April 13, 2005
VANCOUVER -- The NDP's election platform would dismantle half of the recently announced regional economic development initiatives across the province.
According to page 63 of the long-delayed platform, the NDP commits to: "deferring or cancelling half of the projects in the un-debated $238 million...fund" for a total reallocation of $119 million.
"Which projects are Carole James and the NDP going to cancel?" said Small Business and Economic Development minister and candidate for Chilliwack-Sumas John Les. "These projects and economic development initiatives are something that people throughout BC have been asking for to help them diversify their regional economies and support communities. Now, the NDP wants to undo all the progress that we have made."
"This is another reminder of why the NDP can't be trusted – they are either deliberately deceiving people or they are incompetent and hurried the release of their platform before it had been properly researched," Les said.
The NDP's proposed cuts to the Ministry of Small Business and Economic Development's infrastructure branch includes:
- Kamloops Field House and Sports Centre
- Nanaimo Ice Centre
- Kelowna Aquatic Centre and Stadium
- South Okanagan Event Centre (Penticton)
- Sovereign Lake Nordic Centre
- Smithers second sheet of ice
- Canadian Institute for Sport Learning and Leadership, Camosun College (Victoria)
- SFU Stadium and Athletic Centre
- UBC Boathouse Project
- North Island/Coast Development Initiative
- South Okanagan/Kootenays Development Initiative
