May 9, 2005
VANCOUVER - An attack on foreign investment by one of Carole James's candidates is a very disturbing sign, said Burnaby North BC Liberal candidate Richard T. Lee and members of the Asian-Canadian business community.
NDP candidate Calvin White (Shuswap) said last week, "I am absolutely opposed to increasing in any way foreign control of any public property
in this province." White then specifically said he was opposed to "a Chinese enterprise that wants to buy mineral rights in the north of the province."
"I have heard from many leaders in the Asian-Canadian business community who are outraged and shocked at the NDP's outdated views on encouraging foreign investment, and specifically its attack on Chinese investment," said Lee. "B.C. is a gateway to the Asia-Pacific and the NDP wants to slam it shut."
"At a time when the City of Prince Rupert is seeking foreign investment for Skeena Cellulose, and the Village of Port Alice is seeking investors for
its pulp mill, the NDP would turn them away and abandon those communities," said Lee.
Asian-Canadian business leaders are weighing in with reaction:
"It's the wrong message. Just even mentioning it would send us back to the dark days of NDP government imposing the corporate capital tax," said Wilfred Wan, former chair of SUCCESS.
"We live in a very competitive global economy and if we do not send some clear signals of trust, money will find other places to go," said
Michael Hwang, president of the North Road Business Improvement Association and Korean-Canadian business leader.
