Gary Coons

With eight weeks before the next provincial election, I believe many British Columbians are concerned about their jobs and the services they need to get through tough times.
 
But just as we saw in both 2001 and 2005, the premier recently presented a litany of empty promises that do nothing to help BC families, seniors and [...]

Last week’s federal budget missed an opportunity to adequately boost post-secondary funding and research activity to help our economy’s short-term rescue and long-term prosperity.

Once upon a time Premier Gordon Campbell seemed sincere in his thoughts on rural communities. His term ‘remember the heartland’ led us to believe the health of our rural communities were a priority of his government.
 

In the last few months, we have watched as the global economic landscape changed. Working families in rural B.C. know that this crisis didn’t develop overnight.
 
Over the last three years, thousands of family-supporting jobs have disappeared from the forest industry. This came on top of job losses due to government policies and the decline [...]

 The legislature was supposed to sit for six weeks this fall. Instead, we got five days. And those five days only came about because Premier Gordon Campbell came to the sudden realization – in late October – that the global economy was melting down.
 
 In cancelling the fall session, Premier Campbell told reporters that there was [...]

British Columbia has had the highest child poverty rates in Canada for five years in a row. During those years the British Columbian economy was apparently booming. I t seemed like all the government ever talked about was how rich we all were getting, and how much better everything was than it used to be. [...]

Homelessness Must be a Priority
 
Homelessness is a province wide issue. It exists in communities large and small throughout the province. It exists here in Prince Rupert. 
 
Shelter spaces are urgently needed, but they are just the barest of essentials needed to provide for those in need. Ultimately we must aim towards increasing our supported affordable [...]

With targeted investment, the Port of Prince Rupert can become a world-class port. The federal candidates in the Delta region have clearly recognized the importance of the Port of Prince Rupert and are committing to fighting the expansion of their “own” Deltaport.
The NDP’s Szilvia Barna answers the question : Do you support the Deltaport [...]

Rural British Columbia is the economic engine of the province. Indeed, one of the reasons Canada has weathered the financial meltdown occurring south of the border so well is because of our rich resource industries. Commodities are not produced in Vancouver and the other major population centers of the province. They are produced in communities [...]

I believe, as I think most people out there do, that it is the job of the government to govern. Governing is done from our provincial Legislature in Victoria. By abandoning the fall session Premier Campbell and his Liberal MLAs are telling British Columbians that they don’t want to govern.
Politics, and being accountable, is all [...]