November 18, 2008
James Dances Around NDP Deficit Budget
NDP leader Carole James told the Surrey Board of Trade on Nov. 18 that the NDP economic plan is affordable and won’t drive B.C. into a deficit. She’s being dishonest, and you deserve to know the truth:
- The NDP insists that 7,200 units of affordable housing can be funded at a one-time cost of $650 million. However, the true capital cost is closer to $2 billion.
- Furthermore, the supports associated with housing the homeless in those units would cost between $200 and $250 million each year once completed.
- Carole James made new promises around light rail, but the NDP economic scheme contains no provision for that new spending.
- The NDP would have to add nearly $2.3 billion in new annual spending to fulfil their health care commitments.
- With the current global economic pressures, the NDP’s plan to add billions in new spending would most certainly drive B.C. into a deep deficit.