“Most of these statements, if not all, people once thought of as principles the BC Liberal Party supported”

For those who stop by on a regular basis to read my blog, you’ll have noted yesterday’s post, which was entitled “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".

In part of the post I noted that:

 … many British Columbians, including business owners, are asking if this government truly represents free-enterprise, and the workers it employs?

I went on to say that:
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.

That led my nephew, a fellow blogger to respond by saying:
Earlier today - BC Conservative Kamloops Regional Director (and Kamloops blogger) Alan Forseth took the BC Liberals' to task over its' fiscal policies including a possible corporate tax hike schedule to take place in 2013.

For BC Conservatives' to continually 'squawk off' about BC Liberal fiscal policies is really getting old because if they truly want to become government in 2013 and want to rid this province of the fiscal deficit (caused by external forces), then they need to say how they'll make up ditching the carbon tax and which provincial services (healthcare, education, social services, transportation, etc) they'll dump in order to bring the provincial books to balance.  Sound bites won't do.  Actual list of services that BC Conservatives' will dump is now needed as the voters' of this province need to know how each political party will serve the best interests of this province from 2013-2018.

Well Steve ... as much as I appreciate your comments, you'll note that the basis for my blog post was ultimately the comments of the BC business community, which I happen to agree with.  Just to be clear, the comments I included, I believe, made a strong case for what I had to say:

… 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.”

… the 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 the Fraser Institute stated that:

… 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.

Again, those comments make sense to me --- they are things I have been saying, and commenting on now, for a year and a half.

This government has a problem keeping taxes, fees, and utility rates under control … both for business, and BC’s middle-class.  I know it … the people of BC know it … and now even the business community is speaking out on it.

So Steve, what I fail to understand is why you would shoot the messenger?

"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?

Both of these things are happening with the Liberals, in the same way as they occurred under the NDP

Last night on Global TV news out of Vancouver, I heard Christy Clark talking about not wanting to go back to the horrible debt of the NDP -- and to the days when people were leaving the province for better jobs and lower taxes.

Is she serious?? Does she really have no idea what her BC Liberal Party's track record is??

She obviously is unaware, or pretends not to know, that the BC Liberals have doubled the provinces debt from $30 to $60 billion. She also seems to be unaware, or not to know, anything about last year’s Fraser Institute report that shows there are now MORE people leaving the province than are moving here.

Both of these things are happening with the Liberals, in the same way as they occurred under the NDP.

It is becoming more and more obvious neither of these choices are what BC needs.

Adrian Dix smiles a lot and doesn't say anything to ruffle feathers - but we are not hearing anything on how he will govern ... what his economic policies will be ... his taxation policies ... his plans to settle contracts with government unions ... etc.

There is only one real choice for smaller common sense government -- and that choice is the BC Conservatives!

I posted the above on my Facebook page last night, which elicited a response from soon to be retiring Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger who said:

With this I now ask, “How strong are your convictions?”

Yesterday I received an email from Peter Brown; he is the Chair of the Fraser Institute, and works with CanAccord Financial.  In his email he spoke of the ‘lost years’ under the NDP, the fiscal mess they left, that people were leaving the province, and the need for one ‘big-tent’ option to prevent this happening again.

There was no request to keep this matter private, and I was not the only one to receive his email.  The following are exchanges we had on this matter, and which on reflection tell me that the BC Conservative Party must continue to build a solid foundation on which we can fight, and win the next election

Peter ...

Voters are NOT interested in a so-called big tent free-enterprise coalition -- they are interested in honest, open and accountable government.  These things are no longer part of how the BC Liberals operate -- and why more and more people are joining and working to build the BC Conservative Party.

IF you are interested in fiscal responsibility ... honesty ... respect for voters ... and accountability, then the party you should be supporting will be the BC Conservatives.

The Liberals have gone from one crisis after the other --- one disaster after the other --- one blunder after the other.  That is not a party that I (and it appears 75% of the population) will support.

If you wish to ensure the BC NDP do not gain office, then I would encourage you to become a member of the BC Conservatives and to support us in any way you are able ... including encouraging your friends to do so as well.

Sincerely,

Alan Forseth, member of

The BC Conservative Party

You misunderstand a nonpartisan appeal. Without some ability for all on the center right to find some mutually acceptable compromises we will undoubtedly elect the most doctrinaire socialist government in our history at a time of an alarming global geo political and economic background.

If they make it they are likely to get 2 terms which will give our Province and our youth another disastrous lost decade at the worst time. It is worth remembering that Chretien won three elections as a result of a split right of center vote. It has been said that we get the government we deserve and I believe we will look back with regret if we can't find some solution to the current differences on the center right

If you decide to read on, make sure you have some Tylenol, and an antacid, handy

The other day I was talking with a media friend, and had mentioned I was thinking of taking a look at how BC's debt has climbed over the years.  Well I did indeed do that, and now I am sorry I did. If you decide to read on, make sure you have some Tylenol, and an antacid, handy.

NDP elected in 1991

Total provincial debt … $9.82 billion

NDP re-elected in 1996

Total provincial debt … $19.53 billion

During the 5 year period of 1991 to 1996, the provincial debt increased by $9.71 billion ($1.95 / year)

BC Liberals elected in 2001

Total provincial debt … $33.9 billion

BC Liberals re-elected in 2005

Total provincial debt … $35.9 billion

BC Liberals re-elected in 2009

Total provincial debt … $37.5 billion

BC Liberal Budget for 2011 … provincial debt of $45,154 Billion

And from the official Budget and Fiscal Plan of February 21^st, 2012 … for the years 2012 / 2013 to 2014 / 2015 comes the following figures:

BC POLITICS --- this week in the news

With the resignation of former Attorney General Barry Penner, Christy Clark now has two by-elections to call in the next few months --- by-elections that John Cummins and the BC Conservatives say they will be in.  There’s news on that … plus much more ... so read on! Remember the full stories can be accessed by clicking the link in the story title.)

Future jobs need planning now

… global economy goes from being a media phrase to something that threatens our jobs … it’s suddenly very real and very personal … and when hope gets lost, fear takes hold. Fear that our future will be bleak. Fear that what we’ve worked for will be lost … leadership and action can trump fear, and cynicism … need to stand together, to work together, and make the changes required … need to face our future not with fear or retreat, but with confidence and advancement on our strengths…

CLBC admits it pushed too hard to get clients out of group homes

… Community Living BC expressed regret for the harm caused and promised that, except in certain circumstances, nobody will be moved against their will in the future … follow recent reversals by CLBC in which it canceled plans to close homes and move residents ... spoken to families and apologized for the agency’s tactics.  “We regret the stress that we caused in their lives and we’re doing what we can to make that a better situation for them,” he said …

Community care crisis demands a resolution

… the crisis in community living has stirred something significant in us, demanding immediate action and decisive leadership.  In many ways it has become the barometer of how we are doing in B.C., striking a fundamental cord chord of justice and fairness….

Elections B.C. wants to pre-register 16- and 17-year-olds for voting

…  elections agency wants to use high school classes to pre-register teens to vote when they turn 18 … presented by chief electoral officer Keith Archer to a committee of MLAs Thursday … attempt to increase voter participation among 18- to 25-year-olds, the age group that's the least likely to vote …

This Week in BC Politics

It's the end of the week, and what a week it was!  Monday was awesome with Harper’s Conservative finally achieving majority government … and of course BC had its own share of political stories.  Some of these you may have missed … and some perhaps not.  So without further adieu, here is the week that just was in BC politics.

HST has been vastly oversold in B.C.,report finds

Tax will give only a modest boost to the economy while creating less than a quarter of the jobs predicted, government-appointed panel says ...

BC Conservatives ready for an election

If the response to this Saturday's fundraising dinner is any indication, the BC Conservative Party has a bright future in the area, says Randy White. The former Reform Party MP is helping to organize the …

Environment – Conservatism – and a ‘Tree-Hugger’

In recent weeks I have been encouraging both Conservatives … as well as residents of the region who are interested in exploring new ways to improve how we are governed in this province … to send in their ideas.

There have been many well thought out ideas presented, including a number of people who spoke with passion and concern for the environment ... solar energy ... and the negative impact of the Carbon Tax on people who live outside the greater Vancouver area.

Want to know what they’ve had to say?  Well read on …

·         My concern is government taking on a mantel of being green because it is popular rather than scientifically sound.  The issue of carbon taxes is front and center in my mind.  The rational for them is unfounded in science and faulty.  Included are the alternate energy sources that are subsidized by the rate payer.  If they are a good idea let them stand on their own economic merits.  Let’s reduce government and reduce taxes--our children will be better off.

·         The Carbon tax is a big issue for the folks who live in all the outlining areas of the province – it penalizes us unfairly because of our postal code.  The intent of the Carbon Tax was to lower the demand for fuel by making it increasingly expensive.  Outside the lower mainland, B.C. has winter for at least six months each year, and there are long distances to travel. Both homeowners and businesses depend on fossil fuels for warmth and transportation.  Heating and transportation are not choices, they are necessities.  The lower mainland, with its more clement climate and varieties of readily available transport, has not been affected by the carbon tax to the same degree as the rest of the Province.