Norm Macdonald MLA                                              Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

October 3, 2011

Throne Speech lacks substantive solutions to the challenges
British Columbians face: Macdonald

VICTORIA – Today’s Throne Speech will be a big disappointment for British Columbians as Premier Christy Clark misses another opportunity to lay out a substantive plan to address the challenges that people face, says Columbia River – Revelstoke MLA Norm Macdonald.

“People in this area are grappling with real issues, and struggling as a result of decisions and policies made by this government,” said Macdonald.  “Christy Clark came into office promising to do government differently, but so far we’ve seen little proof of that.

“Premier Clark’s first act of this Legislative session was to present a Throne Speech that was as lacking in meaningful initiatives as last month’s Jobs Plan.”

Much of the text of speech, which is written by the Premier’s office but read by the province’s Lieutenant-Governor, was a rehash of previous announcements leaving those who are looking for a new direction from government with little about which to be optimistic.

Macdonald, who is also the Opposition critic for Forestry, was particularly looking for the government to address issues of forest health and declining employment in the forest sector.

“In a province where forestry was once our largest industry, it is incomprehensible to me that this Premier can go through an entire Throne Speech and not once mention forestry.  The government is ignoring their responsibility to promote forest health and is continuing to allow employment to go off-shore through raw log exports.

“There is no question that British Columbians deserve better.  They deserve a government that puts the needs of regular British Columbians first.

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