.)

But this story is not yet over.

Trump’s 50% tariffs on $28 Billion of select Canadian products went into effect immediately after the talks broke down … but, interestingly, Carney set Canada’s retaliatory tariffs to begin Sept 8, giving the US President an opening to reach out.

However, Trump’s reaction on Truth Social Monday makes that look unlikely!

Most Canadians still like Americans, want to see them once more as good friends and neighbours and, yes, business and trade partners as well… but only as part of a relationship that respects each other

Canada will never be a US colony..

Meanwhile, Trump (and the Republicans) are in BIG trouble: his personal popularity is in the toilet; US inflation is UP, above where it was when he began his second term; gasoline is over $4 a gallon; the Iran war is a terrible mess; US interest rates are at their highest since 2007; the US debt just topped $40 TRILLION; US booze remains off the shelves almost everywhere in Canada; US tourism $$$ is way down (not just Canadians are staying away); … and, the mid-term elections are fast approaching.

Trump needs a WIN …. not more bad news for the US economy, US exports, US jobs when Canada hits more US products, US businesses and US jobs with tariffs.

Remember, Canada is the TOP export market for 27 US states and in the top three for 45 states; almost 1.4 million US jobs are directly tied to goods bound for Canada; and, more than 200,000 hospitality-related jobs have been affected by the $4.5 Billion loss of spending by Canadians who have stayed away.

Meanwhile, the world is watching and Carney is emerging once again as a hero … willing to stand up, speak up, walk away and then hit back at a bully.

Elbows UP!

Harv Oberfeld

🇨🇦🇨🇦More than ever … BUY CANADIAN!🇨🇦🇨🇦

(Follow @harveyoberfeld on “X” for FREE First Alerts to new postings on this BC Blog.)