From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Fri Feb  2 20:06:14 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (Carole James)
Date: Fri, 2 Feb 2007 20:06:14 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] Ever get the feeling Gordon Campbell isn't listening?
Message-ID: <jcv4ee.gfk0mp@>



Ever get the feeling Gordon Campbell isn't listening?



Dear Friend,

Ever get the feeling Gordon Campbell just isn't listening?

If so, we need your help.

After years of cuts and broken promises, Gordon Campbell is now promising to listen to ideas about how to improve our health care system.

But why should we believe him this time?

In the last few years, he's ignored warnings from emergency room doctors, concerns from ordinary citizens, and the advice of his own experts. And in the last few days alone, two of Campbell's hand-picked advisors have resigned because this government refuses to acknowledge their concerns about mismanagement in our health care system.

<strong>British Columbians don't need another empty promise from Gordon Campbell. We need action on health care, and you can help.</strong>

New Democrats believe that the solutions are there.

That's why we are proposing practical, innovative and affordable steps that will make it easier for all British Columbians to get the health care they need -- not just those who can afford to buy special treatment. 

Here's where you come in. <strong>If you support the our solutions, please take a moment to help us urge the Campbell government to take action today -- not two years from now. </strong>

To find out more about the NDP solutions, and to help us send a message to Gordon Campbell, visit <a href="http://www.thesolutionsarethere.ca">www.thesolutionsarethere.ca.</a>

<strong>Carole James<br />Leader<br />British Columbia New Democratic Party</strong>

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Mon Feb  5 18:26:06 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Mon, 5 Feb 2007 18:26:06 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] New Democrats challenge Campbell on climate change
Message-ID: <jd0jri.ptck5h@>



New Democrats challenge Campbell on climate change



VICTORIA -- Opposition Leader Carole James today challenged the Campbell government to freeze greenhouse gas emissions and establish a Legislative Committee to set targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the short, medium and long-term.

"Gordon Campbell has failed on climate change," said James. "He says he has a plan, but that plan has led to an increase in B.C.'s emissions. British Columbians want real leadership on climate change.

"I'm challenging Gordon Campbell to work with us to do better," said James. "Working together through the Legislature we can freeze emissions now, set emission reduction targets, and develop a plan that delivers on those commitments. B.C. can be among North America's climate change leaders. That's where British Columbians want us to be."

The plan put forward by the Opposition Caucus begins by capping emissions at 2007 levels. An all-party Climate Change Committee of the Legislature will be charged with consulting British Columbians and recommending greenhouse gas emission reduction targets before the end of the spring legislative session.

"With so little provincial action preceding it, an emissions cap is a tough target," said James. "We'll need strong government support beginning with this budget to help consumers and industry make the changes needed to cap emissions. But with leadership it's achievable."

Today, James announced six priorities for action on capping emissions -- to read them, <a href="http://nid-16443.newsdetail.bcndp.ca/">click here.</a>

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Sat Feb 10 17:31:03 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Sat, 10 Feb 2007 17:31:03 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] Gordon Campbell can't fire the Opposition
Message-ID: <jd9qjr.xjls44@>



Gordon Campbell can't fire the Opposition

Carole James looks forward to the coming session in a speech to supporters

VANCOUVER -- In a speech this weekend to supporters, NDP Leader Carole James credited her caucus team for recent successes in holding Gordon Campbell accountable and looked forward to the Legislative session about to begin.

"This session will be about standing up for those left behind by the BC Liberals," said James during her speech to the Party's Provincial Council on Saturday morning. "Working together, we can hold Gordon Campbell's feet to the fire. 

"We know this government doesn't like to be held accountable. We know they don't like tough questions. 

"We know that if you disagree with the Liberals you either get fired ... like the Vancouver Coastal Health Chair ... or you get called nasty names, like Bill Bennett's constituent who had the audacity to question BC Liberal policy.

"Talk about thin-skinned. But they can't fire the Official Opposition. And we don't care if they call us nasty names."

To read the full speech, <a href="http://nid-16461.newsdetail.bcndp.ca/">click here.</a>

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Wed Feb 14 21:48:03 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Wed, 14 Feb 2007 21:48:03 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] Six years of cuts, now 13 years of waiting
Message-ID: <jdhh43.9qi980@>



Six years of cuts, now 13 years of waiting



<strong>NDP Leader Carole James on Gordon Campbell's environmental record</strong>

VICTORIA -- NDP Leader Carole James today reminded the Legislature that Gordon Campbell's track record on the environment shows there's good reason to doubt that he'll keep the many promises made in yesterday's Throne Speech.

In her formal reply to the government's Throne Speech, James recalled how the themes of earlier speeches from the Throne -- including children, seniors, the "heartlands" -- were too often followed by inaction, cuts and broken commitments.

"In the past, BC Liberal Throne Speeches and budgets have provided insight into what the Premier fears are his political vulnerabilities. But they have always been a terrible barometer of the government's true intentions.

"Last year, the Throne Speech promised transformative change in health care. But that transformation only resulted in more chaos.

James noted that Campbell's sudden interest in the environment comes after six years of deep cuts to environmental protection in BC and that even if Campbell keeps the many promises made yesterday, it will still be 13 years before any specific targets kick in.

<strong>Excerpt from the speech</strong>

"Not that long ago, in remarks to a small gathering of supporters, the Premier defended burning dirty coal by arguing that it didn't matter what BC did because our impact on the world stage was so small.

And of course it was not all that long ago, that the Premier fired the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability.

Not that long ago the Premier scrapped the climate change action plan that established targets and set goals.

Not that long ago he gutted the environmental assessment act.

Not that long ago he cut over 1,000 environmental protection officers, eliminated over 800 forest service jobs, axed the climate change working group, and spoke out against Kyoto.

Mr. Speaker, it was not that long ago that the Premier eliminated the Ministry of the Environment altogether.

And now he's asking British Columbians to believe that he cares about climate change.

But the question remains, Mr. Speaker.

Has the Premier really changed, or has he just changed his story to suit his political ends?"

To read the full text of Carole James's response to the Throne Speech, <a href="http://nid-16473.newsdetail.bcndp.ca/">click here.</a>

-30-

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From newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca  Fri Feb 23 22:19:28 2007
From: newswire at news.bc.ndp.ca (BC NDP Newswire)
Date: Fri, 23 Feb 2007 22:19:28 -0800
Subject: [LabComm] BC Budget 2007 -- Quotes of the Week
Message-ID: <jdy6kg.encvrg@>



BC Budget 2007 -- Quotes of the Week



<strong>Observers catch Campbell telling tall tale about "$2-billion housing program"</strong>

Earlier this week, Gordon Campbell's government released their "housing budget" -- a budget that committed almost no money to the climate change promises he made just a week before, ignored the health care crisis and provided no new money for childcare despite a healthy boost in funding for office budgets for Liberal Cabinet Ministers. 

And their housing plan? Here's what some observers had to say:

-----------

<strong>Keith Baldrey, Global TV:</strong> "the most misleading part of any budget I have seen since the Liberals came to power." (BCTV, Feb 21, 2007)

<strong>Michael Smyth, Vancouver Province: </strong>"Somebody should sue the Liberal government's spin doctors for malpractice, because they sure botched the operation yesterday." (Province, Feb 21, 2007)

<strong>Paul Willcocks, Victoria Times-Colonist:</strong> "...can anyone argue with a straight face that a tax cut worth $25 a month to a typical family is really the centrepiece of an effective housing strategy?" (Times Colonist, Feb 21, 2007)

<strong>Tsur Somerville, Sauder School of Business:</strong> "the notion that somehow giving people a tax cut and then calling that a housing budget strikes me as somewhat laughable." (CKNW, Feb. 20, 2007)

Want to read more quotes about Campbell's budget? <a href="http://nid-16498.newsdetail.bcndp.ca/">Click here.</a>

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