Skip to main content

“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind.” ~~ John G. Diefenbaker

Hey Danielle, will you take pity on us and transfer your surplus to us so we can balance the books?

Recent budget updates for the province of Alberta, and BC, shows how much of a difference there is in how finances are managed in each province!

In neighbouring Alberta, their government continues to manage the province’s finances responsibly with the future in mind.
 In a media release today the provincial government of Danielle Smith's United Conservative Party show they continue to lead the nation in economic growth as they are forecasting a SURPLUS of $5.5 billion in 2023-24 ... an increase, they say, of $3.2 billion from Budget 2023

BC Finance Minister Katrine Conroy


MEANTIME HERE IN BC ...

Just two days ago we had news that the provinces NDP government, led by David Eby, is now showing that the BC 2023/24 budget will have a $5.6 billion DEFICIT

How is it that Alberta can have a surplus of five and a half billion dollars while we have the same dollar amount as a deficit?

I'll give my answer -- the resource industry of BC continues to be hammered over and over again by excessive regulation and oversight.  Our provincial government has seen forestry, mining, oil and gas all suffer losses as investment has fled elsewhere.

The only thing that is going to change that is for the Eby's NDP government to be kicked to the curb in next Fall's provincial election, scheduled for October 2024.

There is one major obstacle to that however.

BC does not currently have a clear path for BC United, or the Conservative Party of BC to be the challenger as both parties have been deadlocked in support, with each in the low to mid-20's.

Kevin Falcon, leader of BC United (formerly BC Liberals), has failed to this point to create the big tent party which he claims they are. On the other hand John Rustad's Conservative Party of BC is challenging them on all sides. Indeed, Rustad is now going after labour support which has traditionally gone to the NDP.

All of this leads to one sad fact ... without a major shift of support to either BC United, of the Conservatives, we are likely in for at least one more term with the NDP in control of the provinces finances --- and more and more budget deficits as Finance Minister Katrine Conroy piles up the provincial debt.
With that in mind, I will ask, tongue in cheek ... "Hey Danielle, will you take pity on us and transfer your surplus to us so we can balance the books?"

In Kamloops, I'm Alan Forseth

 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BC cannot regulate, redesign, and reinterpret its way to a stable forestry sector. Communities need clear rules, predictable timelines, and accountability for results.

Photo credit:  Atli Resources LP   BC’s Forestry Crisis Continues with Closure of Beaver Cove Chip Facility   As industry leaders, Indigenous partners, and contractors gather this week at the BC Natural Resources Forum in Prince George, the gap between government rhetoric and reality could not be clearer. Just hours after the Eby government once again touted reconciliation, certainty, and economic opportunity under DRIPA, Atli Chip Ltd, a company wholly owned by the ’Na̱mg̱is First Nation, announced it is managing the orderly closure of its Beaver Cove chip facility. The closure comes despite public tax dollars, repeated government announcements, and assurances that new policy frameworks would stabilize forestry employment and create long-term opportunity in rural and coastal British Columbia. “British Columbians are being told one story, while communities are living another,” said Ward Stamer, Critic for Forests. “This closure makes it clear that announcement...
Post a Comment
Read more

Stamer: Hope for Forestry Completely Shattered After Another Provincial Review Driven by DRIPA

IMAGE CREDIT:  Provincial Forestry Advisory Council Conservative Critic for Forests Ward Stamer says the final report from the Provincial Forestry Advisory Council confirms the worst fears of forestry workers and communities; instead of addressing the real issues driving mill closures and job losses, the NDP has produced a report that ignores industry realities and doubles down on governance restructuring. Despite years of warnings from forestry workers, contractors, and industry organizations about permitting delays, regulatory costs, fibre access, and the failure of BC Timber Sales, the PFAC report offers no urgency, no timelines, and no concrete action to stop the ongoing decline of the sector. “ This report completely shatters any remaining hope that the government is serious about saving forestry ,” said Stamer.  “ We didn’t need another study to tell us what industry has been saying for years. While mills close and workers lose their livelihoods, the NDP is focused on re...
Post a Comment
Read more

FORSETH – My question is, ‘How do we decide who is blue enough to be called a Conservative?’

How do we decide who’s blue enough to be a Conservative? AS OF TODAY (Friday January 30 th ), there are now eight individuals who have put their names forward to lead the Conservative Party of British Columbia. Having been involved with BC’s Conservatives since 2010, and having seen MANY ups and downs, having 8 people say “I want to lead the party” is to me, an incredible turn-around from the past. Sadly, however, it seems that our party cannot seem to shake what I, and others, call a purity test of ‘what is a Conservative’. And that seems to have already come to the forefront of the campaign by a couple of candidates. Let me just say as a Conservative Party of BC member, and as someone active in the party, that frustrates me to no end. Conservatives, more than any other political philosophy or belief, at least to me, seems to have the widest and broadest spectrum of ideals.   For the most part, they are anchored by these central thoughts --- smaller and less intru...
1 comment
Read more

Labels

Show more