The BC Conservative Party held its annual general meeting in Nanaimo Saturday, and I was on hand to observe for the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. About 135 members gathered to elect a new board, set out policy, and hear party leader John Cummins speak.

Unfortunately, non-members were not allowed to observe the policy debate after Cummins’s speech. The Party was discussing this draft policy document, which will form the basis of their platform going forward. I think that was a missed opportunity for the fledgling Party, as they could have gotten their message out. I was especially interested (obviously) in their tax policies, but cannot comment on a meeting I’m not allowed to be in. (I should note I was treated very warmly by all I spoke with.)

Anyway, Cummins gave a 20-minute speech lashing the BC Liberal Government. Highlights can be found in his press release here, or in the Twitter updates I’ve posted below.

For more on the BC Conservative Party, visit their website at http://www.bcconservative.ca.

I tweeted the AGM and John Cummins speech live. For the uninitiated, Twitter restricts messages to 140 characters. @cumminsforbc is the Twitter name for John Cummins. #bccagm is a search term meaning  BC Conservative Annual General Meeting. And #bcpoli is a search term for BC politics. Here are my tweets from Saturday, if you're interested in a little play by play recap:

It will be interesting to see how much media shows up for @CumminsforBC AGM today. Do press see Conservatives as legit #bcpoli contender?

#bccagm under way. About 125 people in the room. Little shot at John Les's recent Nanaimo unemployment comment to start. #bcpoli

Very kind welcome for this observer from various BC Conservative folks. Some familiar faces (and #Langley types). #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Conservative prez Wayne McGrath reports that @CumminsforBC is the best leader in BC. Now have 2K members. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Conservative finances: $115K in donations since Jan 1. Have spent $38K. #bccagm #bcpoli

#bccagm #bcpoli financial report: "BC Conservative Party is solvent, has plenty of $ in the bank, and no debt." 88k in bank.

Folks with #Langley connections running for BC Tory board: John Burns, Jeff Bridge, Linda Bellamy, Ryan Warawa. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tory monthly burn rate: $4K or $5K. One paid staffer. #bccagm #bcpoli

Apparently an Elections BC filing is not up to date. "Discrepancies," says BC Tory treasurer. "Will be cleared up Monday." #bccagm #bcpoli

Excruciating minutiae of debate over auditor appointment motions now happening at #bccagm #bcpoli

No other nominations for BC Conservative prez. Reed Elley vs. Joan Robinson. 2-minute speeches next. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tory prez hopeful Elley touts next 18 mo's as "crucial" to "exploit follies" of BC Libs and NDP. Seats are top focus. #bccagm #bcpoli

Elley sees similarities between 1988 Reformers and 2011 BC Tories. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tory prez hopeful Joan Robinson says role is administrative & she will focus on getting 85 constit assns up & running. #bccagm #bcpoli

Robinson says @bcliberals are top-down, $ flows to head office then to constits. @BCCforBC is opposite. #bccagm #bcpoli

Buzz in room is that Reed Elley will win vote. I presume Alex Tsakumis is banging his head on his keyboard right now. #bccagm #bcpoli

The new BC Conservative Party president is former Alliance MP Reed Elley. #bccagm #bcpoli

Elley wins 80-53. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tories about to vote on a party vp. Joan Robinson vs. Ben Besler. Speeches now. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tory vp hopeful Ben Besler believes party will form gov't as ppl gravitate to strong org and sound policy. #bccagm #bcpoli

#bccagm #bcpoli VP vote happening now. Besler the favourite.

The proverbial hat is being passed for donations. Glad I'm non-partisan... #cheap #bccagm #bcpoli

Poli Sci prof @shinderpurewal has arrived as an observer from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. #bccagm #bcpoli

The new BC Conservative VP is Ben Besler. #bccagm #bcpoli

Besler 77 Robinson 54. #bccagm #bcpoli

BC Tories voting on secretary. Betty Newton vs. Caroline Evans. Speeches now. #bccagm #bcpoli

Three way race for BC Tory treasurer. Lambert Leung, Laurie Holland, Greg Kazakoff. Speaking now. Sec ballots being counted. #bccagm #bcpoli

The new BC Conservative secretary is Caroline Evans. #bccagm #bcpoli

22 candidates for 9 BC Tory directors at large. Each giving speech. This will take a while. #bccagm #bcpoli

Enjoying lunch and waiting for @CumminsforBC to speak. Also had chat with 2 great columnists, Vaughn Palmer & Les Leyne. #bccagm #bcpoli

5 mins until @CumminsforBC. By the way, apparently I will not be allowed to observe policy debate after. That's unfortunate. #bccagm #bcpoli

Brian Peckford introducing @CumminsforBC. BP says JC is the best thing that ever happened to party. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC introduced to standing ovation, and Let's Go John chants. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC touts party-building progress, money, members and MPs turned candidates. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says @bcliberals are addicted to wasteful spending. Calls attack ads "laughable." #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says party is a strong new voice and BCians are responding in droves. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says BC Ferries should be run as part of highways ministry to thunderous #nanaimo crowd. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says @bcliberals government is corrupt and dying. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says @bcliberals economic record is embarrassing. Av fam pays more taxes than any province west of QC. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says BC families pay higher taxes and makes less $. Then lashes minimum wage increase. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC criticizes @christyclarkbc's leadership for flip flops, HST, and economically unfriendly policy. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says he will get spending under control, grow economy, and cut taxes--starting with the carbon tax. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says @bcliberals keep cutting prosecutors and sheriffs, delaying trials and freeing guilty drug dealers. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC points out no Stanley Cup rioters have been charged. Says blogosphere calls them "Christy's kids." #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC would allow police to lay charges, instead of getting Crown prosecutor approval first. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC would empower police to enforce federal fisheries law, arresting people for illegally selling fish. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC calls @christyclarkbc's job plan a stale, half-baked loaf of bread. Can't spend way to prosperity. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC thinks free enterprise politicians should make gov more efficient, not launch programs to try and do it. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says @christyclarkbc's policy cupboard is bare. He promises optimistic future with @BCCforBC. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says realignment is going on. @bcliberals and @bcndp growing closer together with regressive tax regime. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC wants to attract young professionals & entrepreneurs to BC. A stable, purposeful BC. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC says corporate tax rates should go down. And that special interest, big $ politics should come out of system. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC believes municipalities should tighten belts, not levy gas taxes. #bccagm #bcpoli

@CumminsforBC wraps to a standing ovation. #bccagm #bcpoli