MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

December 13th, 2007

Bennett places partisan politics above the protection of children

In the latest saga in what has been a disastrous Fall for the BC Liberals, Finance Committee Chair Bill Bennett now admits that underfunding the Office of the Child and Youth Representative was a stupid mistake.  Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald goes further than that saying Bennett has shown that he cares more about partisanship than about doing the right thing.

“Bill Bennett now states that he knew the committee was wrong to refuse the full funding request of the Child and Youth Representative,” declared Macdonald.  “But instead of following his conscience which would have involved voting with the Opposition he put children at risk and supported his Liberal colleagues.”

Bennett is reknown for accusing his opponents of ‘playing politics’, but this example indicates that Bennett is the kind of MLA that simply follows the party line. 

The government has received a lot of criticism for failing to protect children and the Finance Committee will now be recalled to reconsider the funding request.

“Bennett was following Premier Campbell’s orders when he supported the underfunding, and now Bennett is following Premier Campbell’s orders to fix the mistake.  If that isn’t an example of partisan politics, I don’t know what is.”

Macdonald congratulated Bennett on doing the right thing in the end but also points out that it is effective opposition that has forced the Liberals to reconsider their meanspirited and vindictive decision.