[LabComm] Anniversary marks the end of a successful year for the New Democrat Official Opposition

Thu May 18 16:29:03 PDT 2006

Anniversary marks the end of a successful year for the New Democrat Official Opposition

Dear Friends:

A challenging, exciting and productive year has passed since voters sent 33 New Democrats to Victoria, and a clear message to the Gordon Campbell Liberals.

Since then, our caucus has held Gordon Campbell and the B.C. Liberals to account for five years of broken promises and an agenda that continues to hurt average people. We forced them to back away from policies which hurt children, seniors and the most vulnerable. And we exposed government decisions that benefited BC Liberal friends and insiders.

We have much we can be proud of. A few examples:
<ul>
<li>We exposed 713 Children's Commission investigations shelved by the Liberal government and forced a review of child protection; </li>
<li>We highlighted the friends and insiders being named to the Agricultural Land Commission. Because of that exposure, one such friend had his appointment rescinded;</li>
<li>We forced the government to back off changes that would have made BC one of the most secretive governments in Canada;</li>
<li>We stopped cuts to emergency rooms and we've stood up for patients;</li>
<li>We exposed more than $100 million in hidden Olympic spending.</li></ul>

These are just a few of the successes we've had in the past year. They reflect our shared values: that government must act in the interests of all British Columbians.

Of course, being in opposition means that we won't win every battle. The BC Liberals continue to use their majority to push their one-sided agenda leaving many people behind. But by listening to communities and working with people from all walks of life, we continue to fight the government's agenda and put forward practical solutions that make a difference to everyday families.

We live in a wonderful province, in the best country in the world. We have an abundance of natural, technological and human resources. New Democrats will continue to work hard to ensure that all British Columbians, in all regions and from all walks of life, benefit from those resources.

<strong>Carole James, Leader<br />New Democrat Official Opposition </strong>

<h3>A brief look at some of the Opposition's successes</h3>
On Protecting Children:
<ul>
<li>Exposed 713 Children's Commission investigations shelved by the Liberal government; </li>
<li>Forced the creation of the Hughes review of child protection, which resulted in the restoration of an independent officer charged with looking after children and youth; </li>
<li>Won more resources to address delays in child protection investigations; </li>
<li>Exposed that first term budget cuts DID hurt child protection and services to children and families -- leading to more money for MCFD generally </li>
<li>Ensured more money for the Coroner's service; </li>
<li>Reversed the government's decision to house a lone female juvenile offender with the male offenders at the Burnaby Open Custody centre; </li>
<li>Reversed Stan Hagen's decision to reject funding for the CMHA's Kamloops Youth Clubhouse -- a facility for youth with mental health issues; </li>
<li>Ensured there was real public consultation for childcare; </li>
<li>Reversed Shirley Bond's decision to deny special needs students' graduation certificates; </li>
<li>Won funding ($76,000) for Victoria's Out of the Rain project. </li></ul>

On regional economic development: 
<ul>
<li>Stopped the sale of Ridley Terminals to a single Ontario interest to the detriment of BC exporters; </li>
<li>Exposed the potential threat to British Columbia's sovereignty in the new Softwood Lumber Agreement; </li>
<li>Forced CN to withdraw its threatening letters to owners of private rail crossings and to back down on their demands for exorbitant payments. </li></ul>

On public safety: 
<ul>
<li>Raised the profile of the women missing along the Highway of Tears; </li>
<li>Won $150,000 in funding for Ahouset First Nation suicide prevention programs; </li>
<li>Ensured protection for volunteer firefighters when it comes to detrimental health affects of fire fighting; </li>
<li>Introduced legislation to restrict access to the ingredients of Crystal Meth. </li></ul>

On environmental protection:
<ul>
<li>Won the inclusion, for the first time, of climate change provisions in the Ministry of Forests and Range 2006/07 service plan; </li>
<li>Raised the profile of the spraying of harmful chemicals on the E&N Railway. </li></ul>

On health care 
<ul>
<li>Stopped the Cuts to the ER at Mount St. Joseph's Hospital; </li>
<li>Fought and won more long term care beds in the Kootenay's (12 in Castlegar and 1 in Trail) and the Cariboo (re-opened 10 Beds in Deni House that they shut down in 2003) to provide care for seniors; </li>
<li>Earned more resources for overcrowded emergency wards after days of pressure from Carole James, Jenny Kwan and David Cubberley; </li>
<li>Forced government to put aside legislation surrounding Advanced Care Directives; </li>
<li>Introduced legislation to ban private payments for medically necessary services;</li>
<li>Introduced legislation to ban the sale of tobacco in pharmacies. </li></ul>

<strong>On accountability </strong>
<ul>
<li>Led emergency debate on the Kelowna Accord to highlight the premier's failure to protect it from Harper's cutbacks; </li>
<li>Introduced legislation to protect consumers from unscrupulous payday loan operators; </li>
<li>Introduced legislation to bring back a human rights commission to BC ; </li>
<li>Exposed friends and insiders on the Agricultural Land Commission; </li>
<li>Exposed the failure of the Liberal government in making elections more democratic; </li>
<li>Uncovered over a $100 million in extra Olympic-related costs on top of the $600 million already committed; </li>
<li>Successfully fought proposed changes to BC freedom of information and public inquiries laws</li>

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