Gordon Campbell wants you to believe that he has the solution to climate change, one of the greatest challenges that we have ever faced.
But at the same time, Gordon Campbell wants you to accept that there is nothing his government can do to ensure that the forestry industry in British Columbia survives.
For the first time in more than 50 years, British Columbia has a premier who has turned his back on forest workers; just thrown up his hands.
For decades, premiers of every political stripe have understood their responsibility to protect forestry jobs and to shepherd the industry through the tough times.
Previous governments have understood their responsibility to act in the best interest of the people of British Columbia, and have fulfilled that responsibility with forest policies such as limiting raw log exports and appurtenance which tied the milling of wood to the area in which it was harvested.
The Campbell government has tripled raw log exports, gutted forest worker safety regulations, cut off wood supply to independent and value added producers and eliminated appurtenance.
Since 2001 when the Campbell Liberals took power, over 20 000 family supporting forestry jobs have been lost. Forestry communities have been abandoned; another example of Campbell's attack on the rural way of life.
British Columbians are realizing that they can't trust Gordon Campbell to act in their best interest. Whether it is the sale of our rivers for private power production, a gas tax that hits rural areas the hardest, or the dismantling of our public health care system, it is becoming more and more clear that the only way citizens can protect their interests is through speaking out.
I will be asking local governments and chambers of commerce across the constituency to pledge their support to protect forest jobs in our communities. I would also encourage you to take the time to share your thoughts with the Premier (premier@gov.bc.ca) and the Minister of Forests (FOR.minister@gov.bc.ca).
There are solutions to the forestry crisis. The Opposition, forest workers and forest community leaders have been clear on the simple, pragmatic and reasonable steps that should have been taken by the government to protect forestry jobs.
Forestry is our number one industry. I am committed to its future strength. We must all stand together to protect rural communities from Campbell's anti-rural agenda.