All of those that have been a part of this B.C. Liberal Government have been an absolute embarrassment to the principles and ideals of Free Enterprise in British Columbia. The only measuring stick taxpayers can use is past performance, well in the following we are reminded that they, the LIBERALS, truly could not run a peanut stand!
Watching this train wreck called the B.C. Liberal Government reminds me of the “GANG THAT CAN’T SHOOT STRAIGHT”, something that is a sad testimony compared to the rich history of Free Enterprise in British Columbia. When I hear the likes of Rich Coleman and Christy Clark mouth the names of W.A.C. Bennett and Bill Bennett trying to align themselves for comparative purposes, it is frankly quite sickening. Nobody in Victoria today could hold a candle to the vision and management skills of the Bennetts. Were there issues and problems back then, absolutely, but nothing remotely close to what the current B.C. Liberal Government is doing to British Columbia?
What is even more pathetic is watching the likes of Rich Coleman, Christy Clark and Mary Polak try to sell the cock and bull story that these are the NEW Liberals; when in fact they and many more currently in a leadership position in this government are responsible for the following list of ill-conceived, ill-planned and ill-timed events. Adding a few new candidates who are doing nothing more than doing a favor for the Liberal Party, under pressure, does not change the structure and/or leadership of this party or Government. It is still the same party and the same government that is absent of any moral conviction. It is still a corrupt party and government!
Don’t forget the following when voting May 14th…………………
1. Introduction of the HST despite pre-election promises not to. Never before has a government raised the ire of the electorate as the B.C. Liberals did over this one. The sad reality is the debate wasn’t about whether this was good or bad tax policy it was about the fact the B.C. Liberal Government lied to the taxpayers. FACT – It was a $2 Billion transfer from business to the consumer.
2. The sale of B.C. Rail despite pre-election promises not to. OH sorry it was a 999 year lease. (Just a thought, how many countries will exist in 999 years? How insulting!) To refresh everyone’s memory one of a very few reasons Gordon Campbell lost the 1996 election to the NDP was he campaigned on selling B.C. Rail. So in 2001 that issue was off their platform. What happened – the B.C. Government sold B.C. Rail, they lied to the taxpayers.
3. The pay-off of $6 million to Basi and Virk in exchange for a guilty plea. On the eve of Gary Farrell Collins testifying at the B.C. Rail trial the B.C. Government comes out with a settlement in exchange for a guilty plea and they pay off their legal fees of $6 million. They actually expect the public to believe this. What unfettered garbage.
4. Refused to initiate an inquiry on B.C. Rail / Basi and Virk to ensure public transparency. Given the justified public suspicion and profile of this issue, the B.C. Liberal Government could have solved their problem by holding a transparent public judicial inquiry. IF THERE WAS NOTHING TO HIDE why not! What is the TRUTH Rich Coleman – you were in Cabinet?
5. Claims of being the lowest tax regime in the country is absolutely false when taking into account the wide-ranging increases of user fees in every area of the Provincial Government starting with dramatic increases in HSP (Health Services Plan). I now believe from the outset this was all part of the Liberals master plan. Lower our marginal tax rates and make up the shortfall in user fees that are most often than not a significant burden on those that can least afford it. This type of action is just another character and moral flaw among many.
6. A complete failure to lower mainland residents by failing to work with lower mainland Mayors to find a sustainable funding model for Translink while hiding behind the secretive Private Board of Directors they established. I was sitting at the Mayor’s Translink Council and experienced first-hand the complete arrogance and contempt the B.C. Liberal Government had for the Mayors of the region. They had an incredible opportunity to be a part of a partnership, unfortunately their arrogance got in the way. Now, with defeat staring them straight in the eye, we have Mary Polak agreeing to set up a special committee to help solve that problem this fall. Does Mary Polak actually believe she will be there? Mary, all of this was just too late.
7. The Liberal Government’s (Minister Rich Coleman) complete mishandling of the B.C. Hydro file, turning B.C. s jewel of a Crown Corporation into a fiscal basket case. BC Hydro has signed long term contracts with various “green power producers” who are generating via “run of the river, solar and wind power”. These contracts call for power to be purchased at rates which represent 3, 4 and 5 times the current retail price of power. You cannot buy product at several times your resale price and make it up in volume. Two major power producers in California-PG&E and Southern California Edison filed for bankruptcy due to these ill-conceived concepts over a decade ago. BC Hydro seems to enjoy using “off balance sheet deferral accounts” so the true nature of their red ink generating activities are not seen on a daily basis by BC taxpayers-this was one of the major shortcomings leading to the downfall of Enron-the major power trading and wheeling entity which got BC Hydro’s PowerEx stuck with several hundred million dollars of unpaid bills with the State of California and charges of collusion. Do we want to put BC Hydro-which has the second lowest power rates in North America-at financial risk? This Crown Corporation will be the key to attracting industry to BC just as Hydro Quebec uses North America’s lowest rates as the ultimate incentive to bring business to Quebec. The B.C. Auditor General has severely criticized B.C. Hydro and the Liberal Government for special deferral accounts estimated at $2.1 billion expected to increase to $4.7 billion by 2014. Further they have Implemented Smart Meters at the cost of $1 Billion with absolutely no consultation or communication at a time that we are enduring a tough economy. This debt that is being put off to a later date. Rich Coleman’s defense is so pathetic it is no defense at all!
8. As minister responsible for gaming in B.C. Rich Coleman was actively at the center of the promotion of a $100 million South Surrey Casino project. He is the regulator not the promoter, or is there more to this Rich? Interfering with local elected officials by contacting members of council during deliberations and public hearings is totally out of line. As or even more serious is his defense of his actions, clearly he just doesn’t get it.
9. Perpetrating a massive lie on the electorate prior to the last election with respect to the budgeted deficit erroneously pegged at $450 Million coming in after the election at what $1.86 Billion?
10. Selling off 100 Crown owned properties with an estimated value of $800 million in order to balance the provisional 2013 budget. This by any standard is wrong, you do not sell off capital assets (actual value unknown until sold) to cover operating costs. It is the law of diminishing returns. So what do we sell off next year? This is like selling the family silver to pay today’s food bill, what do we sell tomorrow?
11. An $11 Million shameless Ethnic Voter scandal utilizing publicly funded partisan staff to pay for partisan activities while underfunding persists in the Ministry of Families and more
Free Enterprisers DO HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE IN THE UPCOMING B.C. General Election!
This is just a partial list of so many incidents of wrong doing by this Liberal Government. As I have said before, you could not write this stuff! But it goes beyond the dysfunctional government in Victoria, it is also about how many senior Cabinet Ministers view there roll as it pertains to relationship with local government. We have seen first-hand the bullying and intimidation practiced by Rich Coleman in telephone calls to elected Councilors in Surrey. Where else is this practiced? – A good question?
The Provincial Liberal Government has breached the trust of the taxpayer in virtually all aspects of provincial governance in British Columbia. They cannot hide from that responsibility. And that failure.
IF the B.C. Liberal Government is supported by your vote it will be taken as a vote of confidence in everything they are responsible for. Is that what you want or they deserve?
Breaking News: While preparing this BLOG Posting it was just announced that Christy Clark has been cleared of conflict of interest allegations over the sale of B.C. Rail filed by MLA John van Dongen. This was the decision by the appointed Northwest Territories Conflict of Interest Commissioner Gerald Gerrand filed today. To say this is an unmitigated joke would be a compliment. Commissioner Gerrand did not interview Clark, Marrisen and former lobbyist Bornman but did accept sworn statements, but he did interview John van Dongen at length. There was no interview or sworn statement from Basi / Virk. Isn’t all of this convenient? Given Clarks very public statement of a potential conflict and the fact she used that as a reason to step aside from a Legislative discussion and a few Cabinet Meetings where B.C. Rail was discussed; she by evidence already on the record, attended Cabinet Meetings when B.C. Rail was discussed. You can’t have it both ways! You either step aside in all discussions or none of them? What is it?
All of this speaks to the demand for a judicial (not just public) inquiry. Given all of the evidence that is on the public record, the B.C. Rail case and the Basi / Virk settlement DO NOT pass the smell test! Will it cost, yes, but there is a price to pay for democracy. We cannot let it go unchallenged and not thoroughly investigated.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All of us residents have to thank MLA John van Dongen for his application and challenge of his former colleagues. Now to be clear I am not putting words in John’s mouth, but I will read between the lines and just use common sense. Consider – John was a Cabinet Minister in this government sitting at that cabinet table. He is still governed by Cabinet Confidentiality so is limited in what he can say BUT you can’t tell me he doesn’t remember what was said at that Cabinet Table! Having said all of that, he believed so strongly in his charge that he paid his substantial legal bills personally. Why would anyone do this unless there was much more to the story? Reading the transcript of the interview between the Commissioner and John van Dongen, any reasonably thinking individual would have expected far more from a Conflict of Interest Commissioner during this investigation.
Now I am no supporter of the NDP but today (April 11th) after the NDP released their fiscal framework, Rich Coleman was interviewed and said it was disgusting – Well Rich I will tell you, and I believe the voters will tell your party on May 14th, what is really disgusting is your government and what you have done to this province! You and your party’s actions have caused us to be in this situation. Look in the mirror and with any luck you won’t like the guy looking back at you!
The Election writ is about to drop – one week away and then it is up to all of us to talk to our neighbors, friends and to attend the many all candidate meetings that will be held in every constituency in the province. Watch and listen to the leaders debates. Read the editorials. There will be mountains of information thrown at us over the next 5 weeks. Inform yourselves.
REMEMBER – Free Enterprisers DO HAVE ANOTHER CHOICE IN THE UPCOMING B.C.GENERAL ELECTION!
More IMPORTANT – VOTE May 14th, 2013. – If you don’t vote, you can’t complain!!
RG
I am working on a few posts at present that I believe are of significant concern to Township of Langley Residents, come back often for news of interest to Township residents.
Protect your Democratic Rights – Protect your NEIGHBORS Democratic Rights – stay informed, stay involved and VOTE!!!
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