Help the private sector, and then leave the job creation to them. So … what’s taking so long?

The first three workers begin employment
on the much announced Evergreen Line

Finally --- Christy Clark's Jobs program has people employed in the Evergreen Line project. Trouble is they are only the people hired to install the "See what we are doing for you" signs that are re-re-re-re-announcing this project.

I know I am being cynical, however, given how long this on-going re-announced project is taking; the signs going up will likely be long faded before any actual work begins.

On another quick note today, the Province Newspaper has a story “Premier Christy Clark promises to cut red tape for mining firms”, which began by saying:

B.C.'s mineral developers can count on the government to cut red tape and clear the way for mining expansion, Premier Christy Clark told the Association of Mineral Exploration (B.C.) on Wednesday.

Speaking at the association's annual roundup, Clark stressed the link between making it easier for mining companies to expand and the creation of good-paying jobs, the primary goal of government's so-called jobs plan.

QUESTION: “Didn't Christy already announce this during her photo-op tour in the late Fall?”

Hmmm ... I was just on Liberal MLA Bill Bennett’s website, where on September 22, 2011 he posted the following comments from Christy Clark:

I am writing to give you a quick snapshot of “Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan” which I have been discussing around BC this week.

We call it “Canada Starts Here” because our province call pull Canada into the next century and lead this country like never before.

Isn’t that a great idea?

To do this we have a comprehensive plan that will reach across our province and economy by focusing on three key pillars — enabling job creation, creating smart infrastructure and opening new markets for BC products.

It’s a plan that recognizes sometimes government has to lead, but sometimes the best thing government can do is get out of the way and let the private sector do its job creating jobs.

Here are a few highlights … we are taking steps to facilitate prompt answers for investors and to chop the backlog in permitting applications.

Yup … this does indeed seems to be more of the re-re-re-re-announcing of projects, such as the Evergreen Line, once again.   

It might also be why there are stories like “Clark's mine announcement greeted with skepticism -- Company abandoned coal project over dispute with first nations” that begin with the kind of wonderment coming from people like Karen Anderson, the Mayor of Hudson’s Hope:

“Premier Christy Clark's announcement of a $1.36-billion investment in a coal mine near Hudson's Hope was met with a puzzled reaction from the northeast British Columbia community's mayor on Wednesday.”

To actually get BC working, with good high paying union jobs that will move BC economy forward, is going to take a lot more than just words and PR signs.  It’s going to take real action to get projects moving forward quickly – without long and costly delays that have been deterring those wishing to go forward with large projects.

Last September during the job creation photo-op tour, Christy Clark actually seemed to have things figured out:   Help the private sector, and then leave the job creation to them.

So … what’s taking so long?

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