November 7, 2008
The one thing on everyone's minds these days is the economy. We see residential construction slowing, house prices falling and the stock market in crisis. Everyone is wondering how our province is doing and how the government can help citizens through this coming tough economic time.
A week after the Premier made his statement on the economic downturn, offering few specifics and little to help struggling families, Opposition Leader Carole James proposed her plan, focusing on the fundamentals of the economy and supporting BC families.
The first step is relief for the middle class and small business. Rescinding the carbon tax will keep more money in the pockets of average British Columbians, helping people make ends meet while providing a needed economic stimulus. Skills training and education must also be a focus. We need to prepare now for the high-skilled, high wage, green jobs of the future. By restoring post secondary funding, cutting interest rates on student loans and bringing back student grants, training and education will be an option for all families and our kids will be first in line as the economy recovers.
Government investments in infrastructure will provide an immediate boost to local economies. In our region, seismic upgrading of schools is a necessity as is fast tracking the Belmont High School replacement. Our local School Board has a workable plan in place to meet growing demand that is calling out for Provincial support. Public infrastructure projects like school replacements provide needed amenities for the community as well as keeping construction jobs moving during a downturn. Similarly, few would argue with increasing funds for affordable housing or the need to address the traffic congestion into Victoria by accelerating transit spending and upgrading the E&N line to implement commuter rail service.
The Campbell government has chosen the traditional pre-election partisan route of wasting taxpayer money on self-serving advertising and outrageous salary increases for top bureaucrats. Voters would rather see public money spent helping families get through these turbulent times. Indeed, the public expects elected representatives to work through partisan differences to find solutions that benefit the entire community, particularly when economic uncertainty is on the horizon.
After cancelling the fall session the Premier has changed course and called the Legislature back for November 20th to debate the economic crisis. Why did he have to wait that long? Why not last week, why not last month? Accurate information is the starting point for successful policy development. That information needs to be reliable, transparent and accessible. The Minister of Finance has suggested to reporters in one interview that revenues were on target and in another that they were going in the tank.
The all party Finance Committee asked the Minister of Finance to present emerging information so that our recommendations could be as well informed as possible. He declined to attend. The committee has travelled the length and breadth of this great province, including a stop in Langford, to gauge the state of the economy and make recommendations to the Legislature on a course of action. As we are preparing our final report, common sense suggests that the Minister of Finance would want to provide the most up to date information to inform our recommendations. Taxpayers deserve better.
End Note:
I want to express my sincere thanks to the many constituents that have wished me well as I have faced some health challenges. The support and encouragement is truly overwhelming. My surgery was a success and the prognosis is positive. I'm anxious to get back to work on your behalf looking for real solutions that will produce real results.
