May 16, 2006
Victoria – NDP MLA Michael Sather's call for the province to restrict foreign investment and review the North American Free Trade Agreement with the aim of restricting trade is a shocking return to the failed NDP economic policies of the 1990s, says West Vancouver- Capilano MLA Ralph Sultan.
During estimates debates with Premier Gordon Campbell on Tuesday, the Maple Ri dge-Pitt Meadows NDP MLA stated, “Would the premier agree that we should approach the federal government to restrict foreign takeovers of companies in British Columbia?” He then later asked the Premier if he is open to a review of NAFTA.
“Almost every democratic jurisdiction in the world relies on trade and investment to grow its GDP and thus the wealth of its citizens,” said Sultan, a former Chief E conomist of The Royal Bank of Canada . “Mr . Sather’s comments are the precise reason why major job creating industries such as mining fled the province in the 1990s when the NDP were in power .”
Sultan said British Columbia has created more than 60,000 new full-time jobs since the 2005 election and 298,000 jobs since 2001. Many of these jobs have been created because of foreign investment, free trade and renewed economic confidence in British Columbia.
“If the NDP and Carole James are against foreign investment, against f oreign trade and against all the se jobs that we are creating then they should come out and say that clearly,” said Sultan. “Investors should heed Mr. Sather’s comments as a clear warning of what would happen under an NDP government.”
