[LabComm] Windfall Surplus Provides Opportunity to Keep Broken Promises, Says James

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

Windfall Surplus Provides Opportunity to Keep Broken Promises, Says James



VICTORIA - The windfall budget surplus announced today by the government provides Gordon Campbell an opportunity to pay down the debt racked up by his government and to keep his broken promises on health care and education, BC New Democrat Leader Carole James said today.

"High commodity prices and a huge cash transfer from Ottawa are the reason for the surplus," said James.  "Rather than blow it on another reckless tax cut for high-income earners, Gordon Campbell should start paying down the debt and start fixing the mess he's created in health care and education."

James said that as a result of Gordon Campbell's broken health care promises, patients are waiting longer for surgery and seniors are being forced out of care homes.  She pointed to the case this week of Prince Rupert resident, Maxine Benson, who was forced out of long-term care as an example of the kind of person this surplus should be used to help.

"For three years, seniors like Ms. Benson have been hurt to pay for record deficits caused by Gordon Campbell's reckless high-income and corporate tax cuts," said James.  "Mr. Campbell broke his promise to 
seniors when he cut long-term care.   Now he should use this windfall 
to start fixing the problems he's created."

James said that the Premier must also take steps to ease the backlog on health capital spending that developed as a result of his neglect.  She said that with operating rooms backed up, patients waiting in hallways and surgeries being cancelled, there is a need to re-open operating theatres that are sitting idle and to fund more beds.

"Gordon Campbell also now has an opportunity to solve some of the problems he's created in education, whether it be soaring tuition rates that are putting post-secondary education out of the reach of thousands of BC families, or the cuts to K-12 education that have hurt students and families.

"Mr. Campbell's extreme agenda has caused a lot of damage to health care and education. With ominous economic warning signs on the horizon, the Premier needs to prudently manage this windfall by both helping those he's hurt and paying down the debt he's racked up," said James.

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