The British Columbia government is preparing to spend "lots" of money to advertise Premier Christy Clark … Minister Pat Bell said today.

Okay I will admit it right off the bat.  I edited what was actually written, but I think it's fitting (funny too in a sad way) ... read on.

BC Premier Christy Clark

On November 16th, in the Tyee, a story began "The British Columbia government is preparing to spend "lots" of money to advertise Premier Christy Clark's jobs strategy, Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Minister Pat Bell said today."  Here is a part of what that story had to say:

The bulk of the campaign will be international, but also with some advertising within BC, said Bell.

"The local stuff is really focused on engaging with British Columbians, saying, 'Here's the jobs strategy,' bring forward your ideas, your projects, your concepts of things you think that we should be doing to help support your local community," he said.

Some ads will also highlight areas such as welding where there are already good job opportunities being created, he said.  Clark released the jobs plan in September, styling herself as the province's number one salesman during a week of announcements.

"The real focus of the advertising campaign won't be in BC, it will be abroad," said Bell, who returned this week from a trade mission to China. "It's really intended to attract investment internationally into new projects that can add value for British Columbians."

Most of the advertising will be done in Asia, but some in Europe as well, he said. The campaign is planned for this winter.

Given the amount of advertising I have seen in recent days, there certainly should be no doubt the government is spending “lots of money”, as Pat Bell said, to advertise the Jobs Strategy … in fact it appears there are bucket loads of money being spent in the media.

Here is what I am wondering however;  “Why do they need to do that?" ... other than perhaps the government is hoping for a favorable return, on investment, for Liberal party fortunes.

At a time when the BC Government, for two quarters in a row, has indicated this year’s budget deficit is still climbing, why is it wasting money like this?  I’ll leave that for you to decide … but I think we both know the answer.

Meantime I’ll pass this along, just in case you are wondering where BC Conservatives stand on government spending for advertising (I have added the bold font).

“Limit advertising programs for Government Departments, Crown  Corporations, and all other organizations owned, controlled or supported by the  Government of British Columbia, to nationally-competitive areas such as tourism  promotion and to those instances where there is a clear requirement to inform  the public.”

I’m Alan Forseth in Kamloops, with the thoughts of one conservative.