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

BRAD ZUBYK -- The opposition, to these two NDP Bills, is not an academic or legislative exercise that will dissipate just because a vote has taken place


While much has been made of First Nations opposition to Bill 14 and Bill 15, it is important to remember that major business groups including the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association (ICBA) and the BC Chamber of Commerce), the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) – BC's major municipal organization, along with most environmental organizations, also opposed them.  

This is a coalition of forces previously unimaginable in opposition the power grab by Premier David Eby’s BC NDP government.

The real question is why should we care?
 
The NDP had just enough votes to get it passed, it’s law, and so everyone should just go home and settle down.

And therein lies the problem ...

The NDP argues that these Bills are necessary to give the government flexibility to meet potential tariff threats from the US.

Despite other jurisdictions not seeking these kinds of powers, and the tariff threat seemingly on the decline, let's for the sake of argument say the NDP truly needed the powers provided to them in Bill 14 (The Renewable Energy Projects Act) and 15 (The Infrastructure Projects Act).

The opposition, to these two NDP Bills, is not an academic or legislative exercise that will dissipate just because a vote has taken place.

We have already seen Eby's damage control trade mission to Asia impacted as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) withdrew their participation. And we already know there are likely to be court challenges coming soon.

But what about the potential for increased disobedience?

We have already seen some examples of individual First Nations shutting down provincial parks and temporarily blockading a bridge. What happens if others join? What happens if environmental groups or citizens join?

Court challenges, refusal to participate in government initiatives, and the illegal closure of parks and transportation infrastructure, are not going to decrease the foreseeable instability ahead on the horizon, nor will it lead to more stability.

Eby's unprecedented power grabs will lead to the exact opposite outcome he claims to be seeking. For anyone following his time in the top job, this will come as little surprise.


Brad Zubyk is Chief of Staff for John Rustad, leader of the Conservative Party of BC
 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Interfor Moves Headquarters Out of BC as Forestry Crisis Continues

NDP policies are driving businesses out of B.C., and the forestry industry just suffered yet another calamity. Interfor, a BC company founded more than 60 years ago and now one of the world's largest lumber producers, is moving its headquarters from Burnaby, BC to Atlanta, Georgia. As BC’s forestry sector faces mill closures and mounting uncertainty, this move is another warning sign that the crisis is deepening and conditions are fatal. “This is the NDP’s record: endless job losses with no hope in sight for the forestry sector,” said Ward Stamer, Shadow Minister for Forestry. “Interfor still has three mills in BC which are now in serious jeopardy, and it is likely we will see even more companies pull out of BC. The NDP government is suffocating the forestry industry with high taxes, excessive regulations, and permitting delays, while DRIPA has made it impossible to plan for the future.” “Decisions like this are sadly not surprising given the NDP’s indifference if not hostility tow...
Post a Comment
Read more

Okanagan Farmers Face NDP-Created Water Crisis ~~ BC Conservatives

Okanagan farmers are facing a water crisis as government-imposed restrictions threaten to kill their crops and destroy one of B.C.’s most important agricultural industries. In perhaps the most water-rich province in the country, our farmers have been left high and dry by the NDP government. For nine weeks, Okanagan and Shuswap farmers have proposed solutions, only to be met with NDP foot-dragging. Now forest fires have come to these regions as they are simultaneously reckoning with a water crisis that has been made worse through years of government inaction. Vernon-area farms have lost 70 percent of their water, while Kelowna and Summerland growers face severe restrictions. This situation is unacceptable and cannot continue. Ian Paton, Shadow Minister for Agriculture, said the NDP is once again forcing farmers to pay for its own failure to plan. "Farmers and ranchers must be listened to when decisions affecting their livelihoods are made, and under the NDP, they aren’t," said...
Post a Comment
Read more

NDP Hypocritically Admits Natural Gas Power Was Needed All Along ~~ BC Conservatives

The NDP just got caught buying back the exact kind of power plant it spent years telling British Columbians they didn't need. The NDP government announced today that BC Hydro is purchasing the Island Generation natural gas facility in Campbell River, an admission that its electrification-only energy policy was never realistic. The 275-megawatt plant was originally privately owned yet kept to a minimal backup role under the NDP, operating just 15 days a year on average. Now, with demand outpacing what the NDP's plan can support, the government is spending taxpayer funds on the very gas capacity it once treated as obsolete. "You cannot electrify everything and pretend natural gas doesn't matter," said Larry Neufeld, Shadow Minister for Energy.  "Buying back a gas plant they once wrote off is proof their own plan couldn't keep the lights on. It's a step towards more energy reality, but the government needs to go further and scrap the impending province-w...
Post a Comment
Read more

Labels

Show more