What political party said "The sacrifices made to get our financial house in order must not be sabotaged by future increases in government spending"

Today I invite you to take a trip with me in the history of BC politics.  I invite you to guess which BC Provincial political party, waiting to become the next government, said the following:

- we believe that government is making life tougher instead of better for the average BC family

- while households scrimp, save, and cut back on essentials, the one expense they cannot control or escaper is government taxes.  The main reason British Columbians are working harder and falling behind is the constant and rapid rise in taxes

- while everyone is paying higher taxes, the return to taxpayers on the things that matter most is declining

- the major problems facing this province all have one key element in common   -- they are being created by our government

- British Columbians need a government that will base its decisions on common-sense principles and live within its means

- the sacrifices made to get our financial house in order must not be sabotaged by future increases in government spending

- by shifting funds on and off the books, the _??? __ government has shown how the existing system can be manipulated

-  __ ??? ___ believes that governments closest to the people serve them best.   __ ??? __ will return resources and responsibilities to local government, advancing our spirit of community and raising our quality of life

- the best way to change government is to open it up and bring its many functions closer to the people it servers.  __ ??? __ believes that the closer decision-making is to the people, the more likely it is that good ideas will be put to work.

While these statements of belief go back nearly two decades I ask you ... "Is life any different for you now, than it was then?"

Is government still making life tougher?  Are they continuing to raise fees and taxes that we are obligated to pay?  Are they doing any better with government spending?

Are we getting more services ... seeing more front-line workers ... seeing less wait times for Emergency Room services?

Why are our seniors, that helped build this province, paying a higher and higher percentage, from their meager retirement funds, for shelter, health needs, and other necessities?

How about returning government closer to the people it serves?  For example, government fired the local 'elected' Boards that ran our hospitals ... are they still being overseen by government appointed individuals?  Where is the decision making process for local health care in Kamloops made?

Is government any more open?  Are the front line services and function closer to the people they serve ... hospitals ... courthouses ... schools in rural communities?

The words noted above in italics, were spoken by the BC Liberals prior to the election of 1996.  They were words of chastising the NDP government which was in power -- they were words that offered new hope.

Nearly two decades later, rather seeing things better for ourselves -- our parents -- our children -- and our grandchildren, we still have less and less services ... a Liberal government that has run budget deficits for more times that not ... and that has just like the NDP before them, doubled the debt.

YES ... perhaps taxes have gone down, however government has more than made up for it by nickel and diming us with increased fee for everything the possibly can -- including health care cost through increased Medical Service Plan (MSP) rates.

 

AND ... and a Pphoney green carbon tax that hit those who live in the interior and north for not just fuel to run our vehicles ... but also basic necessities like home heating fuel, our groceries, and even the clothes we wear!  A carbon tax that also took valuable resources away from schools and hospitals, and did NOTHING to protect the environment!

Government has pillaged BC Hydro and ICBC for billions of dollars, which have disappeared into a bottomless spending pit.  Meantime we continue to be hit with large increases to ICBC rates, and Hydro costs.

An environment of entitlement has been allowed to come in to being -- one where the heads of government crown corporations, and agencies, feel they are able to give them selves huge increases in pay and benefits.

My friends ... WE ARE NOT better off than we were twenty years ago -- we continue to be worse off!

The BC Liberal Party under Christy Clark now seems to be relaxed when it comes to the BC Conservative Party nipping at there heels.  Take heed -- and take warning -- we as BC Conservatives will rebuild under new leadership.

AND ... we will challenge YOU to an accounting for why you have left us, our children, and our grandchildren on the hook for debt that has continued to skyrocket at a completely unsustainable rate.

You won election by default this year; be forwarned ... it's NOT going to happen again.

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

In my honest opinion this program was poorly thought out, poorly implemented, and it definitely unfairly impacts the people of BC … depending on where they live

Today we have a follow up to the post, “Any smart business person would have made those changes anyways. Why? Because doing them increases profits, and saves them money!” from last Tuesday (May 29, 2012)

This morning I received a comment from HB2cents, who said:

I just wanted to share one tid-bit of info with you that you might consider - the Carbon Tax is revenue neutral, and the PCT doesn't get a cent of it. Taxpayers get income tax breaks as a result of the tax (that's why it is revenue neutral, i.e. government doesn't keep the money).

The tax was implemented to price carbon so that people would give thought to using less. If you do use less, you benefit even more - by saving on fuel and income tax.

Just wanted to make that point of clarification.

You should also know that Carbon Neutral Government (the reason why public sector pays for offsets to the Pacific Carbon Trust) is an incentive for those organizations to reduce carbon so they pay less in offsets. As a result of this, busy hospital CEOs and the like have actually paid more attention to their energy use because they are required to measure their CO2 output. This forces them to see the opportunities to reduce energy use - and they are doing it.

Like you point out in your article, you would think that if there is the potential for a business or school to save money by investing in new technology or simply turning down the heat, they would. The sad truth is people see cost (new curtains in a greenhouse, solar hot water heaters) and they turn the other way... unless there is a discount or incentive or law.

POINT / COUNTERPOINT: Elect an MLA who works for you

The following is an editorial piece I was invited to write for Kamloops This Week.  It was published in today's edition (May 29th).

BC’s next provincial election will focus on issues of big government, and its twin big spending … concerns about increasing fees and high taxes … trust … and accountability.   These have been issues which have drawn many to the BC Conservatives … and reinforced our commitment to present a clear and well-defined vision of how to deal with them.

                

Christy Clark BC Liberals proudly boast of being fiscally responsible, and yet they are well on their way to doubling our provincial debt.  By 2014 it will top $60 BILLION dollars!   Is it the hallmark of a fiscally conservative government, to make interest payments of over $6 million dollars a day, on this ever increasing debt?

 

That’s $6 MILLION dollars a day which is NOT available to:

… improve our deteriorating health care system

… go into classrooms and to build new schools

… provide better services for seniors

… provide programs to help our children get a good start in life

… better assist people in BC that face mental and physical challenges

… make making improvements to our highways and ferry system.

Our commitment, as BC Conservatives, is to provide government that lives within its means.

Here is something else you won’t hear from Christy Clark.  Last year more people left BC, for other parts of Canada, than moved here.  Our children, skilled trades’ people, and professionals are leaving because provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan are offering more jobs … and a lower cost of living.

I could list many things which have created concerns in recent years; but you already know what they are.  Each of those concerns has added to an ever increasing number, who have a growing distrust of those who seek elected office.

Any smart business person would have made those changes anyways. Why? Because doing them increases profits, and saves them money!

It didn’t take long for the prompter of yesterday’s blog post, “The carbon tax was really nothing more than a tax grab, designed as a phoney green initiative, and the government knew that from the start”, to pose a follow-up question to me.

The response was:

That isn’t completely true. Initial design of tax was to have monies available for companies  to access for Research and Development etc

I noted their wording of the response, which included … “isn’t completely true” … and ‘initial design of tax’. 

So how much of what I said, did this person think was true?  I’m not sure, but hey, let’s take a look at just some of the grants, given to businesses in BC, by the Pacific carbon Trust.  And remember … this is money that has in large part come from each one of us, through the carbon tax, which we pay to the government.

Encana Corporation has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 85 per cent at a drilling program in northeastern British Columbia by conserving gas during drilling and reducing flaring. The system safely and reliably recovers up to 80 percent of the natural gas produced during a typical underbalanced drilling operation. This method reduces greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent per well drilled.

IF they are now recovering 80% of what was previously lost, was it not to their benefit to do this anyway.  This recovery process provides them with more natural gas they can sell, so why was a freebie give-away from the government necessary?

Pacific Carbon Trust has invested in an Improved Forest Management project that will result in the conservation of select old growth stands on TimberWest's private land. This is the first forest project to use BC’s Forest Carbon Offset Protocol (FCOP). The project is located on a 26,000 ha of Timberwest’s old growth forest free-hold property on Vancouver Island.

Just in case you missed it in news reports sometime back, TimberWest had announced they were not going to harvest this wood, as they had determined it would be too expensive to do so.

PCT has contracted to purchase offsets generated from Randhawa Farms Ltd.’s greenhouse project. The greenhouse operator installed insulating curtains at its three greenhouse locations in Abbotsford to reduce the amount of natural gas used as a heat source. These offset activities reduce annual operating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to the natural gas baseline.

Let’s see … they add the insulating curtains, and that then reduces the amount of natural gas they had previously required.  Seems like it should have been a project they would have undertaken in the first place, to reduce their production costs.

A poisoned atmosphere, created on both sides of the bargaining table, is not going to lead to our children being the number one concern

John Rustad is the BC Liberal MLA for Nechako Lake, and he makes good use of social media to find out what people are thinking, and asking for their thoughts. 

A post he made the other day on Facebook caught my attention; this is what he asked:

"Many teachers volunteer for extracurricular activities making an enormous difference in student's lives. Here's the interesting question: if it's voluntary, why does the union have the ability to intimidate and force teachers to not participate? If it's not voluntary, then should it be classified as an illegal strike?"

I often will post comments to the queries and so I replied to him with the following:

I do not mean to be critical, but as I understand it, teachers have a pay scale for the roughly 200 days a year that they work.

Taking their pay over those 200 days, they make far more than most workers in the province. As I understand it, that pay also takes into account a day that is longer than regular classroom time (ie: prep), and I think it’s fair to say it would also cover some time outside the classroom for student activities.

The BCTF themselves have said the average maximum salary for a teacher is $74,353 ... based on 200 days, that works out to over $370 a day.

The ineptitude of this government hurts people -- real people!

Moderate scoliosis curve -- read on and
you'll understand why this photo is here.

Earlier today I posted the following on Facebook

GEORGE ABBOTT SAYS:

“We are truly disappointed by the union’s decision to hold a three-day strike beginning next week. A strike of this nature will significantly disrupt student learning and creates tremendous concern for parents and families."

ME ... as you may have noticed George, I am a little more than just disappointed in both the BCTF and the government -- you're both acting like spoiled brats!

Given that you do seem to understand there will indeed be a significant disruption to learning, may I suggest that members of the legislative assembly get their collective butts into the legislature over the weekend, and pass Bill 22!

It didn’t take long for a response to be posted by my MLA, Kevin Krueger who said:

I am presently in the Legislature, working away. There are times to do night sittings and weekends; we do not think this is one of them. We're looking for lasting, long-term solutions, and an outcome respectful of all. Did you watch the debate yesterday? Obviously not - there was nobody there "acting like spoiled brats," as you put it. If you want to be a serious candidate, do some serious thinking and research, and refrain from childish admonitions about people's "collective butts," as above. Good grief.

That required a response … and included something I have been sitting on for a few days now because I was extremely angry.  What I have been sitting on and not made mention of prior to today, is exactly why I am not only tired with the petty politics we have been seeing by the NDP and the Liberals, and with government waste ... I am actually very ANGRY!

This is Christy Clark's way of, “... tackling complex issues using a common sense approach?"

Premier Christy Clark

At the end of last week, Premier Christy Clark, posted a “First Year Progress Report” on the BC Government Caucus website.  Here is the text of that message:

Dear Fellow British Columbian's,

One year ago this Sunday, I had the honour of being selected your Premier after a close and exciting campaign for the BC Liberal Party leadership.

I re-entered politics for one reason: to make life better for B.C. families. I am happy to report that, through changes large and small, we are making steady and substantial progress towards this goal.

We are doing this with a renewed BC Liberal team and in partnership with British Columbian's. We are tackling complex issues and fixing them by using a common sense approach, rather than throwing your money at them and hoping for the best.

I said I would listen and open up government. This is exactly what we are doing. We are pulling the province together and making sure people have a chance to connect and contribute like never before.

I believe in B.C., and I know that if we stick together, we will win together.

Christy Clark

This is an interesting bit of writing for a number of reasons.   

First, “Yes” Christy Clark was selected to lead the BC Liberal Party – but she has yet to be tested by the electorate in a provincial election, where WE will get to select the party we wish to have govern us.

Second, while I will not dispute that she re-entered politics to make life, as she said, 'better for BC families', how many would be ready to acknowledge she has done so?  Yes maybe in 'small' ways she has made change, which has benefited families --- but how many would say she has done so in large measure?

Budget 2012 / 2103. Read what you can, and then you decide if the BC Liberal Party has delivered a budget focused on austerity … and fiscal prudence

Murray Langdon Comment (CFAX 1070):
 “Manageable debt”. I’ve never heard of such a ridiculous phrase

That’s just one of the comments, on yesterday’s budget, that caught my eye.  Media from across the whole spectrum were quick to have stories up and online … as were the politicians.  Here is just a snapshot of what they had to say.

The Tyee:
BC Conservative leader John Cummins released a statement blasting the budget as the kind of thing the NDP would deliver. "The core features of this budget are ballooning debt levels, higher taxes and growing spending masked by accounting tricks," he said.

"The [Premier Christy] Clark Liberals are raising taxes on the most productive part of our economy -- small businesses," he said. "By cancelling the planned reduction of small business taxes, with only a month's notice, they are killing jobs and reducing investment in British Columbia."

He said its "smoke and mirrors" to claim a balanced budget for 2013-2014 while also increasing the debt by $5.1 billion. "Even if the government is calling it a surplus, the government is spending more than it is taking in."

News 1130:

School districts are dealing with overcrowding and the BC government isn't providing a lot of new funding to build schools. A UBC professor says the problem is a lack of communication between municipalities and the province.

"These communities are, in part, created by long-planned policies on a municipal level that need to connect up to how the province, and in particular the Minister of Education, decides to build schools," argues Adjunct Planning Professor Andy Yan.

Thoughts of the silent majority -- part 2

Yesterday I asked you to let me know what the issues and problems in BC are, the ones that affect you, your family, neighbours and friends.  Well it hasn’t taken long for the first responses to come in, and I can tell you they have covered a number of things – not just a few select items being mentioned over and over.

Those who read my Conservative Thoughts blog know that I will often touch on government accountability – that government and MLA’s need to be accountable to us for what they say and do (or do not do).  A comment that came has already touched on that as well:

“One issue which is very important to me is Transparency. Wrapped up within it we have such elements as Trust and Integrity both of which fit nicely into our core values.  The Basi Virk case has the stench of corruption related, as it is, to the BC Rail case. If we don't go after that one we will miss a huge chance. People around here are utterly disgusted with the matter.”

Many Liberal supporters have indicated that the BC Rail issue is over and done with … that it’s old history … and elections have already been won with that controversy known.  Perhaps that it is true to the extent that BC voters figured it’s a done deal that BC Rail has been sold (and don’t give me any crap about a zillion year lease not being a sale); however details that came out in the rather hurriedly ended Basi-Virk trail were never known previously – and voters ARE upset …

... only the first step … then they need to implement those ideas

I am sure that many of you who are reading this, are not aware of the vast distance and geography of the 3 ridings that make up Kamloops South Thompson, Kamloops North Thompson, and the Fraser Nicola. I certainly wasn't until a short time ago.

Kamloops of course is the largest city in the 3 ridings however there are dozens of smaller communities stretching from Manning Park near Hope in the South … over towards Pemberton in the West … up and over to Clinton and then to Blue River in the North ... and east out to Chase.

The greatest revenue driver to BC’s economy is the heartland where forestry and logging … ranching and agriculture … mining, gas, and other natural resources all rein supreme.  While some of them are in a downturn at the moment, we all know there are cycles that industry goes through and over the long haul our BC economy benefits from all of them. 

These are not the minimum paying jobs that seem to be the majority of what’s being created these days – they are the kinds of jobs that allow men and woman to renovate or build new homes, purchase new vehicles, create new businesses, send children to colleges and university, and more.

'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.

The Taxman -- Lennon and McCartney

Let me tell you how it will be; there’s one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.
Should five per cent appear too small, be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I'll tax your feet.

Taxman!
'Cause I’m the taxman, Yeah, I’m the taxman ......

As you know, BC Hydro hiked rates on electricity last year by nearly 7 ½ percent … and this year we’ll see another 10% hike.  BUT, our friendly Taxman isn’t finished yet; costs to Medical Services are increasing by another 6% as well.

Then there’s the Carbon Tax – that’s the one brought about (so we’re told) to help us to be more environmentally responsible by reducing our use of fossils fuels. Last summer the carbon tax rate on a litre of gasoline increased to nearly 4 ½ cents, and by next summer it will be sitting at 7 cents a litre.  By the way, are you being more “environmentally responsible” in your home?  Natural gas and other fuels like propane, kerosene and home heating oil are also subject to the carbon tax.