On Thursday, May 29, the Spring Session of the Legislature came to an end. I am writing this report from the airport on my way back to the constituency. I am thinking about all the things that I have observed in the House while acting as your representative in Victoria.
Over the last three years, I have seen firsthand the dangers of arrogance in government. I have watched a BC Liberal Premier so completely out of touch with the people he is supposed to serve that he does not give those people a second thought.
We’ve seen this arrogance in a range of actions that have really hurt regular people. From seniors care to forestry, this government has failed to protect the interests of British Columbians.
In 2005, when I ran for MLA, the biggest single issue that people talked about in this constituency was healthcare. Three more years of BC Liberal policies in healthcare has done little to improve people’s opinions of the system. In fact, rather than taking action to make the system work better, the Health Minister himself has said that British Columbians just have to get used to it.
People also tell me that while the province has a surplus, prosperity has passed them by. And a recent Statistics Canada report agrees with them. Between 2000 and 2005, BC has had the sharpest wage decline in Canada.
So wages are down and costs are rising. Whether it is the gas tax that will hit rural British Columbians hardest or the creeping costs of fees for a variety of services, many people in this area are really feeling the pinch.
And the forestry industry has been pushed to near collapse. 20,000 jobs have been lost in forestry and the Minister of Forest is sitting on his hands. Nothing is being done by the province to protect forestry jobs or assist those workers who are now out of work.
But not only is BC Liberal policy making things tougher for people, this government is fundamentally damaging our democracy.
In the final hours of the session, Campbell rammed through eight pieces of legislation without proper debate; legislation that I believe citizens would not accept if proper scrutiny had been allowed.
When I came to Victoria in 2005, I was determined to be a strong voice for the people of Columbia River – Revelstoke.
The people I represent tell me that Campbell’s policies do not work for them and I will continue to send that message to this government at every opportunity.
Norm Macdonald is the New Democratic Party MLA for Columbia River-Revelstoke