VICTORIA - NDP energy critic John Horgan admitted on Friday the NDP's economic plan does not call for future growth or investments in renewable energy projects, but instead plans for a shrinking economy, fewer jobs and lower industrial growth if they were to form a government.
March 21, 2009
VICTORIA - NDP energy critic John Horgan admitted on Friday the NDP's economic plan does not call for future growth or investments in renewable energy projects, but instead plans for a shrinking economy, fewer jobs and lower industrial growth if they were to form a government.
Speaking on CKNW yesterday afternoon about the NDP's plan to put a moratorium on independent power producers, Horgan admitted his party does not see the need for new, renewable power projects as they would instead plan for industrial use to decline under the NDP. In fact, he says claims that B.C. needs more power in the future are a “fallacy” and that they would not plan to generate any new power if elected.
“Carole James and the NDP envision B.C.’s future as one with fewer jobs, lower levels of investment, and less industry supporting our communities – and therefore not in need of new energy or an energy industry. Well that's just plain wrong," says Environment Minister Barry Penner. “At a time when President Obama and our government are promoting new sources of renewable energy to help reduce emissions and create new jobs for a green economy, the NDP's energy plan is out of step with the rest of the world . Our government is planning for job and industrial growth in the future because we believe B.C.’s communities will emerge from the global economic crisis ready for new growth, new jobs and new investment. And we are making sure that new supplies of electricity to meet this demand produce zero-net greenhouse gas emissions, as part of our aggressive plan to fight climate change."
Horgan also admitted that while a new run-of-river IPP near Lytton, which received an Environmental Assessment Certificate this week, was a "good project" that would creates jobs, is supported by local First Nations and would improve reliability of electrical supply for the Fraser Canyon, it would never have gone ahead if the NDP were in power: “If we were in power six months ago before they received their approvals it wouldn’t have proceeded. That’s correct,” said Horgan.
This is consistent with the NDP's rejection of every other IPP as a way to generate jobs and clean energy regardless of the proposal, even though the strategy has support from environmental leaders like Tzeporah Berman and many First Nations who depend on those jobs for their communities.
"Horgan is right about one thing - under the NDP our economy would shrink. As he admits, if the NDP's plan to ban IPPs were in effect today, it would result in more than a thousand good paying jobs going down the drain, billions less in investment and fewer opportunities for First Nations,” says Penner. "The NDP need to realize that independent power producers are helping British Columbia move to a lower carbon future, while generating good paying jobs in rural British Columbia, and supporting our energy needs. During this global economic crisis every job counts and yet the NDP continues to advocate job destroying polices that are also bad for the environment."
The NDP plan to ban IPPs is one of several schemes that would have a devastating impact on our economy. Carole James also wants to scrap the softwood lumber agreement, impose a crippling "windfall tax" on the oil and gas sector and levy $450 million a year in new wage costs on small business, which together could result in thousands of lost jobs if put in place.
