May 10, 2005

VANCOUVER - The comments of NDP candidates are beginning to reveal the NDPs true colours and Carole James is going to have to be accountable for them, said Mike de Jong, BC Liberal candidate for Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman.

NDP candidates support an inheritance tax, have called for a ban on foreign investment in BC, and want a return to photo radar, said de Jong. These are policies that Carole James doesnt want to talk about but they are NDP policies she cant run away from. Why should we trust the NDP when Carole James hasnt renounced any of these policies and wont renounce her candidates?

De Jong noted the following NDP candidate quotes:

ON WHETHER THERE COULD BE TAX INCREASES OR DECREASES IN FUTURE: We are committed for one year right now. Harry Bains, NDP candidate (Surrey-Newton), Shere Punjab Radio, April 22, 2005

ON AN INHERITANCE TAX: Its not beyond consideration. Charley Beresford, NDP candidate (Oak Bay-Gordon Head), CFAX Radio, May 3, 2005

ON FOREIGN INVESTMENT: I am absolutely opposed to increasing in any way foreign control of any public property in this province. Calvin White, NDP candidate (Shuswap), All Candidates Debate, May 3, 2005

ON BRINGING BACK PHOTO RADAR: Question: And also you said you want to bring back photo-radar, would you still support that? Answer: Yes, absolutely. Karen Rockwell, NDP candidate (Port Moody-Westwood), All Candidates Debate, May 4, 2005

Carole James spent 17 months as NDP leader running away from the NDP record of the 1990s and now were going to see if she will run away from her candidates comments, said de Jong.

De Jong noted Carole James has also repeatedly ignored personal attacks launched by NDP candidates. For example, the NDP leader condoned the recent comments of NDP Kelowna-Mission candidate Nicki Hokazono who callously accused Sindi Hawkins of playing the sympathy card. (source: CHBC-TV, May 6, 2005) Hawkins has been successfully battling leukemia for over a year.

This comment from the NDP candidate is unbelievable, but whats even more appalling was Carole James lack of concern over it, said de Jong. Instead of denouncing the comments of her candidate, Carole James made excuses. That's not leadership its just the same old NDP.