Another year and another laundry list of promises from the B.C. Government. As you've probably heard by now, the province recently made a sweeping series of promises about how it will tackle climate change and a range of other issues over the next decade. However, while government talks a good game about addressing climate change, and is even prepared to reach into your pockets to fund some token programs, it is real decisions on land use and transportation in our community that make those promises ring hollow.

January 9, 2008

The past year is likely to be remembered as the year we spent a lot of time talking about transportation options for southern Vancouver Island but did little about implementing them.

As world supplies of crude oil diminish and prices threaten $100 a barrel and beyond, pump prices for consumers are sure to soar. Add the expected creation of a hefty carbon tax on fuel and other energy resources and the need for low cost and environmentally sound transportation alternatives have never been more important.

News Release - February 20, 2008

VICTORIA - Tuesday's provincial budget unfairly targets rural British Columbia, with the proceeds going directly into the pockets of B.C. Liberal donors in the oil and gas sector, Opposition energy critic John Horgan says.

The Campbell government's gas tax will hit rural British Columbians especially hard, said Horgan, because they have no alternative transportation and no way of increasing the efficiency of their homes.

For Immediate Release
Jan. 25, 2008

VICTORIA - Gordon Campbell has billions of dollars for Vancouver transportation infrastructure, but he continues to abandon Cowichan Valley, Malahat and Capital Region commuters, says Opposition MLA John Horgan.

News Release - February 15, 2007

VICTORIA - Malahat-Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan called this week's B.C. Liberal Throne Speech a flip flop of Olympic proportion.

The Speech from the Throne is read at the beginning of each year's Legislative session, and outlines the direction the Government plans for the coming year.

News Release - November 19, 2007

VICTORIA - The decision by the province's Auditor General to investigate the release of Tree Farm License lands around Shirley and Jordan River is a victory for everyone who has been fighting to protect the public interest, Opposition MLA John Horgan said today.

News Release - November 13, 2007

VANCOUVER- New research confirms that the Campbell government's energy plan will pummel average families and small businesses with higher costs, says Opposition energy critic John Horgan .

"Residential ratepayers and small businesses will be footing the bill for the bad ideas in the Campbell Energy plan," said Horgan, who attended the release earlier today of a comprehensive critique of the B.C. Energy Plan written by Dr. Marvin Shaffer, professor of public policy at Simon Fraser University.

News Release - November 01, 2007

VICTORIA - The new meat regulation imposed last month by the Campbell government is causing so much harm to B.C. farmers that even Liberal MLAs are speaking out, say Opposition MLAs Robin Austin and Charlie Wyse.  

This week in the Legislature several Opposition MLAs presented petitions from voters in Liberal constituencies who are calling the government to rescind the new regulation. A Liberal MLA also presented petitions on behalf of his constituents.   Robin Austin

News Release - October 17, 2007

VICTORIA - Opposition MLAs Diane Thorne and John Horgan are applauding the ongoing leadership shown by municipal councils in Langford and Coquitlam on the important issue of protection for manufactured home owners. 

News Release - October 01, 2007

VICTORIA - The B.C. Utilities Commission's decision to hold oral hearings into a Campbell government electricity deal could help save millions of dollars, Opposition Energy Critic John Horgan and Rural Issues Critic Robin Austin said today.

On Friday, the B.C. Utilities Commission (BCUC) announced that they would be holding public oral hearings into the 2007 Electricity Purchase Agreement between B.C. Hydro and Alcan.