SO ... just which political party actually DOES support the hard working men and women that pack a lunch bucket to the job site?



I'm wondering ... does Adrian Dix and the BC NDP support the 'leadership' of the unions which make large campaign contributions --- or the actual men and women that pack a lunch bucket to the job site?

I'm wondering this because it seems ONLY the BC Conservative Party actually supports development of new high paying, family raising, union jobs in the resource industry (ie: mines and Northern Gateway)

From the Globe and Mail ... with regards to Adrian Dix and the NDP:
"With a regulatory review for the contentious Northern Gateway project still under way – and a provincial election on the horizon – British Columbia’s New Democratic Party is already looking at ways to stop the $5.5-billion project should it be approved."

That includes a legal team considering strategies to prevent it from being built, NDP Leader Adrian Dix says.

“You can do a whole pile of stuff on the regulatory front that will increase the price to where it makes it economically prohibitive,” said one former bureaucrat, who did not want to be identified because of current contracts with industry. “The smartest thing to do from a political perspective would be to fight the thing in court because the delays will kill the project.”

And in the National Post with regards to, Christy Clark Yes today and NO tomorrow??
"Clark’s real weapon is political: the opposition of much of the B.C. public to the project, and the price the federal Tories would likely pay at the polls were they seen to be overriding the government of B.C. on the matter — her own, or her likely NDP successor’s.

The list of demands she has suddenly produced, are
an obvious attempt to inoculate herself on the
Gateway issue, without actually coming out against it."

The list of demands she has suddenly produced, far behind in the polls with less than a year to go before the provincial election, are an obvious attempt to inoculate herself on the Gateway issue, without actually coming out against it."

Now let's look at the comments of BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins, spoken just a week ago:
"The BC Conservatives, alone among our province's four major political parties, support the economic development and high-wage job opportunities that will come with construction of the Northern Gateway pipelines," said Cummins.

"Of course, the project must adhere to our nation's stringent environmental laws and regulations. A fair and objective analysis will conclude that the economic benefits to Canada and British Columbia are real and tangible."

The reasons behind the support for the pipeline centers on job-creation and resource management.  “If we don’t do something with these resources,” he said, “someone else will”.

Meantime, if anyone thinks the BC Conservative Party position has changed in any way, I invite you to check out this link to a video which was done by Integrity BC.  It features BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins, and confirms our position has remained the same.

Do BC Conservatives support development at any cost -- NO of course not ... although we have, and will again be alleged, to have that policy.  Here however are the facts of BC Conservative Party policy regarding jobs, the environment, and resource development:


ARTICLE 3. Economic Prosperity and Incentives.
The BC Conservative Party believes that a government should:

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.

 

Recognize that the role of the Provincial Government is to ensure delivery of essential services.

 

Introduce competitive provincial, personal and corporate tax rates to encourage investment, growth and job creation in all regions of British Columbia.

 

Cut red tape and regulatory burdens by a systematic review, simplification and reform of all Governmental regulations and similar requirements.

 

Work to eliminate the duplication and overlap of government authorities and services including the integration and reduction of provincial ministries.

 

Having regard to the fact that British Columbia is positioned as Canada’s gateway to Pacific Rim Countries, the BC Conservative Party believes that:

It is vital that Canadian exporters have access to the ever increasing markets of Pacific Rim countries. To this end, development of the infrastructure required to build the “gateway” should be facilitated in consultation with local communities to ensure   resultant trade opportunities, jobs and other benefits are readily available to all British Columbians.

ARTICLE 7. Environment.
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.  The BC Conservative Party supports Conserving British Columbia’s Environment by:

Balancing economic development opportunities with environmental protection.

Encouraging conservation of water taken from lakes or rivers for agricultural, industrial and domestic purposes.

Imposing strict regulation of toxic effluents produced by industry. 

Recognizing the value of parks to society and protect these areas from intrusive activities while improving access for all British Columbians.

Supporting the use of a single, joint federal and provincial environmental review  process when appropriate.

Recognizing 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.

In all ways carry out responsible, fact-based stewardship of the environment. The government will base its decisions on the best available scientific data.

ARTICLE 10. Natural Resources.

In recognition of the government’s responsibility to facilitate proper stewardship of both renewable resources (forestry, fisheries, wildlife, etc) and non-renewable resources such as hydro-carbons and minerals, the BC Conservative Party supports:

Acknowledging the prosperity of many BC communities and the provincial economy as a whole is dependent upon the responsible utilization of our abundant natural resources.

Balancing responsible environmental and taxation policies to encourage those activities   best able to thrive and prosper in the diverse regions of our province.

Recognizing that the natural resources are owned by all British Columbians and managed on their behalf by the Government. No community or group should be allowed to veto the development of these resources which are owned by all British Columbians.

SO ... this commentary will end with the question asked back at the beginning; "just which political party actually DOES support the hard working men and women that pack a lunch bucket to the job site?"  It certainly isn't the BC NDP ... and it definitely is not the BC Liberals. It is however the John Cummins led BC Conservative Party!

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


UPDATE ... since this was orginally posted earlier this morning, BC Stats has released new earning information for BC, and the rest of Canada.

The average weekly payroll earnings in British Columbia increased by $7.03 to $878.42 (+0.8%) -- it should be noted however that the average earnings in BC are $62.35 less than the Canadian average of $910.77.

Next door in Alberta, earnings dropped.9% however the average earnings in Alberta are $1,277.31

http://www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/Files/51eef2a3-a769-4f3f-8c02-422e60fd435d/InfolineHighlights-February12013.pdf