The 39th Parliament of British Columbia was launched last week with a speech from the throne that emphasized steps the government will take to strengthen the economy to create jobs, improve and protect vital services and manage taxpayer dollars to avoid burdening future generations with unaffordable debt.
In a recent press release, Premier Gordon Campbell stated, “In May of this year we heard clearly from British Columbians that they wanted a stable government that would live within its means, improve and protect vital services, and lower costs on the economy so that we could invest in jobs and infrastructure. The impact of the global economic downturn has been much more significant than anyone could have predicted. It obliges us to redouble our efforts to get our economy on a firm footing so we can support critical services such as health care and education. The task ahead is difficult, but we must do what is right – not what is easy or politically expedient – to leave a better future for our children and grandchildren.”
Campbell stated that most economists are now predicting that British Columbia’s economic growth rate will be either first or second in Canada next year.
“As in the early part of this decade, it is a smart focus on our economy that will lead us back to the successful position that only a year ago we took for granted,” he said.
The throne speech highlighted a number of initiatives including, full-time, five-year-old kindergarten beginning to be delivered in schools throughout British Columbia in September of 2010, opening the Pacific Gateway and Boosting B.C.’s Economy. The speech stated that the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) will lower business costs on productivity by almost $2 billion annually. Savings on inputs currently taxed by the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) will improve B.C. companies’ ability to re-invest in the province, expand their businesses, decrease bureaucracy and regulatory costs, increase productivity, raise wages and create more jobs.
The speech also said that a new comprehensive Asia Pacific Gateway Authority will be pursued with the federal government, an Open Skies Summit at the new Vancouver Convention Centre will be held in September and a new Wood Innovation and Design Centre will be established in Prince George.
MLA Columbia River - Revelstoke, Norm Macdonald responded to the BC Liberal Throne Speech by reporting that rural and resort communities have been overlooked in the rush to implement the HST.
Macdonald stated that protecting the economy in rural communities is the last thing on the minds of the BC Liberals based on the proposals put forward in the August 25 Throne Speech.
“I had expected, in this time of economic crisis, that there would be a number of items put forward in the speech to attempt to improve our economic situation,” said Macdonald, adding, “But instead, the only substantial piece of economic policy championed was an additional tax that could cripple a primary industry in my communities.”
According to a report from the office of Macdonald, the Throne Speech focused heavily on the implementation of the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST), a tax that the BC Liberals claimed to be against prior to the election.
Macdonald said that key players in the tourism and hospitality industry, one of the largest economic sectors in Columbia River – Revelstoke, are saying that the new HST will be catastrophic and devastating.
“Local tourism and restaurant owners are telling me that the implementation of the HST could result in the closure of their businesses. Rather than working to support our tourism industry, this government is recklessly pushing ahead with this poorly thought through tax.”
Macdonald has stated that the other important economic driver in rural communities is forestry, but again there was nothing to offer laid-off forest workers and no plan to get them back to work.
“It’s almost like rural B.C. doesn’t exist,” he said, adding, “I listened closely to the speech and the only mention that I heard of Interior communities was in reference to the Olympics. And I don’t think there is anyone who believes that rural communities can depend on the Olympics to turn our economy around.”
Macdonald said he was disappointed that there was so little substance to the Throne Speech which is supposed to be an opportunity for the government to lay out their vision for the Province.
“It seems that the Campbell Liberals have completely run out of steam as they hang all their economic hopes on the HST. It’s a real shame as that is definitely not what the people of British Columbia voted for.”
The Throne Speech also included plans for the Province to introduce amendments requiring a balanced budget following four years of deficits, instead of two and the reduction of discretionary spending and targeting resources where they are needed most – to help patients, students, children and families; and to create a new economic framework, new revenue and new jobs while protecting public services that are indispensable.
The throne speech confirmed what was in the February Budget – that no new funding is available for public sector wage increases and the date for the 2010 budget will be March 2 to accommodate the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
“The upcoming 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will be the largest-ever single promotion of our future and what our province offers,” stated Premier Campbell, adding, “We will show a population that is cosmopolitan and open to the world, an economic climate that welcomes investment, and a workforce that is productive, innovative and creative. We can create new jobs as a global leader in clean energy and energy conservation, in green building technologies and affordable housing in our cities and towns, in wood innovation and design, in water conservation and management.”
The Speech also noted that the BC Utilities Commission is now to be given new direction.
“Government has clearly said that its climate action and energy plans are being seen as a strategy to turn the climate change challenge to our citizens’ economic advantage,” stated Nanaimo’s Dr Chris Campbell, leader of Canada’s wave tidal and instream energy association.
“The throne speech commitment to levering long-term investments and talk of prescribed clean power calls is good news if we want to build a clean energy industry that will commit to BC’s long-term opportunities,” stated Campbell in a recent response to the Throne Speech, adding, “With three BC projects already being supported by the BC Innovative Clean Energy Fund, several having investments by Sustainable Development Technologies Canada and a couple now being proposed to the $200 million federal Clean Energy Demonstration Fund, the confirmation that BC is in the clean energy business for the long-term is good news indeed.”
To view the Throne Speech in its entirety, visit www.leg.bc.ca.