[LabComm] BC NDP Connection Newsletter Oct 27, 2006

Fri Oct 27 23:41:09 PDT 2006

BC NDP Connection Newsletter Oct 27, 2006

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October 27, 2006 
<a name="top">In this Issue</a>

<a href="#one">James calls for change of attitude in Victoria</a>

<a href="#two">Too early for Olympic cheerleading, Bains says </a>

<a href="#theweek">This week...</a>

<h1><a name="one">James calls for change of attitude in Victoria</a></h1> 
It's time for a change of attitude in Victoria, Carole James says.

James, the leader of the B.C. New Democrats, told delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention this week that Gordon Campbell's approach has left the province a "more divided society."

"And that's putting enormous strain on your communities," James said. 

"The gap between the rich and poor in this province is growing every day; in B.C., that gap is now the widest in Canada. As you know better than anyone, homelessness throughout B.C. is skyrocketing," James told the municipal leaders.

"And so when the provincial government finally announced a homelessness strategy that does nothing to increase affordable housing and then blamed you for not fixing the problem, I think it's clear to everyone that we're on the wrong track."

While in opposition, Gordon Campbell made repeated commitments to local governments. He told municipal leaders that their interests would be a high priority if he were in government.

But as Premier, Campbell broke those commitments, James said. The result is an arrogant government whose first priority is its own, narrow, political ends.

"Government makes bad decisions when it tells you what's best for you instead of asking what's best for you," James said, adding that the B.C. Liberals under Campbell have developed a dismissive attitude toward local governments.

"(It's) an attitude that tells communities they must now shoulder more of the burden for services the province is no longer willing to provide," James said, "only to turn around and tell you to make up the shortfall without the means to meet those demands.

"An attitude summed up in legislation that eliminates local government input into the development of independent power projects in your jurisdiction."

James said the common goal of all people in public life should be to work for the benefit of all they serve.

"And if we embrace a new style of leadership that puts communities like yours at the heart of our province, we can build a prosperous, dynamic province for all."
Click <a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/news_room/carole_james_speaks_to_ubcm_delegates"> here</a> for the full text of Carole James' remarks to the UBCM convention.
<a href="#top">Top</a>
<h1><a name="two">Too early for Olympic cheerleading, Bains says </a></h1> 
Harry Bains says it's too early to start cheering the finances of the 2010 Olympics.

But that's exactly what the B.C. Liberals and the Vancouver Olympics Organizing Committee are doing.

VANOC released its update on Wednesday. Instead of offering a frank and realistic assessment of the finances of the Games, organizers chose to instead paint a rosy picture which seems to depend largely on wishful thinking.

"Their own acting Auditor General is estimating the Games will cost $2 billion -- more than three times what Colin Hansen, the Minister Responsible for the Olympics, is claiming," said Bains, the NDP Critic for the Olympics.

"But VANOC's latest update continues to assert that there's nothing to worry about â€“ that the Games will come in on time and on budget.

"It's nothing but cheerleading," Bains said. "What we need to make these the best Games possible is an honest assessment of situation and a realistic look at the potential problems ahead."

Bains said the Minister needs to press VANOC for their long-overdue business plan. It was supposed to be ready in 2005, but VANOC's best guess is that it will make its appearance sometime in 2007.

"It's totally unacceptable that the business plan still isn't done," Bains said. "New Democrats have been calling for this basic planning document for years.

"Minister Hansen has failed in his responsibility to properly prepare for the 2010 Games. All the cheerleading the world can't replace good planning."
<a href="#top">Top</a>
<h1><a name="theweek">This Week...</a></h1>
<h2>NDP Childcare Critic: Campbell's Failure to Act on Childcare has High Price</h2>
It's time for B.C. to get serious about childcare, said Claire Trevena, NDP critic for childcare, after the release of two reports concerning childcare in the province and internationally.<a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/news_room/ndp_childcare_critic_campbell_s_failure_to_act_on_childcare_has_high_price">Read More</a>
<h2>B.C. Liberals Must Repeal Section 53 of Bill 30</h2>
With near unanimity, delegates at the Union of BC Municipalities convention voted on a resolution demanding that the provincial government repeal legislation that undermines local government authority over Independent Power Projects, NDP Environment Critic Shane Simpson says.<a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/news_room/b_c_liberals_must_repeal_section_53_of_bill_30">Read More</a>
<h2>B.C. Liberals Must Provide Stable Funding for Out of the Rain Youth Shelter -- Fleming</h2>
The B.C. Liberal government must provide stable, multi-year funding for the Out of the Rain Youth Shelter Program, Victoria-Hillside MLA Rob Fleming says. <a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/mla_news_release/b_c_liberals_must_provide_stable_funding_for_out_of_the_rain_youth_shelter_fleming">Read More</a>
<a href="#top">Top</a>
<a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/news_room/archive">Click Here to Read More B.C. NDP News Releases</a>
<h2>Constituency Report!</h2>
Constituency Report is your chance to hear your MLA talk about issues important to your community. Click <a href="http://bcndpcaucus.ca/constituency_report_0">Here</a> for a full schedule.
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