Carole James Dishonest About Forestry Plan
KAMLOOPS - With the election just four months away, NDP leader Carole James has resorted to being flat-out dishonest with voters to hide her reckless and irresponsible plan for B.C.’s forest industry. The foundation of the NDP’s forestry plan is to rip up the Softwood Lumber Agreement yet, when pressed on this issue yesterday on CHNL, Carole James denied that she would attempt to open up the agreement.
“The people of Kamloops and the Interior deserve better than a leader of the Opposition who is prepared to be dishonest with the public in a desperate and obvious attempt to hide her reckless plans from forest dependent communities,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Krueger. “Rather than hiding her plans, James should explain to forestry workers why she plans to rip up the Softwood Lumber Agreement and claw back $2.4 billion from industry. She suggests re-imposing a 30 to 40 percent export tax on our lumber devastating communities and throwing thousands out of work.”
The NDP forestry plan clearly states: “[The NDP will] take the Softwood Lumber Agreement to hearings to determine what steps should be taken – up to and including abrogation…” – NDP Five-Point Forestry Plan, Feb 7/08. In Victoria, Carole James did not hesitate to reveal her plan for the Softwood Lumber Agreement stating: “It’s a bad deal. Now, I’ve said you need to look at renegotiating it. You need to go back to the table.” - Voice of BC, Oct. 2/08. Yet yesterday on CHNL radio in Kamloops, Carole James was patently dishonest about her plans to rip up the deal, stating: “I don’t want to get into long protracted debates about getting back to the table again.”
“It is wrong to say one thing in Victoria and another to rural residents in a desperate attempt to secure votes,” said Krueger. “Carole James should get back on the radio and apologize for being dishonest with the residents of Kamloops and come clean about her party’s plan to rip up the Softwood Lumber agreement.”
