John Cummins: "All we need to do to secure a better future is to believe in ourselves"

John Cummins, leader of the BC Conservatives, today released his party's Alternative Throne Speech (2013) which features the theme of 'We believe in B.C.' 

"The BC Conservatives have a positive, optimistic view of British Columbia," said Cummins. "We believe our future has the potential to be better than our past, but there are significant challenges that must be overcome if we are to take full advantage of our many opportunities."

The BC Conservatives' Alternative Throne Speech, 2013, pointed out that B.C. not long ago led the country in terms of average-weekly earnings, but today has sunk to fifth place.

In gross domestic product per capita, B.C. similarly has fallen to fifth in Canada. In fact, British Columbia's GDP per capita is nearly $2,000 behind the national average. 

Labour income - which is the sum of all wages and salaries paid to B.C. workers - is approximately $10.8 billion less than it was two decades ago.

Once a population magnet that drew workers and families from across the country to the Pacific coast, B.C. over the last year-and-a-half has been suffering net losses from interprovincial migration.

B.C. used to be a high-wage province, but that hasn't been the case in recent decades.

How to turn around the province? The BC Conservatives' Alternative Throne Speech, 2013, outlined a number of areas that the party would focus on, including specific policies to assist rural and northern B.C., resource development, fair taxation (including repeal of the carbon tax), balanced budgets, safer communities, skills training and apprenticeships, transportation and agriculture. 

"All we need to do to secure a better future is to believe in ourselves," said Cummins. "The BC Conservatives believe in BC"

To read the full BC Conservative plan ... showing how We Believe in BC ... CLICK HERE

Isn’t that the kind of fiscal prudence we would expect of a government led by the New Democrats?

Saturday on CKNW News, they featured a story entitled “Premier says Tuesday's budget will demonstrate prudence -- Don't expect tax increases or big spending announcements.  Here is the story in full (my italicize and bold):

With the province determined to balance its budget by next year, British Columbians shouldn't expect any big spending announcements in Tuesday's budget.

Premier Christy Clark says the government wants to demonstrate it can manage its spending.

"I'm just not interested in dumping piles of debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren," she says.

She also says it's wrong to go to the public to ask for raises for public sector unions.

"You know, I think that's pretty sensible. I think that most British Columbians, in these very tough fiscal times, understand it's important to be prudent, and I'm going to make a virtue of being prudent."

The finance minister has already said British Columbians should not expect any tax increases.

That all sound fine and well, but what has the BC Liberal government been doing for the past 10+ years?  While they initially had spending under control, for the past five or six years, they have been running bigger and bigger deficits – and steadily increasing the debt.

Here’s just a quick look back at a few of the instances this has been pointed out by the media, and financial watchdogs:

The Tyee (August 2004)

Nobody seems to want to mention the fast growing $38 billion elephant in our living room. Each of us owes $9,003, sharply up under the Liberals.

Canadian Taxpayers (February 2010)

B.C.’s Liberal government was elected on a platform of fiscal responsibility and started off well. Between 2001 and 2004, government spending hovered around $30 billion per year.

The government commendably reduced the debt from almost $38 billion in 2003 to $33.4 billion in 2006. However in 2005, spending restraint started to fly out the window – a result of that dreaded second-term spending disease that seems to infect governments at re-election time.

Twitterverse lights up for Clarks not a throne speech, throne speech, on the Bill Good Show

BC Premier Christy Clark

Today Christy Clark paid a visit to the Bill Good show on CKNW 980, to outline upcoming plans for the BC Liberal Government.   

As expected the #bcpoli Twitter feed lit up with the comments of news people, and political pundits alike, commenting on what she had to say.

The following is a small snapshot of what I thought were the “Best Of” those comments – of which there were literally hundreds and hundreds:

CHILDCARE:

We need a childcare plan in BC. The cost of childcare in BC is too high for families

BC LIBERALS and the BC NDP:

Both of those parties are the same old and they need to be replaced

CALLERS ARE BC LIBERAL PLANTS:

Anyone else feel like they're listening to @billgood980's private lobbying session with @christyclarkbc as the #fauxthrone speech?

Oh BC Liberals, your plants to @CKNW call-in line are SOOOO obvious. The pat talking points kinda give you away..

Sounds like call-ins so stacked @BillGood980 has 2 pose most questions

RECENT POLLS:

Amusing to listen to the premier dance around recent polls. Earth to Christy: your party is way behind right now.

She should call the by-elections and lets see what those 2 polls look like

Premier Christy Clark says you cannot judge these things by polls that go up and down....when was the last 'up' poll?

This is pure and unadulterated ‘piffle politics’

“This is pure and unadulterated piffle politics”.  Those words were penned by a friend of mine, Al Siebring, who lives on Vancouver Island … and yes indeed “Piffle Politics” is what we have been subjected to year after year for the past 2 decades.

Piffle Politics is what we have been getting with all 4 throne speeches as well during the 39^th session of the legislature.

Let’s look for example at all the TALK that has been generated around the BC economy beginning with the first speech from the throne of the 39^th parliament which was give on August 25^th, 2009

 

As in the early part of this decade, it is a smart focus on our economy that will lead us back to the successful position that, only a year ago, we took for granted.

... heard clearly from British Columbians that they wanted a stable government that would live within its means, improve and protect vital services and lower costs on the economy so that we could invest in jobs and infrastructure.

The government committed to work to make B.C. more competitive, reduce barriers to the economy and protect core public services.

The benefits will flow through in higher productivity, higher wages and lower costs, increased competitiveness, reduced bureaucracy and red tape, more jobs and a stronger economy in every part of the province.

This administration's commitment to climate action is equally unflagging and crucial to our economy.

That sounds like the government is placing a high importance on the economy, and well they should, right??  I guess that then means that in the 2^nd throne speech, of the 39^th legislative session, given on February 9th, 2010, we should be hearing good news.  Let’s take a look …

This is a government that, after the next provincial election, will be replaced by John Cummins and the BC Conservatives.

It’s back to work today at the legislature in Victoria; today begins the 4th session of the 39th Parliament.  The first session of the 39^th Parliament began on August 25^th, 2009 , over two years ago, with a Speech from the Throne by Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Stephen L. Point.  Here are a few points from that throne speech:

Former BC Premier
Gordon Campbell

As British Columbia endures its worst recession in 27 years, many are worried about their economic future. Families worry about their prospects. Government shares their concerns. It will dedicate its efforts to improving B.C. families' prospects and economic circumstances. It will not happen overnight and it will not be easy, but government will work tirelessly, so B.C. comes out of this economic maelstrom stronger.  The pace, depth and scope of the economic crisis surpassed expectations.

The BC Liberal government of the day, led by then Premier Gordon Campbell, knew full well the economy of the province was not on its best footing, still the BC Liberals have continued to increase debt and deficit --- WHY???

The government committed to work to make B.C. more competitive, reduce barriers to the economy and protect core public services.

Remember now, this is from a speech given two years ago.  But, does anyone recall part of Christy Clarks big job growth announcement from a couple weeks ago??   I’m pretty sure I recall that she just re-announced the very same thing --- WHY???

BC Politics … week of Feb 13th, 2011

Well this week we saw three candidates (2 Liberal and one NDP) drop out of the races to lead their parties … a Throne Speech and Budget delivered that mean nothing as a new premier will be elected next weekend by the BC Liberals … more on Basi Virk / BC Rail and a multitude of other stories. 

As usual, I have tried to stick with one perhaps you may have missed, or that offer another side or viewpoint.  Regardless, take a minute to click the link in each headline and read on for the political stories that made the news this week in BC.

MLAs back after 256-day break -for four days
BC politicians return to work at the legislature Monday for a bizarre one week session that includes a …

The 3rd session of BC's 39th Parliament opened yesterday --- WHY?

Yesterday in Victoria, Lieutenant-Governor Steven L. Point open the third session of the 39^th Parliament of British Columbia, as he delivered a throne speech outlining government’s agenda for change in the coming year.

This of course is a mean nothing Throne Speech as members of the BC Liberal party will be electing a new leader February 26^th, who will then become the next premier of the province, replacing Gordon Campbell. 

For the official transcript of the throne speech by Lieutenant Governor Steven L. Point can be found online -- CLICK HERE.  You can also CLICK HERE to download a .pdf document of the complete speech. 

In their view of yesterdays Throne Speech yesterday, Canadian Press said: