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?

The Christy Clark BC Liberal government continues with a carbon tax (which will be raised again in July).  This again is a tax that BC hospitals and schools are forced to pay into – rather than be used to provide services to those who need medical care --- and resources for the classroom.

Rates for car insurance are again being raised by ICBC … and ... premiums for Medical Services Plan are being raised as well.

Then there are also BC Hydro rates which are again being raised, as well as other fees and surcharges.

Our justice system continues to be in disarray --- with several thousand alleged criminals in danger of being turned loose into the public without trial, rather than having their day in court. These are alleged pedophiles ... drug pushers ... wife beaters ... and people who have been charged with drunk driving.  These kinds of crimes, and more.

This is the Christy Clark Liberal governments way of, “...  tackling complex issues, and fixing them, by using a common sense approach?"

In Christy Clark's year end Progress report she also stated that she was, “... pulling the province together and making sure people have a chance to connect and contribute like never before ...”

She is definitely right on that, British Columbians are connecting, but I don't think it's the way she imagined (or hoped) it would be. 

Many are connecting to voice their displeasure at her government ... and many are “connecting' with the BC Conservative Party.  Many are “contributing' their time in energies to help create a real common sense platform to take to the voters in 2013.

As John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservative Party stated last week, “The dramatic rise in BC's debt is the untold story of the Liberal government.”

Just 6 years ago the debt stood at $33.4 BILLION dollars --- by the 2014 / 15 budget year, the government itself is saying debt will hit $66.4 BILLION.  That's a rise of nearly 100%!

There are many people in BC ... over 70% in fact ... that would take Christy Clark to task on what this government has (not) solved --- and what has been made worse, or is still no better.  In fact on Sunday the National Post released a new poll from Forum Research showing the governing Liberals only have a two percentage point lead over the BC Conservatives.

Giving a glowing Year End Report doesn't change the fact that this province is becoming more and more a place that is NOT friendly to BC families – to individuals – and to business.

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

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