For Immediate Release
April 28, 2009
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s hard to be flattered when Carole James and the NDP steal the BC Liberal transit plan outright. Today Carole James made a series of embarrassing and disingenuous re-announcements attempting to take credit for things the BC Liberals have already announced and the NDP already voted against.
Even worse, Carole James again resorted to the NDP’s trick from the 1990s of making unfunded announcements they have no intention of keeping. Here is a look at each of Carole James’s announcements today and the facts behind them:
NDP COMMITMENT: "Build the Evergreen Line now."
THE FACTS: NDP COMMITMENT: "Start planning for a comprehensive Light Rail system for the South Fraser." THE FACTS: - This is a re-announcement of a BC Liberal commitment.
- The BC Liberals already announced in November 2008 a $400,000 "comprehensive transit study... to assess all transit options in the Fraser Valley, including the existing Southern Rail corridor."
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2008TRAN0092-001816.htm - The NDP voted against funding for this strategy.
NDP COMMITMENT: $21-million to
"Roll back transit fare hikes... B.C. has the highest transit fares in the country." THE FACTS: - This is an unfunded commitment, plus a completely false statement.
- The $21 million Carole James allocated in her news release to roll back transit fares is $3 million more than the NDP actually budgeted for “Fee Freezes and Rollbacks” in their platform (NDP Platform, Page 52).
- This is yet another unfunded commitment from the NDP that they have no intention of meeting, especially when you consider they have allocated these funds to other commitments.
- Furthermore, the NDP’s claim that B.C. has the highest transit fares in the country is patently false.
- Today’s one-zone fare in Metro Vancouver is $2.50 compared to $2.75 in Montreal and Toronto and $3.00 in Ottawa.
NDP COMMITMENT: $20 million to
"expand the West Coast Express commuter rail by adding new cars and trains." THE FACTS: NDP COMMITMENT: "The NDP will deliver 500 new buses through a $400-million cash infusion over the next three years." THE FACTS: - This is a re-announcement of a BC Liberal commitment.
- The BC Liberal Transit Plan includes $2.8-billion for nine Rapid Bus projects in high urban growth areas and 1,500 new buses to expand transit service across the province.
- The NDP voted against funding for the provincial transit plan.
NDP COMMITMENT: "The NDP will complete negotiations for a second Amtrak passenger train to improve service between Vancouver and Seattle immediately." THE FACTS: - This is a re-announcement of a BC Liberal commitment.
- Again, the BC Liberals already announced $4.5-million in funding to upgrade the rail line to allow for a second passenger train to improve service between Vancouver and Seattle:
http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2005-2009/2007TRAN0007-000200.htm - Carole James and the NDP voted against this funding.
- With regards to working with the federal government, the NDP is the party that brought B.C. the Pacific Salmon War and the Expropriation of Nanoose Bay.
- The federal government even said they have “no interest in Premier Glen Clark’s (NDP) government brokering and managing any transfer of federal funds.” (Vancouver Sun May 22/99)
- The BC Liberals have secured literally billions in federal funds for B.C. – you decide which party you trust to work with the federal government.
It's becoming clear the only ideas the NDP have are the ones they steal from the BC Liberal web site. Their transit plan is a litany of commitments they’ve already voted against, and funding promises their platform shows they have no intention of keeping.
Contact:
Shane Mills, BC Liberal Party
604-648-4258