SINGH – Kamloops Tastes and the BC Conservative leadership race

By ARJUN SINGH
The Kamloops Chronicle

AS OF THE Chronicle’s publication date in March, it’s the Noble Pig with two and Match Eatery with one. BC Conservative Leadership candidates Yuri Fulmer and Caroline Elliott hosted meet and greets at the Pig and Iain Black hosted his at Match.

I’m sure that the vast majority of the other six contenders will host events at these and other fine local eateries/ pubs as the days count down to the April 18 party membership deadline for those who may want to vote in the leadership contest.

Too bad our hometown candidate Peter Milobar doesn’t run Loonies or, Uncle Charlie’s anymore. Perhaps many visiting candidates would have paid a visit to the fine establishments of old.

Perhaps tracing the candidates’ footsteps, and enjoying a pint of the Noble Pig’s Big Bad Wolf Ale, I note the typical leadership race hyperbole about their political opponent. This race is all about defeating the NDP’s “radical ideology”, “assault on property rights”, “assault on seniors”,”socialist chaos” and “race based hiring”.

Speaking of race based hiring, I am considering ordering the “Fine English Gentleman” jumbo stuffed yorkie of the Pig’s entree menu as I ponder whether BC Conservatives really believe that race based hiring hasn’t generally favoured certain populations (and genders) forever — and people beyond older white men need a bit of attention.

Hey, if ending race based hiring and ending diversity/equity/inclusion programs mean everyone starts from an equal footing, I’m all for it. But my experience suggests there has never been equal footing and we might want to think about how society can overcome long time systemic bias.

In the Oct. 30, 2019 debate in the BC legislature on the Declarations of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, Peter Milobar stated “ we all know and can all agree that not all of us have shared fully in the opportunity that is available to so many British Columbians in this province. In particular, too many Indigenous peoples have struggled to achieve the same level of prosperity that has been attained for others, which is simply not acceptable.”

I’m still hungry. Before I head up to Match Eatery in Aberdeen, I stop at the Columbia Diner in Sahali. The Columbia has breakfast all day and they offer both the traditional two or three egg breakfasts and, also, a selection of scramble bowls. The choice between a more separated plate and a bowl which mixes a bunch of different items is a very alive question for BC Conservatives these days. Do they stick to a more rigid flavour of conservatism or do they diversify (a bit) their flavour profile?

Honestly, I am still a bit peckish. At Match, over a “Game, Set, Match” burger, it’s appropriate to ponder the success recipe for both candidates and voters here. For candidates, talking about what they support more than what they oppose, leaning into concerns about affordability and security for all. For voters, looking past the hyperbole and spin and focusing on true character and policies.

Sadly, today, Match’s wonderful and forward thinking Grilled Chicken Green Goddess salad is ignored.

Arjun Singh is a former Kamloops City councillor and is currently the executive director of the Kamloops Local News Society, which publishes the Kamloops Chronicle. This column also appears in the March edition of the Chronicle. He can be contacted at info@kamloopschronicle.com.