Peterson Outlines Ten "Power Smart Tips" for Premier Christy Clark

Yesterday, BC Conservative Party leadership candidate Rick Peterson came out with some ideas regarding BC Hydro.  Here is the text of the plan he presented:

BC Conservative Leadership candidate Rick Peterson today proposed ten “Power Smart Tips”  for Premier Christy Clark that will help “turn down the heat” for BC ratepayers who are tired of backdoor BC Hydro rate increases to pay for BC Liberal claims of a balanced budget.

In celebration of BC Hydro’s “October is Power Smart Month” campaign, Rick Peterson spoke to media and supporters in front of the crown corporation’s offices on Dunsmuir Street in downtown Vancouver this morning.

“I think it’s great that BC Hydro has an ‘October is Power Smart Month’ campaign,” said Peterson, “but let’s be honest and recognize that there’s really not much that’s “smart” about the way that Hydro is being run."

“And what’s worse, all this is happening under the watch of BC Liberal appointees who are sitting on the Hydro board, raking in lavish salaries, while everyone else in BC – especially seniors, fixed-income and low-income earners and those below the poverty line - are acutely feeling the pain of these user-fee increases.”

Peterson says that BC Hydro rate increases, reported to be 26% or higher for residential ratepayers,  are needed to pay for a long-standing BC Liberal government practice of taking dividends from the public power company, at the expense of electrical infrastructure upgrades, to pay for BC Liberal spending.

“Crown corporations in BC under the Christy Clark government are out of control,” he said, “and BC Hydro is probably the worst of them. There is no business in the world that could pass on a 26% rate hike without heads rolling and yet the Christy Clark government rewards these decisions with lavish executive bonuses – it’s simply wrong,” stated Peterson

Peterson contrasted the federal Conservative government’s concern, as outlined in Wednesday’s Throne Speech, about helping individual consumers, with the approach taken by the BC Liberals under Christy Clark, who are downloading the cost of growing deficits on the backs of Hydro ratepayers.

“This is sloppy management, poor planning and lack of accountability at its worst. We need Christy Clark’s Liberals to take their hands out of the BC Hydro till. Turning BC Hydro around will be the first priority of a BC Conservative government under my leadership.”

Here are the “Ten Power-Smart Tips” that Peterson says are needed at BC Hydro:

1. Immediately begin to reduce by 5% the total BC Hydro dividends demanded by the Christy Clark Government.
2. Apply half of the dividend savings to stabilize residential and business Hydro rates negating the need for unsustainable rate hike increases.
3. Apply the other half of dividend savings to much needed BC Hydro infrastructure upgrades and debt retirement. 
4. Fully adopt International accounting standards (IFRS) and put an immediate end to deferring to future years certain expenses that would normally be recorded in the current year’s financial statements.
5. Freeze management staffing at current levels immediately for a 2-year period.
6. Freeze total management salaries, pensions, benefits and bonuses immediately for a 2-year period.
7. Implement an independent core services review with an attention focus on high ratio of management-to-front-line staff.
8. Implement firm limits on executive bonuses and severance payouts.
9. Reinstate  the BC Utilities Commission overview of ALL BC Hydro operations and rate applications.
10. Stop BC Hydro funding of opposing statements at the BC Utilities Commission.

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.

BC HYDRO Part 3 (AKA) Does "No" actually mean "No" to the BC Liberals? To all of them? Some of them? And on what day?

Today's Conservative Thoughts commentary is a guest op / ed.  Unfortunately I am unable to include the name of the writer, but this is a person I have known and have respected for nearly 20 years.

 

As B.C. Hydro and Corix installers roll out across the province, targeting people who’ve refused the Hydro smart meters, the message changes constantly.

“I’ve been ordered to put a meter on every house
and I’m doing it.”, he replied ... and he did.

From 85,000 to 140,000 British Columbians have registered with Hydro to refuse the smart meters. Reasons include health, safety, privacy, time of day billing and, as one man put it, “the jack-booted way it’s being imposed”.

On January 22nd Energy Minister Rich Coleman reassured the hold-outs that meters wouldn’t be forced upon them.

On January 29th Liberal MLA Gordon Hogg issued a statement, telling people pressured to accept new meters, to notify their MLA’s.

On January 30th a Kamloops reporter wanting to confirm the government’s position, phoned several MLAs.  BC Liberal MLA and Energy Minster Rich Coleman wasn’t available, but his office sent a copy of the Jan. 22nd statement that Smart Meters would not be forced on them.

Gordon Hogg’s office replied “Mr. Hogg is no longer speaking to the media on the smart meter issue.” 

Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger, the only Liberal MLA who would speak, said “..We always have some people who think everything’s bad for them. …however there are some people with really unique health conditions.  I don’t want to have smart meters anywhere near them."

People felt reassured.  It didn’t last long.

Between January 28th and February 1st, the city of Kamloops was targeted for a final installation blitz. Corix, the company doing installations, employs mostly young men who are paid by piece work.  Every morning they held a team meeting during which they’re told where to go, what to say and what to do.

On January 28th, a 72 year old woman insisted to the installer that she didn’t want a smart meter.  “What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand?” she asked. 

“I’ve been ordered to put a meter on every house and I’m doing it.”, he replied, and he did.

Another woman, who has medical problems, explained why she was refusing. “Now I’ve talked to you can I be confident no one else will come install a meter?” 

"We’ll be back”, was the response.

“When?”, she asked 

The response?  ... “Maybe tomorrow.” 

One man became so exasperated, after he was asked three times why he was refusing, that he grabbed for the smart meter.  In the scuffle a Corix employee fell to the ground.  The RCMP arrived within 15 minutes and told the householder he would be charged.

Auditor General John Doyle stated they are creating; "the appearance of profitability where none exists ... they are creating a burden on ratepayers in the future"

BC Hydro and smart meters are back in the news again.  It has always been my belief that the main reason for smart meters being pushed on us by government had little to do with saving energy; instead the push was to have an increased revenue source. 

After all, the BC government does drain revenues, from BC Hydro, which are then lost in a black hole called General Revenue.

To give what I believe is clarity to the push for Smart Meters, lets sandwich the comments of Energy Minister Rich Coleman (Surrey Leader) -- along with the words of a BC Hydro Media Advisor (Kamloops Daily News) ... and those of a Corix employee (Kamloops Daily News) -- between two news stories from the CBC in 2011:

CBC NEWS -- Oct 27th, 2011

B.C.’s auditor general says BC Hydro has deferred $2.2 billion in current expenses that he says sooner or later, Hydro customers will have to pay for.

 

SURREY LEADER -- January 31st, 2013
Energy Minister Rich Coleman says smart meters won't be forced into homes over the next few months but he denied reports the province has reversed its policy and will let objectors opt out of having the wireless devices.  "We're going back to talk to our customers ... We'll not force any customer to take a meter."

 

KAMLOOPS DAILY NEWS -- February 1st, 2013
... after Liberals Rich Coleman and Gordon Hogg said meter opponents won’t be required to take the devices — a Corix employee showed up at Wendy Johnson’s Oak Hills home and insisted smart meters are being ordered for all B.C. homes.

“He said ‘Ma’am, we’ve been ordered to put meters on every house.’ He turned around and put on the meter,” Johnson said.

"It's a clear slam-dunk" ... and Hydro customers will be the ones getting slammed

Time of Day billing will be another government cash cow

Never mind that smart meters can be a health issue for some --- my biggest concern is that the BC Liberals will allow Hydro to jack up rates with "Time-of-Day billing.

This is also something Michael Smythe also raised as a distinct possibility in an opinion piece he wrote entitled; "Smart meters will be Hydro's cash cow" (Oct 2011)

SO ... will Christy Clark and the BC Liberals rule out this possibly – confirm this will not be permitted in the future --- and do so BEFORE the provincial election in May?

We should know the answer to this question. Here is a portion of the article by Michael Smythe, which should have you asking the same thing:

"I've said it clearly - we're not going to time-of-use," said Energy Minister Rich Coleman.

Actually, it's not that clear. When you pin him down, Coleman says there will be no time-of-use billing for now - you know, before an election - but he won't rule it out in the future.

And isn't it interesting that Hydro's own manager of the smart-meter program seems so gung-ho for timeof-use billing?

"It's a clear slam-dunk," Gary Murphy gushed to Globe and Mail reporter Ian Bailey. And Hydro customers will be the ones getting slammed!

BC Hydro is in serious financial straights, and happened on the watch of the BC Liberal government.

Well this is it … post #500 on the Conservative Thoughts blog

Well this is it … post #500 on the Conservative Thoughts blog.  This blog first went online on December 20^th, 2010 … the first two posts were stories on the Board of Directors for the Kamloops South Thompson Constituency Association … and Kamloops North.  That was a year and a half ago.

Since then, I have written dozens of stories on John Cummins, Christy Clark, and Adrian Dix … along with dozens of stories on the BC Conservative Party, the Liberals, and the NDP.  Rather than look at those stories however, I thought I’d take a quick look though at some of the ‘topics’ that have received the great number of mentions during that time.

Here’s five of the topics that, in looking back, were mentioned and featured the most:

The HST … mentioned in 48 stories … including this one; “Now maybe we have what could be the real reason why it is taking so long to end the HST”

The Carbon Tax … mentioned in 39 stories.  Here’s just one of them; “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”

BC Hydro … it was mentioned in 37 stories.  Here’s one you might remember; “BC Hydro used to say, ‘The power belongs to us’. If that’s the case, how come we don’t have a say?”

BC Rail … it was mentioned in 25 stories, generally referring to the Basi / Virk case, as this one did.   “The report Krog and Bond were referring to was just about future indemnity on legal costs”

Health Care … mentioned in 25 stories, including this one with regards to a bathing tub that IHA was shamed into repairing; “And this is something to be proud of?”

Finally, I thought it would interesting to take a fresh look at the ten most read posts, out of the 500 written to date.  Starting with number ten, here they are:

A bit of ‘This and That’ from the news

My apologies … I have been busy with CA meetings for the Kamloops North and South Thompson CA’s … the Public Town Hall meeting in Clearwater with John Cummins tomorrow night ... and the founding meeting of our Fraser Nicola CA which takes place on Saturday. 

That means todays blog post will be a bit of ‘This and That’ from the news over the past couple of days.  Let’s start out with a story from Jordan Bateman OF the Canadian Taxpayers Federation;

“Outrageous B.C. Gas Taxes Keep Economy in Neutral”

If the federal and B.C. governments are as hungry to spark job creation as their expensive TV commercials and overseas trips make it appear, they should cut the taxes on gas.

Taxes now make up nearly one-third of the cost of gasoline, which both penalize drivers and raise the cost of any good or service moved by a vehicle. Leaving more of that money in drivers’ pockets to spend anywhere but on government, simply makes sense.

Lower Mainland drivers pay the highest gas tax on the continent—more than 49 cents per litre. In Victoria, the tax burden is almost 41 cents, while the rest of British Columbia sits at the national average of 37 cents per litre.

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

Next up, is the “The great Hydro cost coverup” by Vaughn Palmer of the Vancouver Sun

As the B.C. Utilities Commission moved this spring to hold public hearings on the B.C. Liberals' controversial electricity plans, the government mounted a rearguard action to drag the process back behind closed doors.

… the process is the formal name for what is essentially a backroom deal, brokered by the regulator with Hydro and the industry and consumer groups that make up the bulk of the players at any public hearing.

Had the commission gone along, the public hearings, set for a minimum three weeks starting June 18, would likely have been cancelled. Much to the relief of the Liberals, who - I'm told - lobbied hard to make sure they never happened …

CLICK HERE to read the full story.

The issue of downloading services from one level of government, to the next, is obviously having a serious affect on municipalities

Last week in Penticton, mayors from 86 communities across British Columbia met to discuss issues they have been facing, and of concern, as more and more areas previously looked after (and funded) by Federal and Provincial governments, get downloaded on to them.  

In a story from the Okanagan’s CHBC TV News, Dianne Watts, Mayor of Surrey said:

“B.C.’s municipalities need a new deal with the provincial and federal governments to provide the services our constituents expect.  Municipalities provide the vast majority of the service in areas such as infrastructure while being given only 8 cents out of every tax dollar to do it.”

While Penticton Mayor Dan Ashton said:

“We all realize there is only one taxpayer and those taxpayers are challenged these days and that challenge is one that we as mayors and council have to address.  The analogy of people being able to support more services through taxation is not one that any mayor in this province wants to accept.”

A news release from the Mayors, following their meeting in Penticton, also brought up a number of additional areas of concerns, where local governments are:

• now providing land as a precondition for the Province to build social housing projects
• now responsible for ensuring residential tenancies are properly maintained by landlords
• paying more for policing as new federal laws require more work to gather more evidence to support charges being approved
• managing flood hazard areas and related liability
• dealing with the aftermath of psychiatric hospitals closures by the Province which has placed many vulnerable people on the street
• paying local fire departments to respond to medical calls, displacing the need for added resources by the provincially funded ambulance service

We know that the people of deserve better than two tax and spend parties

This afternoon John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservative Party, spoke to the Surrey Board of Trade.  His speech covered the party's response to the BC Liberal Budget released earlier this week, and how a BC Conservative government would do things differently. Here is the complete text of that speech:

John Cummins, BC Conservative Party Leader

Good afternoon. Thank you for inviting me to speak at the Surrey Board of Trade. I especially want to thank Anita Huberman for putting together this great event.

I’m here to speak with you about the budget that the Liberal government tabled on Tuesday.

In order to understand the budget and what it means for the future of BC, we have to understand some facts about BC’s economy and the state of the economies we are competing against.

British Columbia has the worst unemployment rate in the west. It isn’t a surprise that unemployment is worse than Alberta, or even newly booming Saskatchewan. But we trail NDP-run Manitoba as well, and by a significant amount.

When comes to income taxes BC is very competitive, but families pay far more than just income taxes. When you include the highest gas taxes in Canada, that are going up another 3 cents this spring in the lower mainland, MSP premiums and other fees and surcharges – the average family in BC pays more in taxes than in any province west of Quebec. That means more than Ontario and more than NDP-run Manitoba.

On top of this is the cost of living in this province. I don’t need to remind you of the various international surveys that have come out in the past few months that show that living in the greater Vancouver area to be one of the most expensive places in the world.

When you combine higher taxes, higher unemployment and higher cost of living than the provinces we compete with the most, you would expect people to leave. And that is exactly what happened in 2011. Last year, more people moved out of BC to other provinces than moved here.   

For me this is an extremely telling measure – people have a choice about where they can afford to live, where they keep more of their money and where they can find a job. And they are not choosing BC.

This is NOT a government friendly to BC families --- this is NOT a government that understands fiscal prudence – this is a government that needs to be sent packing.

BC Finance Minister Kevin Falcon

Finance Minister Kevin Falcon concluded today’s budget speech by stating:

When we were first elected and we got the province back on the road to balanced budgets, there were people who asked us why, and questioned the need to meet — as they saw it — some kind of arbitrary target.

Well, Mr. Speaker, as we look around the world today, we can see that balanced budgets are anything but arbitrary. They are an essential foundation for growth. That’s why our balanced-budget legislation mandates not just a time frame for balancing, but also pay-cuts for ministers for every year the budget is in deficit.

Keeping British Columbia’s fiscal house in order does mean some tough decisions in the short-term. But consider what’s at stake here. It’s our future, Mr. Speaker — the future of this province, and the future of our people.

We have one of the most diverse populations anywhere... with ties to countries and cultures around the world. And while we are all unique individuals, we all want the same basic things for our future.

We want to be able to support ourselves, and take care of our families. We want to know that important public services will be there when we need them. We want strong, secure communities where everyone contributes, and everyone belongs. And we all want to share in the wide-open sense of opportunity that has, for over 150 years, been the hallmark of British Columbia. 

That’s what keeps on bringing people here. That’s what generates confidence, growth and investment. And that’s the kind of future we’re building with this budget — a future of security, growth and opportunity. Thank you for being part of it. Now let’s get to work.

This government has NOT delivered on balanced budgets --- ending rising debt -- getting it's fiscal house in order -- or making it easier for families to care for themselves!

Right now, I have a few things to note for the moment --- and more I am sure will follow.

Any talk of balanced budgets is mathematically impossible when the provincial government’s debt will continue to rise.  Here’s the facts:

BC Politics … the week that began February 5th

It’s the end of the week … and during it; we have of course had a number of stories on BC politics.   

No surprise, BC Hydro was again in the news … as was news on another poll showing declining support for the governing BC Liberals … and the appointment of nine new judges in BC.

Here’s a quick recap of some the stories in case you missed a few:

Poll in line with B.C.'s history

This is the province that threw out the old Liberals and Conservatives in the mid-20th century and replaced them with Social Credit and the NDP … then turned on the Socreds and exterminated them as a party … then, a decade after that, reduced the NDP to a rump of two members … we are not kind to those who have disappointed us, failed us, led us into hard economic times, or lied to us …

B.C. Liberals expecting tight Chilliwack-Hope byelection

John Martin, BC Conservative party candidate said he's going to put up a good political fight … "I don't buy into this Liberal line that somehow anyone who is not an NDP voter should get their vote, owes them their vote, that they should get their vote by default" …

BC Hydro Withdraws Massive Effort to Build a Spin Arsenal
… the Times Colonist and Global TV reported that BC Hydro was pre-approving 25 marketing firms to have ready to go to spin various initiatives … Thursday, BC Hydro announced that they had withdrawn their call for companies … a win for taxpayers who are sick and tired of government agencies using our money to sell us their ideas …

Note to the BC Liberals … “Take a stand ---and lead”

Earlier today Liberal MLA John Rustad (Nechako Lakes) posted a link to a news story, on his Facebook page.  The opinion piece, “Fact finder might help resolve education crisis”, was written by Jon Ferry and is in today’s Province newspaper.

The story is a good read, and to me it offers a clear confirmation that our elected government is failing to do what we elect them to do … govern.  But as Jon Ferry points out in his piece, there may be a lack of willingness to do what must be done.

The BC Liberals have gone steadily downhill in public opinion, and that began just a few short months after they elected Christy Clark as their leader.  They have lost 25% of the people who voted for them in the last election to the BC Conservative party … and a further 10% who have gone over to the NDP. 

One would tend to perhaps agree then with the comment of Jon Ferry when he says:

"The Christy Clark government, however, is now so wounded in the opinion polls it may be unwilling to provoke a political backlash by appearing too draconian."

I am a member of the BC Conservative Party, so one would be correct in thinking I would not readily offer any advise that might help them (not that they would listen), but here goes anyways

THIS WEEK IN BC POLITICS — the final one for 2011

The year end with news we may now be paying
HST, on our bills and purchases, for well into 2013

As we go into the last week of the year, we have one more opportunity to review and look overt the stories that made the news this week.  Next week, on Conservative Thoughts, I will be taking a break so that’s it until 2012 … except for me to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas … and a safe and Happy New Year.

Now … here are the stories that made the news this week -- each headline is linked to the full original story.

When compared with the rest of the country, this province's development pales

… politically embarrassing … the lack-lustre performance can't be excused by noting that Campbell had nasty little (or maybe not so little) recessions at the beginning and the end of his term, because so did all the other provinces that B.C. is being compared to … further such embarrassment is a key factor in why Clark decided not long after she took over from Campbell to pull the plug on the board … it's not just one province's performance that is being measured - it's all the others' as well …

Taxpayers still on the hook months after deputy fired

Jordan Bateman, B.C. director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, said du Toit's severance deal defies common sense. "This is another ridiculous payout from government to senior staff.  We've seen these over and over again this year."  … living allowance always troubled the federation.  "I mean, it's not like she was a pauper in the first place.  She was pulling down significant amounts of money in salary." …

BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins believes many Liberals are feeling alienated by party shift

"We're not in this to come second," Cummins said. "We are in this to win. I think this is a small 'c' conservative neck of the woods, and I think that given that we really are the only small 'c' conservative party in British Columbia, our platform will certainly resonate with the folks here."

They would have heard plenty of reasons for the ongoing growth of the party

A news story yesterday (Poll sends Clark a sharp warning) in the Times Colonist newspaper stated:

The rise of the Conservatives is a significant factor. But it has more to do with dissatisfaction with the Liberals than with any policy put forward by Conservative leader John Cummins. We have not heard enough from Cummins to judge his party's potential or readiness.

And they were very much right in saying:

A political poll is only a snapshot of voters' opinions at a certain time. And polls taken 17 months before an election should be viewed with skepticism, because much can change in far less time.

That said; this is the fifth straight poll that has shown the BC Conservative Party rising in popularity with British Columbians all across the province.

I think it's a shame that the writer(s) of this editorial must not have attended either / both the gathering of BC Conservatives this Spring in Surrey where John Cummins was elected party leader --- or the AGM this Fall in Nanaimo.

 

BC Conservatives move into a tie with the Liberals

We now know the reason why the BC Liberals have a gain begun their mantra of a vote for the BC Conservatives is a vote for the NDP.  We have now had 5 straight polls showing the BC Conservative Party growing in strength, and we are now at 23% ...

The BC Liberals have nothing to offer British Columbians except for ever increasing taxes and fees ... big payoffs to government executives in crown corporations as well as BC Ferries and BC Hydro ... and big phoney "Green" cheques to outfits like Encana while schools and hospitals do with out.

We have NOT had government accountability --- nor have we had a government that is responsive to the people of this province.

I encourage you to read Doug Ward's story in the Vancouver Sun ..."New poll shows NDP in lead in B.C. with Conservatives surging into tie with BC Liberals"

Here is a brief comment from his story:

“The problem for the B.C. Liberals is that they are in the middle and they bleed both ways,” said the pollster.

“They are pinned down on both sides. We saw that happen to the federal Liberals in the recent election.”

 The Forum Research poll also found strong discontent with Clark herself. Fewer than one in three voters approve of Clark’s job performance. Twenty-nine per cent of British Columbians approve of Clark compared to 45 per cent who disapprove and 27 per cent with no opinion.

Tax and spend BC Liberals WILL NOT win the next election -- regardless of whether BC Conservatives run candidates

Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger was heard this afternoon (December 19^th) stating a Conservative vote in the next election is a vote for an NDP government.  He said we should look at the record of the BC Liberal government.

In little more than one week Kamloops South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin has asked the people of British Columbian to look at their record, as has Chilliwack Liberal MLA John Les, who you may recall served as Parliamentary Secretary for HST Information to the Minister of Finance.

John Les had this to say regarding NDP leader Adrian Dix:

"He's talking about a much bigger government and a lot more government spending … he has just three choices: Higher taxes, or deeper deficits, or both.  British Columbians deserve to know exactly what he would do and how he would pay for it.  But he is being very, very, very vague."

Finance Minster Kevin Falcon (L) and Kamloops
South Thompson Liberal MLA Kevin Krueger

As I mentioned not too many days ago, here are some NOT SO VERY VAGUE words that John Les, Kevin Kruger, and our BC Liberal government may not wish to be reminded about:

... increases every year on the Carbon Tax

... increased costs for drivers licenses 

... increased costs due to HST 

... increased ferry costs 

... increased Hydro costs 

... increased parking fees at hospitals 

... increased green taxes and fees 

... increased probate fees 

... the soon to be increases on auto insurance from ICBC

... increased MSP payments 

… exorbitant salaries, payments, bonuses, and payouts to executives (directly or indirectly) on the government payroll at Community Living BC, BC Ferries, and BC Hydro.

That’s the SHORT list … don’t forget our every increasing debt which is now approaching $60 BILLION dollars --- and also Finance Minister Kevin Falcon who has now had to admit, for 2 consecutive quarters, that government debt will increase dramatically.