We Cant Trust Cummins September 15, 2011
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedBy Sharon White
Earlier today the BC Liberal Party began an extensive campaign to inform the public about the BC Conservative Party, and their unprincipled leader, John Cummins.
This campaign comes after months of irresponsible attacks from Cummins against Premier Christy Clark, our government and our party.
Cummins’ attacks play into the hands of the NDP. We have decided enough is enough!
The spokesperson for this campaign is Minister Mary Polak, the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. Mary points out that Cummins is an unprincipled politician whose positions are all over the map.
Here are some examples of the unprincipled actions of Cummins:
• he calls himself a conservative, but voted NDP in the last provincial election (even though there was a BCC candidate in his riding)
• he opposed the increase in the minimum wage while taking a $100,000.00 pension paid for by taxpayers
• he wants to be a double-dipper – he’s taking a federal pension while running for provincial office
• Cummins opposed the Pacific Gateway initiative, including the roads and bridges in the Lower Mainland that are essential to our economic growth and to job creation
• Cummins even attacked Christy for fighting to get BC our fair share of federal ship-building contracts!
These facts and others can be found on the new website appropriately called www.CantTrustCummins.ca. You can hear our new radio ads on the site, and also donate. Please circulate this link to your family, friends and business associates.
Moving to expose the BCC now is essential in allowing us to make sure the NDP is stopped later. I hope you can take a minute to make a secure online donation of $25, $50, or $100 to keep these ads on the air.
Sincerely,
Sharon White
President, BC Liberal Party
Election Timing and Defending & Creating Jobs August 31, 2011
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedBy Christy Clark
Tonight, I announced that we will not be having an election this fall and I wanted to take a second to share this news with you, as well as the thinking behind it.
Since becoming Premier five months ago, I have devoted my time to listening to British Columbians and they have been loud and clear — we need to keep our eye on the ball with the provincial economy, especially in these globally uncertain times.
This is what we are working on with a jobs plan that focuses on expanding markets for our BC products, especially in Asia, making sure we have the infrastructure to get the products to market and ensuring that government is enabling private sector job creation, instead of standing in the way.
The foundations underpinning our plan will be twofold — sticking with our fiscally responsible approach and making sure young people have the skills they need to succeed and prosper.
This plan will focus on defending the jobs we already have and creating new ones. Focusing on jobs is the most important thing we can do for BC families and we are going to be absolutely relentless.
Adrian Dix will be relentless too — relentless in his negative attacks and, if he were to win the next election, relentless in driving up government spending, raising your taxes and helping his public sector union bosses at your expense.
We can’t let that happen. Despite the fact there won’t be an election this fall, we need to continue to raise money, organize and get our message out. It would be great if you could make a secure online donation today; sending $25, $50 or $100 today by clicking here will make a huge difference in ensuring that BC continues to have a free enterprise government in British Columbia.
Finally, I want to thank you for your input regarding election timing and for your continued support.
Regards,
Christy
MLA COLUMN: “A Fresh Start” April 15, 2011
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedThe BC Liberal Party is, now more than ever, a party open to new ideas, to a new, more respectful relationship with the people, led by a woman who is one of the most dynamic, energetic leaders in Canada. Premier Christy Clark’s government is now focusing on what’s good for families. Christy understands first-hand the challenges of raising a family. This is a big agenda and extends from job creation, to a fairer justice system, to respect for the natural environment. It is an agenda that suits our needs here in Kootenay East and is a key reason why I asked to re-enter the BC Liberal Government Caucus.
On April 5th, I was re-admitted to caucus. The majority of my constituents want me to be a government MLA, as opposed to an Independent or an Opposition MLA. I am re-energized, enthusiastic and raring to go. I’ve spent the past four months working in the Riding, re-connecting with you and working on issues that matter to Kootenay East. I feel fortunate to live in such a blessed place as this and very lucky to be the MLA here. It is a job I love to do for you.
The BC Liberal Party is a big tent that thankfully contains many different points of view. That’s frankly why people like Jim Abbott, Stockwell Day, Jay Hill and Chuck Strahl support the BC Liberals. Many in the BC Liberal Party are Conservatives. Many are federal Liberals. Many are not affiliated with any federal party. History in BC shows that only a coalition party like the BC Liberal Party can defeat the NDP. That’s why I believe I am doing the right thing by joining the government caucus. And of course, being inside government makes it easier to help meet your challenges and bring back good things for the area.
There’s lots to be done. Projects like the Intensive Care Unit for EKRH, a new contract with our valuable teachers, stronger seniors care, changes to how we manage resource roads, promotion of our area for tourism, keeping the Flathead open to hunters, loggers and recreationalists, and the boat launch at Koocanusa. I understand all of these issues and will be putting my shoulder to the wheel like never before.
I am guessing the new premier may ask the people for a mandate for her new government in the next year. No one expects her to be an unelected premier for two years. I will be asking you to re-hire me so that, together, we can create more good jobs here, improve healthcare and education and ensure that the Kootenay region, our needs and our values, are strongly represented in Victoria.
Bill Bennett, MLA, Kootenay East
Bill Speaks His Mind December 1, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedAfter a tempestuous few weeks in BC politics, Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East, finds himself sitting as an Independent. This move followed a series of conflicts within the Cabinet and BC Liberal Caucus.
In an MLA column entitled My Constituents Deserve to Know, Bill Bennett explains that over his years of serving as an MLA and minister, many political decisions coming out of the office of the Premier have bothered him. However, the benefits he could bring back to his constituents were too great for him to risk losing his job. He continued to do his job until he reached a line that he could not cross. According to Bennett, ―Honesty and my personal well-being began to overshadow the important value of being part of a political team.‖ He knew that it was time to confront Premier Gordon Campbell.
On October 26, Bill Bennett publicly criticized Premier Campbell for his latest government reorganization plan. Over the next few weeks, he worked with colleagues to ―persuade Premier Campbell that the BC Liberal Party, the government, and the Province, would benefit from his quick retirement.‖ On November 10, Gordon Campbell resigned with plans to stay on until a new leader is chosen. On November 13, Bill Bennett, privately supported by many in the Caucus, went public with the belief that Campbell should step down immediately. These views were not publicly supported and Bill Bennett was fired from Cabinet on November 17 and from the BC Liberal caucus on November 19. He now sits as an Independent MLA.
―To my constituents, whether you have supported me in the past or not, I say a sincere thank you for allowing me the honour of working for you. I have over two years left as the MLA for Kootenay East. My choices are to sit as an Independent; start a new provincial party; rejoin the BC Liberals under a new leader; seek the MP‘s job; return to private life. Please email me or call and let me know what you think. Thank you. bill.bennett.mla@leg.bc.ca
Bill’s Weekly Report July 28, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedI spent last week travelling around BC’s vast north. Started on Sunday in Terrace talking to the folks up there about the $450 million NW Transmission line that will open up NW BC to independent power production and to new mines. The potential there is breathtaking and the people in the NW really deserve some economic action. We’ve been fortunate these past 10 years in the East Kootenay. They haven’t seen much happening and they’ve lost their forest industry almost totally. The NW Transmission line will go from Terrace to Bob Quinn and then a second project will take it to Iskut. Bob Quinn is where the hydro line from Alta Gas’s Forrest Kerr IPP project will intersect with highway 37 and the NW line. That’s also where the Galore Creek mine project comes out to the highway. Iskut is a little Tahltan town on highway 37 where Imperial Metal’s access road cuts off for their Red Chris mine project.
On Monday, myself, members of the Tahltan leadership, the two provincial mining association, BC Hydro rep’s and the brass from Imperial Metals flew charters to Dease Lake from Terrace and then helicopter into Red Chris mine site. Red Chris will start as an open pit and then may change into an underground mine. Copper and gold grades are relatively high and there is a world class size deposit at the site. Red Chris may well be the next Highland Valley or Sullivan Mine in BC, in terms of its longevity and impact on the provincial economy. It is very exciting for the Province and the region. A mine like this one can generate hundreds if not thousands of jobs over many decades. It will be a true economic engine and the environmental impacts are manageable. I spent several hours with Tahltan leaders and despite some concern about what the development will do to their lives, they agree that their people want the good jobs and that we will all work hard to make sure the mine project is a positive thing.
On Tuesday morning, I flew from Vancouver to Fort St John and spent the rest of the week in the NE. I visited FSJ, Taylor, Dawson Creek and Fort Nelson and met with the mayors and the regional district reps from all NE communities. It was a getting-to-know-you tour. I am the first Energy minister not from the NE in 10 years, so I have some proving to do. I spent a fascinating day in the Fort Nelson area. That’s where the Horn and Liard natural gas basins are located. These two basins contain major world class natural gas plays, the size and scope of which is matched only in one or two other places in the world. Last month, my ministry sold $404 million worth of gas tenures up there. I couldn’t help but think that young people in BC would do well to consider the area for a future. There will be many millionaires created in this area over the next 10 years. Any one of able body and mind, who wants to work in this province, has opportunity in the NE.
I also toured some of Encana’s sites, a drilling operation and a gas processing plant. I enjoy learning how the industry works, must be the engineer in me. It is fascinating how the industry gets the gas out of shale formations and non-porous sandstone formations. Just five years ago, there was no technology to acquire this gas and today, this technology is underlying a huge industry that will drive BC’s economy for decades. The communities in the NE receive millions every year from their Fairshare Program, a possibility for the Elk Valley if the coal bed gas industry ever does take off there. FSJ alone received $15 million in cash from the program last year!
I gave a speech to the FSJ Chamber of Commerce on Thursday night that seemed to go over fairly well. They are curious about the new Energy minister. And on Friday, I spent a few hours with the Oil & Gas Commission. Surprisingly, I am the first Energy minister to spend time meeting with the OGC! I guess the guys before me figured they knew enough about the Commission’s work but OGC staff sure appreciated my being there discussing the issues they encounter. They are the regulator for the oil and gas industry, including the coal bed gas industry in our area. They have a large photo prominently displayed of the wooden drill platform that is now located outside the Fernie Chamber of Commerce. The Flathead oil exploration was the first in BC! They also have a full record of all the gas, CO2, and oil drilling that has taken place in the Elk and Flathead Valleys over the years. Interesting how Wildsight has insisted that gas exploration in our region is “new” when our region has the longest history of it in the province. In any case, BP has sold its Canadian assets to Apache. I will in due course meet with senior Apache rep’s to determine their intentions for the Mist Mountain project. In the meantime, Storm Cat continues to work on its CBM project north of Elkford. This gas project has been going since 2000, permitted by none other than the NDP government! With BC’s strict rules disallowing any discharge on to the land of water produced from gas wells, companies are probably thinking twice about spending money on CBM exploration. The low price of gas is also a factor. But some day, it is likely that the clean natural gas that lies within the coal seams in the Elk Valley will be of serious interest to the world.
I came home Friday night to my patient, supportive wife, Beth, and went fishing on Saturday with Beth and Dylan. We hiked into a little lake we’d heard about a year ago. It was a beautiful, secluded little lake with some small rainbows in it. We fished it hard but only caught one fish (Dylan, the keen fisherman caught it of course). We ended our day with some cold pizza and a cold beer at a picnic table on Cherry Lake as the sun set over the Purcell Mountains, the end to a busy but satisfying week. This coming week I am in Vancouver and Victoria until Wednesday night, then Calgary. On Friday, Beth and I fly back east to visit family and do some fishing for a couple of weeks. You might not hear from me now for a few weeks.
Take care.
Bill
Bill’s Weekly Report July 20, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedLast week was certainly a memorable one. Cabinet met in Kelowna for 3 days, we had the Ministers of Finance and Healthy Living & Sport in the Riding; and of course, I had a couple of days of controversy over an email sent inadvertently by my office. Never a dull moment!
Starting with the last and least important first, the email was a rough draft that used a radio story of urban environmentalists still clamoring for a park in the Flathead as an example of how these groups are never satisfied. The email referred to them in a very derogatory way and I took responsibility, despite not sending it personally. Naturally, the PC forces were all “outraged” as they often are with me. I appreciate all of you tax-paying, voting British Columbians who, as you always do, rallied to my defense.
On a more positive note, our cabinet had 3 great days in Kelowna to discuss our strategy and policies going forward. In addition to many good substantive policy debates, we had some very interesting and valuable exchanges about what we did wrong around the launch of HST and how we can earn back the trust of the people. It will take considerable effort, but all of us BC Liberal MLA’s have one thing that unites us…we will all do our utmost to stop the NDP from ever forming government again in BC!
On Thursday, Minister Ida Chong came to Cranbrook. Jennifer and I hosted her at Rotary and wouldn’t you know it, Rotary needed a speaker so Ida was pressed into service. She talked about how her ministry (Healthy Living & Sport) has many initiatives to address preventative healthcare issues; smoking, diet, exercise, chronic disease management and so on. I think she was a big hit. In the afternoon, Ida and I toured the new Disabled Athlete & Conference Centre in Kimberley. What a beautiful facility and attraction that will be for athletes from around the world, and included is a terrific, large conference centre as well.
On Friday, Finance Minister Colin Hansen spoke at a Chamber Breakfast in Cranbrook and at a well attended luncheon in Fernie. His message was positive. Canada is leading the world on economic recovery and BC is poised to lead Canada. We British Columbians can be proud of our strong fiscal management…the rest of Canada and the world envy our economy, our prospects and our life style.
Take care and we’ll talk again next week.
Bill
Bill’s Weekly MLA Report July 5, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedLast week was back to school for your MLA. With Thursday a holiday, I gave Jennifer and Brenda Friday off to recover from their anti-HST woes in the Cranbrook office and I committed myself to 5 days of briefings and meetings in ministry business. The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources covers a wide range of issues, including surface and underground mining, mineral & coal exploration, oil and gas development, energy, BC Hydro, alternate energy sources, First Nations, environmental & community issues.
I won’t bore you with many details, but of relevance is the newly passed Clean Energy Act. This new Act establishes that BC intends to be self-sufficient in electricity and that we will also aim to export power to increase our export revenues for tax payers. BC has been a net importer of electricity for 8 of the last 10 years and for a province blessed with our potential to generate clean, affordable electricity, this is a travesty. BC Hydro has been charged (sorry for the pun) with putting together an Integrated Resource Plan over the next 18 months, to determine what we need to do to become self sufficient and then eventually to also develop enough “insurance power”.
As for export, we will first need to identify secure markets. My senior staff was just in California with the new CEO of BC Hydro. I will be going sometime this summer myself to explain to California legislators how they can replace some of their aging, dirty power plants with clean hydro electricity from BC. The Clean Energy Act requires the province to pay for any new generation directed at the export market from export profits, not from domestic rate payers. This is an essential commitment that you must know about. When you hear people say that independent power projects for export will drive up the cost of your electricity, you can safely and confidently tell them they are wrong. No doubt electricity rates will go up over time as our existing aging heritage assets need upgrades. However, the cost of developing export generation will not be connected to domestic rates!
Other than a fascinating half day briefing with BC Hydro in Vancouver, I also met for two days with mining and oil & gas companies, all of whom have ideas for investing in our province and creating jobs. My ministry has the most positive things going on in it of all ministries so you can expect me to be out in the media over the next year talking about the good things happening around BC. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, this ministry provides well over half of all resource revenues that your government receives. It is an honour to have this opportunity and gives Kootenay East lots of opportunity for influence.
On Wednesday when I was in Vancouver, I had two meetings with senior political junkies, both of whom have been involved in provincial and federal politics since the 70’s. They are both federal Conservatives and BC Liberals and are of course worried about the impact that our disastrous handling of the HST file will have on the next election. I am also receiving emails from a few people who have voted for me three times and are questioning whether they will do so again. As upset as some of our supporters are, with some justification too, we will all need to pull together to avoid turning this beautiful province over to the NDP. I tell you in all seriousness, I sit across from them in the legislature 6 months of the year and they are not simply moderate BC Liberals. They actually believe that government “knows best” and that’s coming from a group that is comprised of a few teachers, no business people, and the rest largely unburdened by higher education or experience at meeting a payroll. I’m not sure where they get their bizarre ideas about all business being evil and profit being a dirty word but if given the opportunity, they will set BC back just as they set us back in the 1990’s.
We need to remind our friends what the province was like 10 years ago. We had the highest income taxes in the land, our neighbours were moving to Alberta and our kids left and never came back. Real disposable income has gone up every year we’ve been in government, whereas it went down every year the NDP were in power. Our income taxes are the lowest in Canada. BC is predicted to lead Canada in economic growth. We should all take a breath, set HST aside for an hour or two, and celebrate the success of our blessed province, fresh off the most successful Olympic Games in history, the greatest exhibition of Canadian pride ever. We are still the Best Place on Earth! But in British Columbia, that can change over-night with a return to the NDP. I will work my tail off to do my part. Thanks for your support. Keep your chin up!
Have a great week.
Bill
Bill’s Weekly MLA Report June 29, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedLast week, I spent the first two days immersed in back-to-back briefings on my new ministry. I felt like they had a fire hose down my throat and were pumping info into me faster than I could digest, but that’s process for new ministers. I actually enjoy learning, so it was fine. Also met with Alberta Energy Minister, Ron Liepert, who is a guy about my age (youngster) and we talked about creating one set of rules for oil & gas across western Canada.
On Tuesday, I had meetings at the BC Hydro head office in Vancouver. BC Hydro is accountable to my ministry. I took the opportunity to discuss water levels in the Columbia River system and levels specifically at Koocanusa. Levels are going down all over the NW, including the Columbia, even with the rain we’ve had. I am also starting to get up to speed on the Columbia River Treaty renewal, issues that will be critical to the province and to our region in particular.
Wednesday is cabinet day and I can’t tell you what we discussed but again, as I said last week, your MLA sits there with all the other ministers and the Premier for several hours. There is opportunity to discuss constituency matters, to advocate, to explain, to remind. I suppose most folks probably don’t realize the benefit of having their local MLA at the cabinet table.
On Monday, Jennifer spoke on my behalf at the Reconciliation Sculpture ceremony at the Canadian Rockies International Airport. You should take time to view this important sculpture. It shows the progress of the Ktunuxa and us newer folks gradually coming together over time in the form of their traditional canoe. The artists, Paul Reimer and Michael Hepher, from Cranbrook, did a magnificent job and the mayor and council of Cranbrook should be commended for assisting with this project.
I had the honour of cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the Fisher Peak Art Gallery in Cranbrook on Thursday. They’re located at 821B – 1st Street South. I recommend you drop in and meet Nicole. She’ll inspire you to never give up on your dreams. Her gallery is a testament to making her lifelong dream a reality. I wish Nicole and her husband Larry all the best and thank them for contributing to our business and cultural community! Great place to find a gift for someone special, so head on in there.
On Thursday night, I spoke to the Mount Baker graduates in Cranbrook, thanks to the invitation from our wonderful principal, Debra Empson. I really like working with young people so even though I didn’t have much time, I made sure the grad’s heard something more than “good luck and congratulations.” I got their attention by telling them that their MLA never graduated from high school, but that I did earn a law degree at the age of 42. I told them that “not all who wander are lost,” and that a little wandering in life is a good thing because life is a journey and we should not be in a hurry to reach the destination. I hope I made some of them feel ok that it’s not a bad thing if they are not certain exactly what they want to be or do at this stage of their young lives. And I told them that they must vote, that it is essential to democracy that they engage in the political process and that they volunteer in their communities. They were an enthusiastic lot. I was very envious of their pure joy in the moment.
At Rotary last Thursday, Melba Hansen of Community Foundations and Captain Kirk Green of the Salvation Army presented the work they’ve been doing to build a permanent homeless shelter here in Cranbrook. They are partnering with BC Housing, our government’s housing agency, to build the East Kootenay (Cranbrook) Homeless shelter which is anticipated to have 20 spaces each for men and women, 2 family units and 10 transitional housing units for longer term stay. I encourage you to find out more about how you can help to make this project become a reality. Contact the Community Foundation at 250-426-1119. Donations are tax deductible.
We heard today that B.C. is doing better than the rest of the country, according to economist, Alex Koustas with Scotia Economics, who says B.C. will see a GDP growth of 3.8%, compared to Canada’s predicted growth of 3.6%. Koustas went further by saying that, “…part of it is from the Olympic Games that we saw in February. They really sped up some economic activity and some spending in the province. But also, we’ve seen the fundamental industries in the economy really start to turn around as well, particularly in commodity markets, which kind of led things out of the downturn. We’ve seen shipments in coal and copper increase significantly, and that’s increased traffic at the ports.” Koustas also pointed to a resurgent forestry industry as another good sign for B.C.’s economy.
In the next few weeks, Finance Minister Colin Hansen is coming to the Riding, as is Healthy Living and Sport Minister, Ida Chong. We’ll be in touch to let you know where you can connect with them.
Take care and have a wonderful week.
Bill
HST is Just Good Policy May 17, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedToday I want to talk about our future here in BC, and what your provincial government is doing to ensure that BC comes out of this global recession as a leader, not only in Canada, but in the world.
More than ever before, governments today must do everything possible to create a climate where business investment is encouraged by low taxes. This isn’t about helping business make more profit – business will take care of itself. This is about govt putting into place the right conditions for business to want to invest in creating new jobs. We saw what happened in the 90′s when govt raised taxes. Investment dried up, jobs dried up and it seemed no one in the world wanted to invest in new jobs in BC.
We should be proud of how far BC has come since 2001 when our govt was first elected. After 120 different tax cuts over the past 9 years, we now have the lowest personal income taxes in Canada and the second lowest overall tax burden in Canada – now ask yourself. Did you know that BC has the second lowest tax cost in Canada?
We’ve been creating good jobs for the last several years and the province is now a confident, positive place compared to the 1990’s. Just last week, financial experts predicted that BC and Ontario would lead Canada in economic growth.
Now — I know that harmonizing the federal GST with our Provincial Sales Tax has been unpopular, but this tax policy is just as important to our future as lowering income taxes was. And it is just another step towards keeping us ahead of the rest of the world.
Don’t take my word for it…the economist, Professor Kevin Milligan from the University of British Columbia, said recently, “HST isn’t a left-right issue, and it isn’t ideological as far as economists are concerned. It is just good policy.” The professor went on to point out that “It isn’t pro-business and anti-consumer. It is the necessary modernization of tax policy. Over time, consumers will benefit.”
You know what’s interesting is that almost every credible economist in Canada is saying we in BC will be better off in the long term because of this new tax policy. These people are not politicians. Unlike Mr. Vanderzam and the NDP, they have no political axe to grind. These experts are the people who study and understand how the economy works.
Now I want to be fair. It’s true that some items like restaurant meals and golf memberships will attract 7% as of July 1st. But it is also true that the basics in life are free of HST, basics like groceries, children’s clothing, prescription drugs, residential rent, all fuels and new houses (up to $550,000). It’s also true that local ranchers, loggers, and small businesses like mine suppliers, appliance and furniture dealers in our EK towns will be more competitive with Alberta.
You may not realize it, but when you buy a retail product or service, the price you pay includes hidden sales tax. That’s the tax that businesses pay on their costs as the product or service is produced. These businesses will no longer pay that hidden sales tax and may be able to reduce consumer prices.
Don’t believe prices will fall? According to a 2007 study by University of Toronto professor Michael Smart, in the Maritimes consumer prices fell after HST was introduced. If you want more proof, there are a number of studies showing that consumer prices are lower in countries that use a value-added sales tax like the HST. It is in the opposite from what you are being told by Mr Vanderzam and the NDP.
It’s the truth that for the most part, the public debate about HST has only been informed by the opponents. Did you know, for example, that a sales tax is known as a consumption tax – and that every tax expert in the world tells us consumption taxes are fairer and smarter than income taxes because with a consumption tax you pay on what you consume, not on what you earn.
What’s true and what’s most important about HST is that we will see thousands of new jobs in our communities and a stronger, more competitive British Columbia.
For the truth about HST, go to: www.gov.bc.ca/hst
Authorized by Bill Bennett, registered sponsor (IPA-2010-002-035) under the Recall & Initiatives Act, 250-919-2255
Disharmony Over a Sales Tax May 3, 2010
Posted by admin in : Bill Bennett , comments closedSince one focus in the HST debate is on the issue of when it was first considered and decided, I will set out in this column how and when we decided to adopt a harmonized sales tax. While I agree that government in normal circumstances would not announce a major policy within a month following an election, without talking about that policy during the election, the circumstances facing BC last May were anything but “normal.” Think back to a year ago as the world economy sank faster and further than any economist predicted. Both Alberta and Ontario were further off on their deficit predictions than we were. By the time cabinet was sworn in in June, government revenues had dropped like a stone. Should we have known how bad the economy would get? No one in the world predicted it accurately. So in June we realized the Province was at risk of a much larger deficit and I, like the rest of my colleagues, was looking for a way to avoid a much larger debt or raising income taxes.
At this time, the federal government encouraged us to harmonize our provincial sales tax with the federal GST. We learned we’d get $1.6 billion in transition, a real option to avoid adding more to our debt. Still, that financial assistance was not enough for me. I had to be sure that harmonizing the two sales taxes was good for BC in the long term. Would it be good for my two sons and their future? That’s an important test for me.
After hearing that consumer prices generally are lower in countries with a harmonized sales tax, that most credible economists in Canada touted HST as game changer for BC, how HST would create 113,000 new jobs, and how studies in Atlantic Canada proved that consumer prices go down after HST, I agreed to support it.
As for why we acted so quickly, we had until July, 2009 to decide or lose the opportunity to implement with Ontario on July 1st, 2010. It takes at least one year to switch from a provincially administered program to a federally administered sales tax program. I did attempt to communicate the details of HST through MLA columns, interviews, speeches, emails and meetings in my office, but clearly I failed. That, however, does not change how beneficial this will be for BC.
I never talked about HST in my election campaign. Frankly, I never even thought about it. As far as I am aware, it was mentioned once in the campaign by the premier, who said in response to a question, we had no plans to adopt a value added tax. And we did not. My cabinet colleagues and I have put our personal integrity on the line because we believe this is a policy that will help BC compete for jobs and investment in the new, hyper-competitive world we have inherited, following the worst global recession since the 1930s. There was no conspiracy, no lying, just some ordinary people elected to the provincial government trying to deal with a really big challenge. I urge you to get the facts at http://hst.blog.gov.bc.ca/.
[Authorized by Bill Bennett, registered sponsor (IPA-2010-002-035) under the Recall & Initiatives Act, 250-919-2255]