The facts are the facts Kevin, and I stand by what I have said

Retiring BC Liberal MLA
Kevin Krueger

I have spoken on numerous occasions about the rapidly rising debt being created by the BC Liberals … and their ongoing annual deficits.  These are not imaginings, they are fact, however retiring South Kamloops BC Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger disputes this; as he stated to me earlier today.

The following is the conversation we had on this … as well as comments he made regarding BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins, and the experience we will be presenting to the voters in next Mays general election 

Kevin Krueger:

NDP debt was credit card debt - borrowed to spend on their friends, and operating. That is very different from debt for capital items: roads, bridges, hospitals, universities, schools... as most people's mortgage debt enables them to live in, and pay for, their homes - but credit card debts are high interest and destructive.

Our free enterprise coalition has had the courage to build what British Columbians need - name one construction project you think was a bad choice? We have also created the conditions for a thriving economy and great revenues to pay those capital debts off. The rating agencies give us Triple A - the highest possible. You B.C. Conservatives have a lot to learn, to be taken seriously at the polls.

Kevin ... I cannot argue with good capital spending ... however wasteful everyday spending is what I cannot agree with -- that is the day to day spending that is creating a never ending annual deficit. That gets added to the also increasing debt and we have a future bubble that will have to burst at some point.

Call it what you will, but debt is debt ... and all of it has to be paid for eventually --- and all of it will have accumulated interest on it.

Over a year ago, when the debt was still in the mid $40 billion range, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation stated we were paying over $6 million EACH DAY just to pay the interest on that every increasing debt.

That's worse than someone who is making the minimum payment on their credit card -- at least they are slowly (very slowly) making a debt in the principle.

In this case however the debt continue to pile up every day --- and somewhere down the line the creditors will say, "Enough, no more, start paying down the principle"

Sorry Kevin, but with all due respect, I cannot accept this government has been fiscally responsible. There is nothing responsible about saddling future generations with a legacy that is a mountain of debt.

Kevin Krueger:

Actually, we paid down NDP accumulated operating deficits for years, and ran surpluses. By law, our Cabinet ministers are penalized financially as long as a deficit exists. We went into deficit temporarily because of the worldwide recession, and are on track to be back in the black for the 2013/2014 budget. This is an achievement in the face of the ongoing recession which is commended by the bond rating agencies with our Triple A rating.

I don't know where you get your information from Al, but you are wrong. the BC Conservatives are utterly unequipped to govern British Columbia: little policy, badly informed, no team, and an antique Leader.

Kevin ... the Ministry of Finance is a great source of information on finding out what the annual deficits have been over the past several years -- and for what the running debt has been as well -- that's where I get my information.

As to John Cummins being 'antique'; that's a comment I would have thought to be beneath you.

He is one of the most experienced politicians we have in BC. His life skills cover nearly every field of work experience the people of BC have from labouring with his hands ... to teaching ... and to running a business and knowing what it takes. With that, he can relate to the people of BC, knowing what it means to work hard.

His political experience as well gives him the acumen that will be needed to govern.

As to a team ... well we have a great team of people coming forward to run as candidates ... many with the political experience that will be needed ... others with work-related skills ... others with numerous life and organizational skills. We'll have a deep bench, have no fear.

PS ... with Liberal MLA's dropping like flies lately, I wouldn't make comment on not having an experienced team to be able to govern. Five sitting MLA's (yourself included) will not be running so far, and some of the most experienced (Falcon, Abbott, Coleman) have yet to announce if the will run again, and are likely not to.

Kevin Krueger:

Re "antique:" I think, for example, that Mr. Cummins' attitude toward First Nations is a relic of an old, ignorant, uninformed past, oblivious of the progress made in negotiations and courts.

 Hmmm ... are you saying that for each of us to expect to have 'equal' rights before the law, and not have them colored by political correctness, should be considered 'antique'? ... to expect the DFO to apply the law, as it stands with regards to First Nations people fishing for food / sustenance, and ceremonial purposes -- NOT for commercial sale -- is 'antique'?

Also ... just or week or so back the courts came down with a ruling regarding First Nations land claims stating that claims should apply directly to the actual land used, worked, hunted on. That was verification of what John Cummins has said all along -- is the our law of the land then 'antique' as well?

There are MANY obstacles that First Nations people have had to overcome ... and continue to overcome -- I am not beyond understanding that. That said, there needs to be respect on all sides, and an understanding that at the end of the day there must be fairness for all. Bending to political correctness will not achieve that.

Just as a footnote to this last comment, I would like to be clear that one of my grandparents was First Nations from Saskatchewan.  What I say is just the reality of things as I understand them, and it has nothing to do with anyone’s heritage – there is no malice in my remarks.

The facts are the facts Kevin, and I stand by what I have said.

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