Government has a SPENDING PROBLEM ... not a revenue problem!

"Government has a spending problem, not a revenue problem!" ... so said Maureen Bader (former director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation) to a large group of BC Conservative Party members in Surrey this morning.

Ms. Bader indicated that while some people believe that government is the answer to all problems, a large portion of the population is fed up, and will elect a political party running on a platform of small government.  What is needed however, is to have a clear platform that will allow voters to give a mandate for change.

She brought forward examples of how a clear mandate allowed Ralph Klein to be elected in Alberta ... and for Mike Harris to be elected in Ontario ... but she also stressed that follow through is imperative, and that a political party must do what it say it plans to do.

While having a clear platform for spending cuts and efficient government spending allowed for majority governments in Alberta and Ontario -- through successive NDP and Liberal governments in BC, the race has been to see who can do more, spend more, and be more for everyone.  Some of you may be saying, I don't believe it.  Well for those of you thinking that, here are just a few examples Maureen Bader gave:

Bureaucracy:
NDP in the 90's rose by 19%

BC Liberals ... increased by 8%

Wages of employees / bureaucrats / administration
NDP ... up by 87%

BC Liberals ... up by 64%

Spending:

NDP ... up by 80%

BC Liberals ... up 48%

Government Debt

NDP ... up 100%

BC Liberals ... started well with a decrease to 2005 - NOW however spending since 2006 (and estimated by the Liberal government through to 2013) will result in an 82% increase!!!

"The BC Liberals having been considering a new name for the party", said Ms. Bader ... "I have a suggestion ... NDP Light because we get slightly less fat"

Those numbers are from the time of Gordon Campbell ... but are we any better with Christy Clark, when it comes to debt reduction and fiscal responsibility?  The evidence to this point says "NO" because in just a couple of months she is already increasing spending.

So what is the message of former Canadian Taxpayers Federation Director Maureen Bader?

1. Government is NOT the solution to all problems
2. A large portion of the population is fed up, and a platform of small government will see a party get elected ... and re-elected
3. Get a mandate for change from the voters by having clear policy that is open and honest
4. Target the audience -- know what the message is
5. FOLLOW THROUGH ON WHAT YOU SAY!

The choice until just recently was between the NDP ... and NDP Light ... but there is plenty of room for a party of fiscal responsibility.

As the BC Liberals move closer to the NDP, the BC Conservative Party is rising in the polls, and they will continue to do so.

I'm Alan Forseth in Surrey at the BC Conservative Party Special AGM ... and I'll be back later this afternoon.