NDP Not Credible on Budget Question

February 4, 2009
NDP Not Credible on Budget Question

Leadership is about facing challenges and making hard decisions. That's why the BC Liberal Government is being open and honest about our plan to run a short-term deficit to deal with the unprecedented global economic downturn and protect critical services like health and education. 

Carole James and the NDP have a different record on budgets. A record of dishonesty, constantly-shifting positions, and consistent refusals to be straight with British Columbians:

• When in government, the NDP produced two consecutive fudge-it budgets – budgets they claimed were balanced, but later shown to have been manipulated by the dishonest NDP.
• The NDP ran eight consecutive deficit budgets despite positive economic growth.
• Carole James ran for NDP leader on a platform that budgets should be balanced one year out of every four.
• She later claimed she would balance the budget every year if elected - and then produced a costed 2005 platform that was not balanced.
• In October, James produced a proposed budget that reduced revenues while simultaneously promising more spending and claimed it was balanced. It was not.
• She told numerous media outlets the same thing for months – right up until February, in fact.
• But today on the Bill Good Show, Carole James admitted that she knew the NDP would have to run a deficit even back in October – flying in the face of what she has been saying for months.
  

The record shows clearly what the NDP are unwilling to admit – they have no plan, they have no credibility on budgeting, and they're perfectly willing to be flat-out dishonest with British Columbians.