December 1, 2008
James Rips Off BC Liberal Rural Development Idea
NDP leader Carole James and her MLAs are touring B.C. promoting their plan for a rural economic development fund. The only problem? The BC Liberal government already created three rural economic funds guided by locally-elected representatives four years ago. While it’s nice that after four years Carole James and the NDP finally recognize a good idea, they should try thinking up a few of their own:
- In 2004, the BC Liberal Government provided $285 million for three regional economic trusts to invest in local programs – the Northern Development Initiative ($185 million), the Southern Interior Development Initiative ($50 million) and the North Island-Coast Development Initiative ($50 million).
- These trusts have been investing tens of millions of dollars over the past four years in projects that are helping diversify the economy of rural communities, like an expanded Prince George airport, new Nanaimo cruise ship terminal, and developing the high tech industry in the Southern Interior.
- The NDP talk about rural development, but want to impose huge new taxes on the oil and gas industry, tear up the Softwood Lumber Agreement, and cancel Independent Power Projects that are creating over 1,000 jobs in rural and First Nation communities.