When the NDP speaks, the facts are always the first thing to go.
As a service to those who think the facts matter when it comes to important issues regarding the future of our province, we have been providing a summary of some of the facts that Carole James and the NDP just got plain wrong each week.
This week, we take a look back at some of the most egregious examples of NDP dishonesty, spin and outright fabrications from the 2009 provincial election campaign.
NDP PLATFORM
NDP CLAIM: The NDP Platform is “an affordable, practical plan.” (Bruce Ralston, May 9, Globe and Mail) - WRONG
THE FACTS: The NDP plan is neither affordable nor practical, it contains:
- Over $3.7-billion in new costs and reduced revenue.
- Over $1-billion in new taxes.
- No plan to balance the budget and breaks the NDP’s earlier promise to balance the budget within 3 years.
- Major errors such as a $412-million tax on flaring where the NDP were later forced to admit they did not know what or who they were taxing.
- At a time when experts agree we need more clean energy - it bans clean energy.
- A climate plan that experts agree will destroy jobs and not effectively address climate change.
BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER
NDP CLAIM: Carole James believes in “proper consultation” to “bring everyone to the table”. (Williams Lake Tribune May 7) - WRONG
THE FACTS: Carole James undertook no consultation in developing the NDP platform – from $1-billion in new taxes to a climate plan that lacks any credible support. The result is British Columbians from all background have spoken out against their reckless agenda including:
- Every major employer in B.C. – including the forest industry, retail industry, mining industry, energy industry, just to name a few.
- David Suzuki
- Environmentalist Tzeporah Berman
- Nobel Prize winning academics Dr. Marc Jaccard and Dr. Andrew Weaver
- Former NDP Premier, Mike Harcourt
- Thousands of British Columbians
INVESTMENT AND JOBS
NDP CLAIM: “The NDP plan is focused on restoring investment and jobs now.” (NDP Platform pg 49) - WRONG
THE FACTS: Independent analysis has confirmed the NDP platform will destroy over 110,000 B.C. jobs. Job-killing policies include:
- A ban on clean energy projects and CBG development.
- A punitive $155-million new tax on private liquor stores.
- Over $1-billion in new taxes on job creating industries.
- New wage policies that would impose $450-million in new costs on small business.
- “Blow(ing) up” the forest tenure system.
- “Abrogating” the softwood lumber agreement.
- Encouraging Americans to sue B.C. forest companies for $500-million.
- Planning to bring back the Corporate Capital Tax, a proven job and investment-killer.
- Climate policy that expert analysis proves will cost 60,000 jobs.
- Opposing job-creating infrastructure projects like the BC Place redevelopment.
FORESTRY JOBS AND INVESTMENT
NDP CLAIM: “The NDP has a plan to revitalize the forest sector... to create B.C. jobs” (Carole James, NDP News Release, April 28) - WRONG
THE FACTS: B.C.’s largest forestry employers including Canfor, West Fraser Timber, and Interfor have all slammed the NDP’s policies as job killers. Rather than support forest workers, NDP forest critic Bob Simpson has accused B.C. forest companies of breaking the law. He said that the Americans are entitled to “punitive damages in the amount of $500 million”.
A “POSITIVE” CAMPAIGN
NDP CLAIM: “Personal attacks aren’t the direction to go... You don’t need to look at personal attacks.” (Carole James, CBC TV May 7) - WRONG
THE FACTS: Carole James and the NDP have run one of the most personal and negative election campaigns in B.C. history.
- Carole James was part of the launch of the COPE 378 “Gordon Campbell Hates You” ad campaign – the most negative political campaign in B.C. in recent memory.
- David Black, Vice President of COPE 378, is also Vice President of the NDP’s Provincial Executive. Carole James has the power to stop the ads but has chosen not to.
- When criticized about her negative campaign following the CKNW radio debate, rather than stopping the TV ads, the NDP simply removed their party logos.
- The NDP Platform repeatedly attacks Premier Gordon Campbell, mentioning him by name 129 times. In contrast it only mentions the economy 18 times.
TAXES
NDP CLAIM: “NDP Platform provides tax relief” (NDP news release April 9) - WRONG
THE FACTS: The NDP platform includes over $1 billion in punitive, job killing new taxes.
- $412-million in new taxes on the oil and gas industry
- $155-million in new taxes on liquor
- $185-million in new taxes on small credit unions and banks
- $250-million in new taxes on rural employers
- $227-million in increased corporate income taxes (a tax the NDP tried to hide in their platform)
- $75-million in new taxes on BC Hydro and clean energy companies
CLIMATE PLAN
NDP CLAIM: Carole James will “deliver real action on climate change”. (NDP Platform pg 41) - WRONG
THE FACTS: Independent analysis has confirmed that Carole James climate plan will destroy up to 60,000 jobs. In fact, the NDP’s approach has been rejected by leading environmentalists, academics and former NDP supporters including David Suzuki. Tzeporah Berman, Dr. Marc Jaccard, Dr. Andrew Weaver and even former NDP Premier Mike Harcourt.
LIQUOR TAXES
NDP CLAIM: "The NDP's ($155-million liquor tax) proposal will dip into licensee retail stores' big profit margin, but won't raise prices at the checkout.” (NDP Reality Check, April 30) – WRONG
THE FACTS: Only the NDP would try and claim a $155-million tax wouldn’t have an impact. According to retailers, these additional costs would mean a 25 per cent increase in the price of beer, wine and spirits for consumers – or $3 per six pack. Retailers have also confirmed these punitive taxes would result in store closures and significant job losses.
PORT MANN BRIDGE
NDP CLAIM: Carole James claimed to support the new Port Mann bridge project: “Yes, it's important we have a crossing there.” (CKNW Radio Debate) – WRONG
THE FACTS: The NDP have never supported the Port Mann Bridge project. Carole James stated: “I’ve said it’s the wrong bridge and the wrong plan.” Carole James and the NDP voted unanimously against Bill 14, the “Port Mann Twinning” Act – again publicly expressing their opposition to the Port Mann Bridge. During the election campaign, numerous NDP candidates spoke out against the Port Mann Bridge project.
