B.C. Liberal government remains secretive about the financial state of the province.
The economic plan announced by Carole James on Monday night has all the right ingredients to get rural B.C. back on solid footing, says North Coast MLA Gary Coons.
Coons says it is clear that the opposition leader took special care to include priorities important to rural British Columbians in her economic recovery plan, unlike Gordon Campbell, who made no mention of issues like forestry in his ten point plan.
“James’ five point plan for economic recovery packs twice as much punch as Campbell’s grab bag ” said Coons. “Her recovery plan recognizes the fact that the economic health of rural British Columbia impacts the bottom line of the province. ”
James’ plan includes a revitalization of the forest industry, an economic development fund for infrastructure, economic development and job creation, along with fast-tracking a new relationship with First Nations.
“James has shown that she is committed to rural British Columbia, first by recognizing the disportionate effect the gas tax has on industries like fishing and logging, secondly by committing to a Rural Fund to address the revenue imbalance between urban and rural regions of the province, and finally, by including rural British Columbians in her plan for economic recovery,” said Coons, “meanwhile, Gordon Campbell has abandoned everyone north of Hope.”
Coons is also concerned about comments from Finance Minister Colin Hansen which suggest that the NDP plan, which is based on financial information released from the government four weeks ago, is based on innaccurate forecasts of government revenue.
“It is absolutely critical for British Columbians to have confidence in the financial information provided by the government,” said Coons. “If the minister knows that the data his ministry published is incorrect, it is his duty to give British Columbians an accurate update of the province’s books.”
“Economists of all stripes have been sounding the alarm about the global economy for months,” said Coons. “If the Finance Minister fudged his numbers based on false assumptions he must immediately tell British Columbians what the true state of the province’s finances are.”