Lights, Camera's, Action - the next moves are now underway for BC Premier Christy Clark

YES ... today is the day, and we will see what the face of the next BC Liberal cabinet looks like.  Most people fully expect that Kamloops North Thompson MLA Terry lake will return to the role of Environment Minister. 

We'll find out soon, and we will get a good idea of the direction she plans to take with the faces that return to cabinet -- and those who are left out.

One thing is almost a sure bet, and I was reminded of it by Kamloops Armchair Mayor, Mel Rothenburger:

Lights, camera's, action - the next moves are
now underway for BC Premier Christy Clark

Ralph Sultan, who won re-election in West Vancouver-Capilano by the biggest margin of any Liberal, was quoted by CBC shortly after election night that he would not voluntarily give up his seat for Clark. It will be interesting to see if Sultan’s name comes up on the list of cabinet ministers that will be announced Friday.

A news story on the CBC also states that:

Veteran politicians Shirley Bond, Rich Coleman and Mike de Jong can expect to remain in cabinet, while newcomers like former RCMP Insp. Amrik Virk and Langley Mayor Peter Fassbender are strong contenders.

Other potential cabinet ministers among the newly elected Liberals are paralympic champion Michelle Stilwell, former deputy minister Andrew Wilkinson and Richmond businesswoman Teresa Wat.

Stay tuned; we'll hear who is in, and who is out, when the new cabinet is announced early this afternoon.

One thing we know for sure, unless Christy Clark wins that by-election (to be held in Westside Kelowna), she won't be joining them in the legislature in July.  There is of course every expectation she will, but there's no guarantee.

One thing that WILL be on the minds, of at least a few voters in Kelowna, will be the fact that the Liberals already have a majority government. 

If the party actually won the May 14th provincial election, in spite of Christy Clark, then voters in Kelowna will certainly have no fear of electing any candidate, on the ballot, who they feel will best represent them.

Interesting times indeed.

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


FOLLOW-UP:
The cabinet announcement from Premier Christy Clark will be live-streamed on the BC government Newsroom website beginning at 2pm today at http://www.newsroom.gov.bc.ca/2013/06/webcast-naming-of-british-columbias-new-executive-council.html


FOLLOW-UP TO THE FOLLOW-UP ... here is the new cabinet, as announced today by BC Prenmier Christy Clark.  It includes BOTH Kamloops MLA's with Terry Lake moving into Health ... and Todd Stone into Transportation:

• Deputy Premier / Minister for Natural Gas / Housing ... Rich Coleman
• Finance Minister ... Mike de Jong
• Forests, Lands & Natural Resources Minister ... Steve Thomson
• Health Minister ... Terry Lake
• Aboriginal Relations & Reconciliation Minister ... John Rustad
• Education Minister ... Peter Fassbender
• Advanced Education Minister ... Amrik Virk
• Transportation and Infrastructure Minister ... Todd Stone
• Social Development Minister ... Don McRea
• Technology & Citizen Services Minister ... Andrew Wilkinson
• Children & Families Minister ... Stephanie Cadieux
• Energy & Mines Minister / Minister Responsible for Core Review ... Bill Bennett
• Community Sport & Cultural Development Minister ... Coralee Oakes
• International Trade & Asia Pacific Strategy / Multiculturalism Minister ... Theresa Wats
• Justice Minister & Attorney General ... Suzanne Anton
• Jobs, Tourism, & Skills Training Minister / Minister Responsible for Labour ... Shirley Bond
• Environment Minister ... Mary Polak
• Agriculture Minister ... Pat Pimm
• Small Business & Tourism Minister ... Naomi Yamamoto

Could this in fact be the real reason, for the BC Liberal government, to be declaring they will not agree to the Northern Gateway Pipeline proceeding

Let me begin today's Conservative Thoughts blog post with the following:

"Under our feet lies as much energy as Alberta has in its oil patch. It is in the form of natural gas, a cleaner alternative to oil or coal, in the Northeast corner of British Columbia ... our goal is to have a Liquefied Natural Gas industry that will add value to our abundant natural gas resource by shipping it by sea to Asia ..." ~~~ 2013 BC Liberal Election Platform

 

I'll come back to this shortly.

 

With the Final Hearings and Questioning Phase yet to be held, by the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Joint Review Panel, the BC Liberal government Environment Minister, Terry Lake, has already announced "Our questions were not satisfactorily answered during these hearings." 

 

For those unaware ... there are still twelve days of hearings yet to be held in Terrace from June 17th and 28th.  Would it not seem to be in BC's best interests to wait for them (the hearings) to conclude before coming to that decision? 

 

BC needs a provincial government that is prepared to work with and for British Columbians, to implement policies that take full advantage of our natural resources, our geographic position, and our hard-working residents.  

 

Yet despite that, and just two short weeks after the provincial election, both Premier Christy Clark, and Environment Minister Terry Lake, are both showing the Liberals are going to be a failure in that area.  

 

Our province has suffered ongoing interprovincial population loses since Christy Clark first became Premier two and a half years ago.  With Environment Minister Terry Lake's announcement Friday, the people of BC can except that trend, officially documented and recorded by BC Stats, will continue. 

 

Once again, this government, led by Premier Christy Clark, is about to betray the hard working men and women of the Peace River and Northern BC, by rejecting the Northern Gateway development, before the Review Panel completes its duties. 

 

It's one thing to criticize, but what are your expectations; what will satisfy your government?  Both Terry Lake and Christy Clark can't simply say they are opposed.  What is the government's real position; and what outcomes do you need to have met, so that they can be realistically addressed. 

 

In a story on Saturday (June 1st), in the Kamloops Daily News, they state:
Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development Minister Diana McQueen issued a statement saying the two provinces have a shared commitment to both protecting the environment and economic growth. 

PETER SHARP: "This begins Day #1 as the BC Conservative candidate for Kamloops South Thompson"

Last night BC Conservatives, in Kamloops South Thompson, elected Peter Sharp to represent them in this Mays Provincial General Election.

Those of you in other areas of the province, or who may have been unable to attend last night meeting, missed a great meeting, and hearing the words of Peter. 

He has given me permission to print them for you and they follow.  First though, I thought I would share with you what he had to say online this morning:



Step one in seeking the nomination -- filling out the BC
Conservative Party nomination forms (42 pages!)

"This begins Day #1 as the BC Conservative candidate for Kamloops South Thompson. And it begins with news from a new Ipsos Reid poll that shows 24% of voters are now less likely to vote for the BC Liberals following release of the new budget. BONUS!"

Now, here is Peter's speech from last night.

Good evening fellow Conservatives, honoured guests, ladies and gentlemen, and fellow nominee candidate Maria Dobi ...

 

My name is Peter Sharp and tonight I hope to become your candidate, for the BC Conservative Party, in our Kamloops South Thompson Riding.  Then with your support, encouragement, and assistance -- to become your MLA following the May General Election. 

 

About a month ago, BC Liberal MLA Terry Lake was quoted as saying:  “What we do see, as we get closer to election, is that people are understanding what the BC Conservatives are all about….”

 

My hope is that the Voters of our great province do indeed come to understand what we, as BC Conservatives are all about and what we believe in ... and what we hope to bring to the political stage in British Columbia.

 

Terry Lake tossed a generalized statement out -- one, which implied there is something to fear from the BC Conservatives.   He knows that his implied statement is completely without truth ... and the backroom manipulators of the BC Liberal Party know that as well.

 

In fact ... because WE BELIEVE IN BC ... and the people of BC ... I am proud to say that our beliefs, principles and policies differ greatly from the BC Liberal Party.

 

WE - as BC Conservatives - believe in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable, effective, and accountable to each one of you here tonight.  And I too believe that each and every British Columbian is entitled to full knowledge of all services government provides ... AND what they cost.

 

After all ... how else can we know if we are getting good value?

 

WE -- as BC Conservatives --  believe that our provincial government must operate with the highest standards of integrity and transparency.  And we as BC Conservatives also believe that governments at all levels -- including at the municipal level -- are responsible to serve and respect all individuals and their families. 

 

Peter Sharp speaking with members of
the media at the announcement he would
seek the Kamloops South nomination

As an elected councillor with the City of Kamloops, I have firsthand experience in knowing why our elected representatives should first and foremost represent your interests.

 

As a retired RCMP officer with 30 years of experience, I too believe in the BC Conservative Party's policy of law and order that focuses on the rights of victims ... and the protection of the public.

 

We as BC Conservatives have our feet planted in reality.  We need to have smaller government ... we need to encourage new enterprise.  Leadership at all levels (from teachers in the classroom -- to elected officials in Victoria) MUST encourage our youth ... parents ...  employees in the workplace ... and business leaders to dream big dreams.  We need to once again strive towards excellence and prosperity. 

 

These are not just motherhood statements ... these are statements that I too -- WITH YOU -- believe in.

 

If I have the opportunity to be your elected representative for the BC Conservative Party…. I will hold my party accountable to create an environment where good government and prosperity can be achieved.

"That didn't get much of an applause," Polak prompted when her announcement met with silence. The audience obliged her

Yesterday I became aware of a BC Liberal campaign which stated, "We Want to Hear from You – GetInvolved Today".

 

This in case you were not aware, is with regards to the much talked about, and  s - l - o - w - l - y being built, four lanes of highway from Kamloops through to Alberta.

They are inviting us to; "Help shape the government’s $650 million investment over the next 10 years to improve the safety, reliability and movement of people and goods along the Trans-Canada Highway."

Would I be wrong in saying, "Enough already -- we know it needs to be built -- so do you -- GET GOING and finish the job"

Call me a skeptic, but as far as I am concerned, this is just phony show of money wasting talk-talk-talk consultation.

Today, in my email I received the following comments from a friend in the Shuswap, they said:

On  Tuesday Mary Polak (Minister of Transportation), along with BC Liberals candidate Greg Kyllo, were at a luncheon meeting here in Enderby -- only 34 people showed up.  Mary promised they would put $5.2 million into the road out of Enderby going north to Mable Lake. 

This morning Christie Clark promised to upgrade the Highway #1 to 4 lanes from Kamloops to the Alberta border.  This runs right through Salmon Arm and is mostly in our Shuswap riding.

On Thursday Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid was in Vernon to announce the opening of more floors in the Vernon Hospital.

The BC Liberals are getting really desperate and know they can promise anything, because there is very little chance they will have to follow through on their promises. 

Now today in the Kamloops Daily news is a story, "Minister vows four lanes to Chase -- Public consultation on 10-year four-laning project to begin on Tuesday"

Here is just a bit of the content from that story:

Sweeping skepticism aside, Transportation Minister Mary Polak promised Thursday that widening of the Trans-Canada Highway west of Chase will start this year.

Polak and MLA Terry Lake reiterated a commitment made last fall by Premier Christy Clark as they announced, to a room filled with local politicians, the start of a month of public consultations along the corridor.

Things that BC Liberal MLA Terry Lake hopes you won't become aware of --- BC Liberals backroom manipulators remain hopeful as well

Today Kamloops North Thompson  BC Liberal MLA Terry Lake is quoted as saying; "What we do see is, as we get closer to election, is that people are understanding what the BC Conservatives are all about ... "

MY hope is that people do indeed fully understand what the BC Conservatives are all about ... what we stand for ... and what we hope to bring to the political stage in British Columbia.  They are the things that Terry Lake hopes you won't become aware of --- and BC Liberals backroom manipulators hope that remains the same.          

That's because BC Conservative beliefs, principles and policies are totally opposite to how the BC Liberals have in reality governed:

BC Conservatives believe in clearly defined public policies and programs that are affordable and effective and for which delivery is accountable to all the people of British Columbia.  We are entitled to full knowledge of services rendered and their costs

BC Conservatives believe in managing the government to the highest standards of integrity and transparency

BC Conservatives believe that governments at all levels are responsible to serve and respect all individuals and their families

BC Conservatives believe that Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) are primarily responsible to represent the interests of their Constituents

BC Conservatives believe in a rigorous system of law and order focusing on the rights of victims and the protection of the public

And BC Conservatives believe in smaller government resulting in more liberty and personal property rights, the encouragement of new enterprise and individual achievement striving towards excellence and prosperity

MEANTIME ... what would be our "understanding" of how BC Liberals do things?

With BC Liberals we have had cost over-runs on a number of projects ... the BC Liberal government has raised rates on the Medical Services Plan ... while managers and CEO's of government agencies and crown corporation have given themselves raises and bonuses, rates for ICBC, BC Ferries, and BC Hydro have all been jacked up.  WHY?

Remember that the BC government was going to will allow for naming rights to BC Place Stadium; Telus put in a bid for tens of millions of dollars and then the government rejected it.  WHY? 

Auditor General John Doyle holds the BC Liberals to account for spending waste -- then all of a sudden he is not going to have his contract renewed -- then he is -- then maybe he will be.  WHY? 

BC Conservatives have clearly articulated positions that don't change depending on what loud vocal minority group is shouting

Everyone knows, and it is perfectly clear, that I do not support Christy Clark and the BC Liberals.

My lack of support has only been re-enforced in the recent days and weeks, as it seems that Christy blows one way or the other, in the breezes of voter discontent.

Shall we start with Enbridge and the Northern Gateway Pipeline? Clark herself has never really made a firm decision on the Northern Gateway … in fact the 5 principles she placed as crucial to having government support can NEVER be met – and she knew it at the time.

Ms. Clark simply wanted to try and make herself look good to anyone with an opinion on the project, whether they support it or not. By taking no stand however, she has pleased NO ONE.

She wants those who don't support the pipeline to think she is on-board with them … and she wants those who do support the project to think they just might have a chance to see it come about.

Meantime, she knows full well that the five principles she has put forward can never be met, and therefore the project will never get off the drawing board.

Contrast that however, to the statements of John Cummins, and the BC Conservative Party.

As CFTK TV News in Terrace stated today, “At least one political leader in BC is willing to express support for Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway Project” --- that ONE leader would be John Cummins of the BC Conservative Party.

In a media release today, John Cummins said that unlike Premier Clark AND Environment Minister Terry Lake, he WAS willing to meet with Enbridge officials to see what their plans look like for building and maintaining the safest pipeline possible, and to see in person what monitoring systems they have in place at other locations.

Cummins stated that the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline Project had economic benefits far outweigh environmental concerns.

"Given all of the information made public to date, I strongly believe that the Northern Gateway Pipeline should proceed as quickly as possible. British Columbia desperately needs new capital investment, and new high-wage jobs. The Northern Gateway Project delivers both”.

And little wonder … this project alone would provide as many as 4,100 person-years of direct on-site work, and a total of 35,000 person-years employment throughout the province.

Environment Minister Terry Lake on the other hand, in a TV news interview which I saw, refuses to meet with officials from Enbridge, who have offered to show him what the technology they will be working with. 

AND YET ... he has the audacity to claim and state (which I have also seen and heard) in the media, that Enbridge will not provide the government with the environmental and safety information they wish to have on the project.

I can only read this as being part of a desperate ploy, by a faltering and failing Liberal government

CALL ME CYNICAL … but …

The long-awaited Kamloops Trades and Technology School, proposed for Nor-Kam Secondary, has finally received news it has received the $6.3 million needed to get the project underway.

Just days ago however, a Kamloops Daily News story detailing monies being handed out in the province, stated:
“ … Kamloops was not mentioned, which outraged trustees, who say they've done everything in their power to get money from the province.  "It's insane. There's been no capital money for Kamloops ever," said school board chair Denise Harper. "What message is she (Clark) sending to the constituents of this riding?"

This announcement, made today by Liberal MLA Terry Lake, is the first capital funding coming in to the Kamloops area in over a decade.

So here’s my question --- is this announcement about money to a project that will now get off the drawing board.  Will we actually see shovels in the ground, preparing and building a facility for students to attend next September?

OR … is it a promise of money forthcoming, at some point down the road.  There’s the cynical part.

I can only read this as being part of a desperate ploy, by a faltering and failing Liberal government, trying to buy the votes of people in Kamloops.  

BUT ... there is no money to shovel off the back of a truck because the cupboard is bare!

Christy Clark knows that … Terry Lake knows that … and so does the current BC Finance Minister Mike de Jong.  A Globe and Mail story from September 13 said:

With collapsing resource revenues threatening his target to close a billion-dollar budget gap by next spring, B.C. Finance Minister Mike de Jong is looking at a limited number of options – none of them especially appealing for a government that must go to the polls in May.

At a fiscal update on Thursday, Mr. de Jong pledged to “fight tooth and nail” to balance the budget for the coming year. But he also announced that natural-gas prices have dropped dramatically, sinking the province deeper into deficit in the current budget cycle. To move from a $1.14-billion deficit this year to surplus next year, the province needs to boost revenues while keeping a tight lid on spending.

In another news story, this time in the Victoria Times Colonist:
 … government projected a $925-million deficit for its 2011-12 budget … but British Columbia's auditor-general, John Doyle, took a different view of the province's books, saying the deficit number should be much larger….

Again I say … there is no money to shovel off the back of a truck because the cupboard is bare!

“To build the proposed Trades and Technology Center will require a budget of $7.4 million … an amount equal to today’s interest payment on BC’s debt”

The following is a media release that went out today (September 26) from the Kamloops South Thompson Constituency Association, of the BC Conservative Party:

In the Service Plan for 2012 – 2015, former Education Minister George Abbot stated that; “The world has changed significantly since our education system was designed and while we continue to have a very strong system, we must make bold changes to support our teachers and ensure that every student receives an education that reflects their unique needs, interests and passions."

Despite these words, the NorKam Trades and Technology Centre, which will nurture and develop science and technology in the Kamloops area, and provide skills for workers that are needed in tech trades, remains little more than a dream.  It sits awaiting approval from the Liberal government.

Earlier this Summer Kamloops Liberal MLA Terry Lake indicated this project was his #1 priority, and that it was a priority for the government as well.

“How many times will we be hearing Terry Lake, and the Liberal government of Christy Clark repeat those words?” asked Peter Sharp, Vice-President of the BC Conservative Party’s Kamloops South Thompson South Thompson Constituency Association.

“All across the province new classrooms and schools are being built in Revelstoke, Surrey, Williams Lake, Langley, Fort St. John, Port Alberni, Burnaby, Victoria, Kitsilano, and Chilliwack.  Missing from that list however, is the city of Kamloops.”

Twiddle Dee, and Twiddle Dumb. That’s what we have with the BC Liberal Party, and the BC New Democrats

Message to BC Liberals and BC New Democrats

Is this, or isn’t it, the height of hypocrisy … the pot calling the kettle black?   

A BC Government Caucus News release today, quoted Kamloops North Thompson MLA, and Environment Minister, Terry Lake as saying:

“Raising taxes on business will only kill jobs in BC.  The NDP still don’t seem to understand that higher taxes will hurt BC’s competitiveness and our economy. They have conveniently skipped over the fact that the carbon tax has returned $500 million more to taxpayers than it has raised in revenue.”

This in response to an interview on CKNW, with NDP environment critic Rob Fleming, who apparently stated that BC’s government, should “fix” the carbon tax, by using it to fund transportation projects.

The BC Liberal media release went on to say that,
To pay for these projects he (Rob Fleming) re-iterated the NDP’s proposed plan to raise business taxes to make the carbon tax “revenue positive” to government.

Well there is another side to this story, as BC Conservative Party Leader John Cummins has clearly pointed out:
“Despite all the new taxes and rate hikes, the provincial government is still short of cash because they have a spending problem. How can the government ask British Columbians to pay more when their money is being thrown away?”

And yet asking for more is exactly what this government has been doing!  A study by the Fraser Institute, in 2011, showed that the average family in British Columbia makes less, and pays more taxes, than in any province west of Quebec.

Hopefully the next provincial election will usher in a new era of government accountability

Well anyone that has not heard the latest political news in BC has just woken from a long winters nap.  I speak, of course, about yesterday’s announcement by Abbotsford South MLA John van Dongen, that he has joined the BC Conservative Party

If you care to have a listen, the following are a couple of news stories from CTV on the defection”:

• Ed Watson (CTV NEWS) comments on John van Dongen’s defection from BC Liberals

• Rob Brown (CTV News) interview with John van Dongen following resignation  

I find, however, that comments of individuals to be of more interest, which is what today’s blog story will be made up of.  Here are just a few examples of comments that have been made to me, and to the media:

Is Terry Lake setting up a situation for an ‘honorable retreat’?

Environment Minister Terry Lake

INTERESTING NEWS from the Globe & Mail, in the form of a story entitled, “BC Liberals announce review of province’s carbon tax”.  In part it read:

The Liberals are not announcing a new schedule of increases in the tax beyond the one that ends in 2012.  But Mr. Falcon rejected a reporter’s suggestion on Tuesday that he is laying the groundwork for the demise of the tax.

“I wouldn’t make that leap,” he said at a news conference during the budget lockup.

Instead, he said the government has been proud to lead in addressing climate change through the tax.

“The issue is: four years on is the right time to review where we are at,” he said.

The minister added that he is especially interested in whether the tax is affecting economic competitiveness, especially in the agricultural sector, which faces competition abroad from rivals unburdened by such a tax.

Mr. Falcon said B.C. always expected other provinces and jurisdictions to adopt carbon taxes, leading to an “equalizing effect.”  But he said that has not happened, and B.C. is isolated.

Later in this story they went on to quote George Heyman, who happens to be BC’s Executive Director of the Sierra Club BC, saying that Falcon’s remark were basically a signal of the governments intentions.

“There’s no way to read the minister’s hints except that they’re definitely looking for a way to get out of the carbon tax,” he said.

Now just in case you have forgotten, BC’s Environment Minister is Kamloops North Thompson Liberal MLA Terry Lake. 

That makes it odd that it’s Kevin Falcon talking about, and discussing, what is happening with the Carbon Tax.  It is after all part of the government’s environmental green plan --- and that would make it is something which would be on the radar for an environment minister.

BOB SIMPSON: “These are not hypothetical dollars going to hypothetical projects”

Here is just one brief exchange from the BC Legislature this afternoon (February 20, 2012), which you can read for yourself in Hansard

Independent MLA Bob Simpson:

Contrary to the Minister of Education's characterization of this, these are not hypothetical dollars going to hypothetical projects. These are real dollars from operating budgets within the public sector that could go to other things — to classrooms, to surgeries, to seniors care. The government has had a long time to look that at this. The Minister of Education is indicating that the firewall has to be built. My question to the Minister of Environment is: will school districts and public authorities have to contribute to the Pacific Carbon Trust at $25 a ton this year — yes or no?

And the response from the Environment Minister, Terry Lake?

Well, as I mentioned, we have been engaging school boards, health authorities, public sector organizations. We have had some very good meetings. As we move through, as a leader on this file, we expect to improve our policies as we move forward. We intend to continue to improve all of our policies, and this is one that we will see, I think, an improved result moving forward.

It seems fairly obvious, given the waffled answer of the Environment Minister, that the 'unwaffled' answer to this question is, "yes".  

Yes, the government will continue to raid the Education Ministry to pay into Pacific Carbon Trust, which in turn gives that money to profitable business such as Encana.

What does that tell you about how important children and families are to this government?

Health care delays hurt --- they hurt real people

Yesterday I posted about the thousands of news stories that have been written about BC medical system … and the systemic delays in care in emergency wards.   

I also mentioned that in the middle of writing that piece, I received a telephone call from a friend that has personal experience with the system.

Their story is one that caused me to go through a wide range of emotions, emotions which ended in anger … anger in wonderment at how one of the worlds best medical systems could get to this point.

I have asked to share their story, and they agreed … here it is in part:

3 years I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. The third neurosurgeon gave me hope, and said my operation was to be in the fall, meaning October, or November 2011.

That date has come and gone

This operation is needed to relieve the nerves that affect my legs.  The nerves are severely pinched to such an extent that my legs feel like they are on fire and I just writhe in pain. My quality of life has got to the point where must days I can only go from my bedroom to the living room couch, where I stay until I return to go to bed in the evening.  Like I mentioned this is no quality of life. 

NELSON DAILY NEWS: We need review of Community Living B.C

“We need review of Community Living B.C” is an editorial which originally ran in the Victoria Times Colonist -- today it also was printed as an editorial in the Nelson Daily News.

What does the editorial have to say?  It calls for the provincial government to have an “independent review” of Community Living BC.  Here are a few of the points they make:

“The provincial government's stubborn refusal to accept the need for an independent review of community Living B.C. is unfair to the agency, those depending on it for services, and their families….

… government's credibility on this file has been compromised. The former minister, CLBC board and managers, for example, all insisted that people were not being forced from long-time group homes against their will.  That was false….

… significant problems… lack of training … poor oversight and failures to provide homeshare operators with needed information … potentially dangerous incidents as a result, and a series of "crisis situations.  The review, done by a consultant for CLBC, found that it was impossible to determine if basic checks had been done to screen prospective homeshare providers…

 … the worrying homeshare report confirms, once again, that such a review is badly needed …"

The ONLY way this review will take place is if elected representatives of the government, including Kamloops North Thompson MLA Terry Lake and Kamloops South Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger, call on Premier Christy Clark to do so.  Kevin Krueger is my MLA, and so this morning at 10:25am I emailed this brief letter to him: 

Dear Kevin...

As a 'representative of the people who elected you' in Kamloops South Thompson (and not a representative of the government), are you prepared to stand up for those who are dependent on Community Living BC to provide them with help and support?

A look back at BC’s Carbon Tax – and the Pacific Carbon Trust

I rarely find anyone that has much good to say about the BC Carbon Tax ... or Pacific Carbon Trust … well with the exception of Kevin Krueger's cross-town buddy here in Kamloops … the Minister of the Environment, Terry Lake.

In fact, since the tax was introduced by then Finance Minster Carole Taylor, not many have had anything good to say about the tax or the trust.

Don't take my word for it.  Here’s the proof in the words of many journalists and editorial writers from across BC, Canada, and even the United States ... as well as from BC Conservative Party leader John Cummins.

B.C. Introduces Carbon Tax (Vancouver Sun -- February 22, 2008)
VICTORIA -- Driving and other fuel-dependent activities are about to get more expensive as British Columbia becomes the first jurisdiction in North America to introduce a consumer-based carbon tax….

NDP backtracks on carbon tax  (CBC News – June 12^th, 2009)

BC New Democrats are backing away from their opposition to the government's carbon tax and their call for an immediate moratorium on independent power projects (IPPs).   Premier Gordon Campbell couldn't be more pleased by the decision announced by NDP Leader Carole James on Thursday.  "I think Ms. James is now trying to repair a party that was badly damaged by the fact they were expedient instead of principled," the premier said Friday….

B.C. carbon tax jumps more than 1 cent (CBC News – July 1^st, 2010)

The HST is not the only new levy that B.C. residents start paying Thursday.  The province's carbon tax on gasoline and other fuels also goes up more than one cent per litre, meaning higher prices at the pump, at home and elsewhere, according to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.  "Keep in mind that almost everything that we purchase, from food to clothing, is transported by trucks," said federation spokeswoman Maureen Bader. "And businesses will also be passing that cost increase down." ……

"Can you See Me Now" tour --- Christy Clark touches down in Kamloops

Christy Clark's, "Can you See Me Now" tour dropped into Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops today.  The purpose???  To announce the government has, "... a goal of increasing the number of international students by 50 per cent over four years.”

She stated that the province will bring this about through: 

• an international education council to help build strong relationships in both existing and emerging economies, like China, India, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. 
• by leveraging B.C.’s trade offices to help connect international students to B.C.’s educational opportunities. 
• by working with communities to prepare them to welcome students from abroad.
• by strengthening the Province’s Education Quality Assurance.
• and by sending more B.C. students overseas to prepare them to work in a global economy.

She also stated that, “International students who study in B.C. create thousands of jobs and bring millions of dollars into local economies.  Our universities are job creators. We are setting clear targets to dramatically increase the number of international students coming to B.C. These students will also help build strong relationships between B.C., Canada and the rest of the world.”

SHE … her government … plans to increase international student enrollment by 50%  -- I find that interesting.

The Pacific Carbon Trust is a shell game

I, along with many others, think and believe that the Pacific Carbon Trust (PCT) is nothing more than a shell game that shuffles money around … and gives the illusion that a lot is being done to reduce our carbon footprint.  In reality very little is being accomplished by the PCT.

One thing however is certain; LARGE parts of school and hospital budgets are being diverted into the Pacific Carbon Trust to reward large corporations rather than school children, the hurt, the injured, the elderly … and now perhaps even the BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (BCCPAC) as well.

Last year, the education ministry provided the BCCPAC with $100,000 in operating funds and $150,000 for special projects. "Unfortunately, we are unable to meet your request to provide those same grants this fiscal year and will need to provide support in a non-financial manner," Abbott stated in his letter.

Given that the government forced the local school district in the Kamloops region to cough up $125,000 to pay Pacific Carbon Trust, that more than enough for the BCCPAC operating funds.

That is only the tip of the iceberg however. 

The Carbon Footprint --- HST --- and the BC Liberals

There are a couple of interesting stories in the news today, that show how this current BC Liberal government seems able to have a foot in both sides of an issue.

While claiming they want factual unbiased information out on the HST, this didn't strop them from having the whole HST debacle benefit party friends as a story in today's Globe and Mail indicates:

The B.C. government office running the province’s pro-HST campaign secretly doled out contracts to two Liberal-connected companies and a former aide to the minister who introduced the tax, records show.  The contracts, according to documents obtained by The Globe and Mail via a freedom-of-information request, had paid out more than $250,000 as of June 1. That included compensating the ex-aide, Marc Andrew, to do what he called “purely logistical” work for the government panel that provided an independent analysis of the harmonized sales tax. 


See full story here -- click HERE

Meantime Environment Minister, and Kamloops North Thompson MLA, Terry Lake seems to be fine with lower mainland communities burning their garbage now instead of trucking it to landfill in the Cache Creek area.  

Terry Lake says ... "the province can’t ban waste-to-energy projects if they are done to European standards. It’s up to Metro Vancouver to make those decisions ... "  (see full STORY)
 

I find it interesting to note however that the provincial government has recently made it uncomfortable for several real job and economy drivers to move forward -- including the Prosperity Mine.  

Hmmm -- I wonder how burning fits in with reducing the carbon footprint?

Odds and Ends

Just a couple of things of note from the past week.

One story you may have missed was that fat juicy pay raise some at Powerex have received.  Never heard of Powerex??  Well it's the power export arm of BC Hydro.  Seems that several of the top management people there are in line for pay raises of hundreds of thousands of dollars!

In story in the Vancouver Sun it said that Thomas Bechard will now be making $432,950 a year (a 65% increase since 2008-09) ... Mark Holman's pay has jumped by 70% and he will now be earning $678,898 ... while get this, Robert Campbell will be going from an annual salary of $196 thousand, to nearly $630 thousand ... an increase of 320%.

Results of the Carbon Tax??? Well to date NO response has been received

As you will note below, on June 13th I requested information regarding BC's Carbon Tax to ...

Terry Lake (MLA); Bob Simpson (MLA); Kevin Kruger (MLA); Adrian Dix NDP Leader; and Bill Bennett (MLA).  Not receiving a response, I resent the email on June 22nd.

Basically I was simply questioning, and asking, what the actual results have been from BC enacting this tax.  To date NO response has been received from anyone that I contacted regarding this.

Dear Sirs ...

The following email was sent approximately a week and a half ago, however I have not yet had a response.