[LabComm] Campbell keeping BC Liberals on a tight leash - MacPhail

[BC NDP NEWSWIRE]

Campbell keeping BC Liberals on a tight leash - MacPhail

BC Liberal candidates refuse to participate in public debates

Vancouver - Gordon Campbell is refusing to debate the issues that matter most to British Columbians and continues to run from any public discussion of his pre-election budget, NDP MLA Joy MacPhail said today. 

"Gordon Campbell said he was shutting down the Legislature six weeks early to take his pre-election budget on the road," said MacPhail. "But the Premier and all BC Liberal candidates are refusing to engage in debate on the merits of the budget or the real issues facing this province."

Campbell set the stage for a two-month election campaign when he closed down the Legislature six weeks early, yet BC Liberal candidates are not willing to engage in public debates until the writ is dropped on April 19.

"We are in campaign mode," said MacPhail. "New Democrats are ready to debate the issues that matter to British Columbians, but Mr. Campbell and his candidates are hiding from the voters." 

MacPhail said that the Premier is spending taxpayer dollars at a record pace in a bid to convince voters that after four years of aggressive cuts and privatization he has changed.

"But this looks like the same old Gordon Campbell to me," said MacPhail. "Just like in 2001, Mr. Campbell will say anything to get elected, and then implement his real agenda once in power."

BC Liberal candidates failed to show up for a debate hosted by the BC Nurses Union on the future of health care, did not attend the UBC Environmental Law forum, and this morning on the Bill Good Show Liberal Cabinet Minister Susan Brice refused to debate MacPhail.

"It is time for the Premier and all BC Liberal candidates to tell British Columbians their real agenda for the province, and engage in open and public debate on the keys issues of this election, including health care and the further privatization of public assets and services," said MacPhail. 

"If Mr. Campbell is so proud of his record in office then why are his candidates refusing to debate Carole James' new team?"

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