SHARP: "I have made BC, and in particular Kamloops, my home ... I have no more desire to live in a cesspool of pollution, or a scared landscaped, than anyone else."

BC Conservative Party nominee candidate Peter Sharp

Today's Conservative Thoughts blog post is a guest piece from Kamloops South Thompson BC Conservative nominee candidate Peter Sharp.  He writes in response to an article by Kamloops City Councilor Donovan Cavers:

My friend  and Kamloops City Councilor, Donovan Cavers, is concerned about the prospect of the proposed Ajax Mine falling off the radar in Kamloops, stating: 

 

"If, as it seems likely, a decision on the Aberdeen mine falls after the provincial election, will it receive the full and thoughtful examination it warrants during the writ period? Or, will brief responses such as, “I can’t comment as the process is underway,” or “Our party supports the health and prosperity of all Kamloops citizens” and similar “soft” answers echo forum after forum? Perhaps the only firm responses will come from B.C. Conservative candidates cheering the project on, “Full steam ahead!”

You can read his full opinion piece, "Will Ajax be lost in election politics?" by CLICKING HERE.

 

Donovan -- you should indeed be worried we will get more of the same wishy-washy talk from both the BC Liberals and the NDP on the prospect of ANY kind of resource development. They refuse to take any kind of stand for fear of backlash from one side or the other.

The BC Conservatives on the other hand have been very clear ... "Yes -- full steam ahead" with developments that will create well-paying family supporting jobs -- and NEW jobs for our young people desperately looking for something other than low minimum pay entry level jobs.

Its NOT development at any cost however. 

Article3.1.1 of our policy states that we will ... "Enact all legislation in accordance with the concept of economic growth and job creation being most effectively driven through private enterprise as the engine of the economy."

We have, what we believe to be, a balance approach to job creation and long term protection of the environment. Article 7 of our Environmental policy begins by stating:

"We recognize that BC’s diverse environmental assets are the envy of much of the world and should be preserved and protected, and that environmental and fiscal sustainability and optimization should be the hallmark of a government’s policy. To ensure this, our government will work with the public, landowners, involved business interests and other stakeholder groups."

It goes on to state, among other things, that we WILL:
... encourage conservation of water taken from lakes or rivers for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes.
... impose strict regulation of toxic effluents produced by industry.
... recognize the value of parks to society and protect these areas from intrusive activities while improving access for all British Columbians.
... support the use of a single, joint federal and provincial environmental review process when appropriate.
... recognize the importance of hunters and fishers to British Columbia’s tourism and conservation, we will undertake to protect hunters and fishers rights, while at the same time ensuring British Columbia’s fish and wildlife populations are managed in a sustainable manner.

AND most importantly (to me at least) our policy states that we will:
"In all ways carry out responsible, fact-based stewardship of the environment. The government will base its decisions on the best available scientific data."

I have no more desire to live in a cesspool of pollution, or a scared landscaped, than anyone else. Having lived in many places through-out my life, I have made BC, and in particular Kamloops, my home.

If nominated, and elected by the people of Kamloops South Thompson as their MLA, I will do everything in my power to ensure that we have the well-paying jobs we need to support a healthy economy -- and a future for our young people.

It will however be done based on legitimate fact based decisions, and not emotional, vague, or downright misleading statements of misinformation / facts.

 

 

Again, a guest piece today from BC Conservative Party nominee candidate, for Kamloops South Thompson, Peter Sharp.

 

The floor is open to you now ... what thoughts do you have on job creation and development ... and protection of the environment?