Pollster asks about Christy Clark, Bill Tieleman, and Patti Bacchus running in Vancouver-Point Grey

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      A public-opinion researcher is comparing the popularity of political commentator Bill Tieleman with that of Vancouver board of education chair Patti Bacchus in Vancouver-Point Grey.

      This is according to a blog post by Vancouver Sun education reporter Janet Steffenhagen.

      She wrote that a source told her about being contacted by a pollster, who wanted to know if the respondent would be more likely to vote Liberal with Christy Clark as party leader.

      According to Steffenhagen's source, the caller also asked if the respondent knew about a possible by-election in Vancouver-Point Grey and if it mattered that Clark sent her son (Hamish) to a Catholic school.

      Clark has speculated that she might run in the constituency, which includes UBC's main campus. It's represented by Premier Gordon Campbell, who has said he's prepared to resign so that Clark can win a seat in the legislature.

      Tieleman, a long-time New Democrat, recently told the Straight that it would be "fun" to run against Clark in Vancouver-Point Grey, where he has lived since 1995. But he also said that he hadn't made a decision.

      Last October before the premier announced his resignation, Bacchus told the Straight that she would only be interested in running in Vancouver-Point Grey for the NDP if Campbell were to be her opponent.

      Bacchus, a long-time resident of the constituency, did not consider at the time that Clark might be a candidate.

      As a former education minister, Clark refused to meet with a group called Save Our Schools, which Bacchus helped create to address school-funding shortfalls.

      In a December interview, Bacchus told the Straight that she got involved in political issues because of the B.C. Liberals' refusal, with Clark as education minister, to fully fund cost increases that it was forcing on school districts.

      Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.

      Comments

      18 Comments

      Eastendian

      Mar 6, 2011 at 2:21pm

      Go Patti go!

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      Red Haranguing

      Mar 6, 2011 at 3:22pm

      I'd like to hear Bill Tieleman explain how scrapping the HST will be good for the province.

      And our premier could demonstrate her confidence in the public school system by sending her adorable young son to a VSB school.

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      UngeneralPublic

      Mar 6, 2011 at 3:33pm

      Thanks, Bill. Fun is by far the funnier of motives, as compared to the usual one of fear.

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      Point Grey Rez

      Mar 6, 2011 at 4:11pm

      GO......Patti!

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      Bruce

      Mar 6, 2011 at 4:31pm

      Hey Red, no problem. Getting rid of the HST would add about $2.4 billion to the tax load of business and take the same amount off individuals. According to the Federal Department of Finance's analysis of tax and spending options for Canada's Action Plan, each dollar of tax cut for business results in a 20 cent increase in GDP, each dollar of tax cut for individuals results in an 80 cent increase in GDP.

      Which result sounds better to you?

      As to schools, she can send her kid where she likes.

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      glen p robbins

      Mar 6, 2011 at 4:54pm

      Those questions are no way to construct a poll -- your begging for a 50% Undecided - why would someone ask about son going to Catholic school?

      Why assume that Christy is better known than Tieleman? or Bacchus?

      The folks are going about this the wrong way.

      The first poll you want out of Point Grey is one question - "It will take only 20 seconds of your time". "Okay go ahead" "Are you old enough to vote sir/madam? "Yes" - here is our question:

      From the following responses which one of the following BC political parties best reflects who you would support if an election were held tomorrow in the riding of Vancouver Point Grey?

      BC Liberal
      BC NDP
      BC Green
      BC Conservative
      BC First
      Other/None

      That is the only question a smart political researcher would ask at this time. It would tell you everything you need to know - thereafter -- there is a way to drill down and be more precise -

      The rest is not helpful.

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      Steve Y

      Mar 6, 2011 at 5:42pm

      If I could afford to send my kid to Catholic school I would. The local catholic school in poco has 20% higher test scores than the local public school. In the exact same neighbourhood so it has absolutely 0 to do with economic situations and 100% to do with crappy union school teachers.

      Colin M

      Mar 6, 2011 at 6:20pm

      I got called for this the other day. The pollster said it was about "the provincial by-election in my area." I declined the survey because I've moved to the west end, but I thought it was a little disingenuous. Last time I checked, Gordo hasn't resigned.

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      Morty

      Mar 6, 2011 at 8:44pm

      Bruce: We're talking about retail goods. The consumer ultimately bears the tax whether it's applied sensibly at the end of the process or at various stages through production.

      0 0Rating: 0

      Red Haranguing

      Mar 6, 2011 at 9:28pm

      Bruce: "Getting rid of the HST would add about $2.4 billion to the tax load of business and take the same amount off individuals."

      Not true. Getting rid of one tax does not automatically increase another tax. That would require another act of government, and frankly, I'm kind of disgusted by the fact that I don't hear either the NDP or Liberals talking about how they would handle the very strong possibility that the June 24 referendum will be successful.

      Of course, we could all just say this is Christy's problem, but ...

      And as far as I can tell, repealing the HST would increase the provincial deficit in several ways.

      #1 It will force the province to repay the $1.6 Billion federal government 'transition payment' that was part of the deal, and

      #2 It would reduce provincial revenues.