They seem as confused as I am about how it was that the BC got the reputation as being “polarized” and of being a province of political “extremes” and so on. The only “extreme” party is the left-wing socialists—the NDP. How BC Liberals ever got the reputation as being the “right-wing” party while the NDP is cast as the “left-wing” party demonstrates a measure of political sophistication that is sorely lacking. I’m still looking for the “right-wing” party to say nothing of any “extreme” right-wing party.
While the CTF quite rightly looks only at the taxation angle of BC politics, voters should of course look at all other aspects of it as well. Both the NDP and the BC Liberals who are less socialist than the NDP which is run by huge, largely Marxist labour unions, are in favour of gay marriage, and in favour of abortions paid for by all taxpayers on demand for any reason at all whatsoever at any time in any pregnancy no questions asked. The BC Liberals are also seemingly in favour of maintaining state-run businesses that compete against its own citizens, such as state-run (Soviet style!) liquor stores, state-run car insurance schemes (with options towing package!), and state-run ferries to the islands, among other things. They also seem fairly committed to the North Korean-style healthcare system that Canadians suffer from today, though they have allowed for private contractors to take on the hugely technical task of mowing hospital lawns and cleaning dishes among other things. Hardly “right-wing”, and hardly “extreme”!
All of that notwithstanding, this is a party that the socialist NDP call “extreme right-wing”. That demonstrates just how radically left-wing they are. The fact that much of the media toe this fallacious “extreme left/right” line is revealing of just how liberal-left the media is, to say nothing of their sophistication, or their ability—or interest in—informing and educating the public.
Still, I’m recommending voting for, but I not necessarily “supporting”, the BC Liberals, since as we’ve seen, even moving a little rightward makes a huge positive difference. Now if only we could go all the way into right thinking mode…
Here’s the Canadian Taxpayers Federation email sent out to BC members (of which I’m one):
Voting Reform
Since 1997 your CTF has been pushing for a referendum on voting change. This came in the wake of the 1996 election where the party receiving the most votes actually lost the election! A BC supporter survey in 2003 revealed 56% of you wanted the CTF to make voting reform our number one democratic reform issue.
After helping found the Electoral Change Coalition of BC in 1997 the
CTF presented to the Citizens Assembly on Electoral Reform in May 2004. In April 2005, director
Troy Lanigan embarked on an Interior speaking and media tour in support of a YES vote for the Single Transferable Vote (STV) on May 17th. (
Click here for video on STV).
The CTF argues a change in the voting system will provide greater government accountability, provide more choice, strengthen local representation and weaken party discipline.
Debt
In the first week of the campaign your CTF
sent letters to Gordon Campbell and Carole James asking for two things: their debt management strategy and their position on mandatory debt retirement.
Although debt interest costs eat up more than $6 million a day, neither the NDP or Liberals are committed to a debt payment schedule, a set reduction target or even an ideal debt-to-GDP ratio.
This year Alberta announced that it will be debt-free after adopting a CTF-inspired legislated debt retirement plan in 1993.
Your CTF recommended a similar proposal prior to the 2005 provincial budget. Right now, BC’s debt is at $36 billion but we can be debt free by 2033 if we act now!
Spending Analysis
Both the NDP and Liberals released platforms full of vague promises, un-costed commitments and generalities typical of election campaigns. Your
CTF conducted a comprehensive review of both platforms and compiled an exhaustive list of promises, costed and un-costed. It would seem, BC’s era of polarized politics has come to a halt, as the NDP and Liberals have found common ground when it comes to spending tax dollars.
Both parties promise to increase funding for: affordable housing, parks, the recruitment of nurses, English as Second Language training, apprenticeship training, child care, wait time reductions, cycle paths, regional development and strategic tax cuts (aka: corporate welfare by geography and industry).
Both the NDP and the Liberals fail to tell voters just how much all of their election promises will cost taxpayers. Your CTF has itemized 18 promises made without any costing. The era of big government—regardless of which party forms government on May 17th—is regretably alive and well in British Columbia.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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