"Under Premier Clark's leadership we've seen increased costs to businesses in BC, and to middle class families, who continue to fall farther and farther behind"

BC based businesses pay the Carbon Tax, but their
competitors from outside of the province do not

As BC businesses question the BC Government's decision to move forward with the corporate tax increase; many British Columbians, including business owners, are asking if this government truly represents free-enterprise, and the workers it employs?

It doesn’t, and for good reason.  If you ask people in the Kamloops area, to define this government's claim to representing so-called 'free enterprise', you’ll be met with varying responses. Whether business owners, or their employees trying to raise a family and keep a roof over their head, neither can see how this BC Liberal Government has helped them keep a few more dollars in their pockets.

BC businesses have faced not only the increase in corporate tax rates, but also user fees which penalize their business growth.

Don’t take my word for it … here’s the thoughts and opinions of business leaders in British Columbia:

BC food producers have said the carbon tax hurts their bottom line.

The Business Council of BC has described the carbon tax as unfair because BC based businesses pay the tax, but their competitors from outside of the province do not.

Shachi Kurl, director of provincial affairs for BC and Yukon for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said … “The costs of doing business are starting to become unsustainable.”  Kurl added that rising hydro and other utility costs, as well as the carbon tax, are other increases businesses have faced in recent years.  “All of this is coming out of the same till.”

Cariboo Cattlemen’s Association says the carbon tax continues to put ranchers at a competitive disadvantage ... “we’re paying the tax and there’s no investment coming back... into the sector to reduce our carbon footprint ... either exempt us from the tax or get a program in place to provide some benefits back to us.”

And from the Fraser Institute comes the following:

Competitive personal income tax rates enable the province to better retain and attract high-skilled professionals as well as promote entrepreneurship and innovation in BC

And … middle-class British Columbians not only face continuing increases to the rates and fees they pay to government (such as increased medical payments and insurance rates), they also pay higher rates for food, and other necessities, due to the carbon tax.

Is this what a Family First, or Free Enterprise agenda, looks like?

The bottom line is that under Premier Clark's leadership we've seen increased costs for businesses in BC, and to middle class families, who continue to fall farther and farther behind.

British Columbians aren’t asking for catchy slogans; they want government to operate with a common sense direction, with accountability, and with openness.

They want a smaller less intrusive government; a government which creates opportunity, and a climate, for business to grown new good paying jobs. That’s because the only way to drive economic growth, and job creation, is through the private sector.

And, at the end of the day, British Columbians should see increased access to health care, a lower cost of living, and assurances they're jobs will be there tomorrow.

More and more, British Columbians are realizing that Christy Clark has not provided us with an economic road map, a plan as to how she will lead BC, and our families, in growth.

That’s what a real free-enterprise, families first, agenda should look like.

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