Premier Gordon Campbell made history today triggering the first provincial election in Canada established by law on a date set by legislation.
April 19, 2005
Victoria – Premier Gordon Campbell made history today triggering the first provincial election in Canada established by law on a date set by legislation.
The 38th provincial general election will be held on Tuesday, May 17th, 2005.
“It’s time for the people to decide who is really best to lead B.C. forward and keep our economy going strong,” said Campbell. “This is a pivotal election. It’s an opportunity for all British Columbians to have a say about the future of their province – whether to move forward or go backwards.
“Four years ago, we were elected with a mandate to revitalize the economy, restore sound fiscal management, and usher in a new era of hope and prosperity. We set out a plan. We acted on that plan. And clearly, it’s working,” said Campbell.
“Today, B.C. leads the nation in job creation – employment is up in every region and we have the lowest unemployment rate in 24 years. British Columbians are benefiting from a balanced budget, from the lowest provincial income taxes in Canada for low and middle-income levels, from the largest projected surplus ever, and from the largest pay-down of public debt in B.C. history. That’s the power of a strong economy.
“We now have new choices and new flexibility to invest in services for people. In health care we have nearly doubled the number of doctors in training, increased the number of nurses in training by 60 per cent, and we have provided a $3.8 billion funding increase from 2001 to 2008.
“There is new support for education, with $2 billion more in funding, the largest education budgets in B.C. history and the largest expansion of post-secondary education in 40 years. There is new support for people in need, with the largest funding increase for women’s transition houses in a decade, and the biggest increase in the monthly allowance for people with disabilities in a decade. There is new support for families with 32,000 more childcare spaces eligible for funding and extended childcare subsidies to 10,000 more children.
“All of this is possible because we’ve turned our economy around and we’re now living within our means,” said Campbell. “That’s the power of a strong economy.”
“Now we can build on the momentum and the progress of the past four years. We are going to move forward with our Five Great Goals for the decade ahead:
- Make B.C. the best-educated, most literate jurisdiction on the continent.
- Lead the way in North America in physical fitness and healthy living.
- Build the best system of support in Canada for persons with disabilities, special needs, children at risk, and seniors.
- Lead the world in sustainable environmental management, with the best air and water quality, and the best fisheries management.
- Create more jobs per capita than anywhere else in Canada.
“The people of British Columbia will also have the chance to decide the future of our electoral system. If voters approve the changes recommended by the historic Citizens’ Assembly, that new system will be used on the next set election date which is scheduled for 2009.”
“This election is British Columbians’ chance to choose a government that will build on all of the progress we have made in B.C. and keeps our economy going strong,” said Campbell.
