Political Pulse
Accountability. Competence. Outcomes.
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Teaser: Political Pulse is a weekly analysis of British Columbia politics and public policy by public affairs strategist Ryan Painter. While rooted in B.C., it draws on Canadian and international examples to examine accountability, leadership, and whether government decisions deliver real-world results.
Political Pulse is a weekly analysis of British Columbia politics and public policy, written by Ryan Painter, a public affairs strategist based in Victoria with more than 25 years of experience across municipal, provincial, and federal politics.
While the focus is firmly on British Columbia, Political Pulse regularly draws on Canadian and international examples to examine how governments design systems, exercise power, and deliver results. The project is grounded in the belief that political leadership should be judged by outcomes, not intentions, and by the willingness to own decisions when systems fail.
Drawing on experience in governance, campaigns, communications, and nonprofit leadership, Political Pulse approaches politics through a practical lens. It examines incentives, institutional design, and accountability, with particular attention to where responsibility is diffused, judgment is avoided, or process is used to shield decision-makers from scrutiny.
Political Pulse is unapologetically political. It names failures, challenges complacency, and applies consistent standards across parties and institutions. At the same time, it rejects performative outrage and partisan theatre in favour of clear analysis, evidence, and practical remedies.
The focus is on British Columbia, but the questions are broader: what competent leadership looks like, how public institutions earn trust, and why accountability matters in democratic systems. Regular topics include health care, public safety, fiscal management, affordability, and natural resource development, examined through a mix of local experience and comparative insight.
Political Pulse is written for readers who care less about ideology and more about whether governments actually work.
