The HST is a new tax that harmonizes the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) into one 12% tax on almost everything you buy.
The Liberal Government insituted this tax without any notice to the public, without any debate, and after promising that they weren't interested in an HST.
To sign the online position opposing the HST, go to the BCNDP Official Opposition website, www.bcndpcaucus.ca/en/StoptheHST.
BCUC DECISION GOOD NEWS FOR HYDRO RATEPAYERS
VICTORIA – The B.C. Utilities Commission's decision to reject the B.C. Liberal plan for more private power is good news for British Columbians concerned about higher electricity rates and for the environment, says New Democrat energy critic John Horgan.
Horgan said today’s decision backs the NDP’s call for a moratorium on private power projects until we have a better understanding of our long-term energy needs.
“The BCUC has quite rightly rejected Premier Campbell’s arguments that these power projects will benefit British Columbians in any way,” said Horgan, the NDP MLA for Juan de Fuca.
“This decision is a victory for those who believe that the province's resources should be used for the benefit all British Columbians, not just for friends and donors of the B.C. Liberals.”
Horgan called on the Campbell government to recognize the decision as an opportunity to engage in a meaningful discussion about our long-term energy needs.
“The commission also found that B.C. Hydro’s conservation measures are inadequate. This decision translates into a failing grade for the B.C. Liberal energy plan.”
Carole James and the New Democrats have been calling for a moratorium on all new private power projects to ensure that they meet environmental standards, are done in consultation with local communities and first nations, and fit with the energy needs of the province.
“Independent power projects that use B.C.’s rivers to create power for export to California for the benefit of a few corporations are not in the public interest,” said Horgan. “Especially when they will result in skyrocketing electricity rates for B.C. families.”
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
STUDENT AID FALLS VICTIM TO POST-ELECTION CAMPBELL CUTS
Bursaries for students pursuing health careers among programs to get the axe.
The Campbell government quietly axed several student aid programs in the aftermath of the election, New Democrats said today.
“This is another example of how Gordon Campbell hid the truth from voters during the election,” said Vancouver West-End MLA Spencer Herbert. “He didn’t campaign on cuts to students. We are just a month away from a new school year and people are only now learning that the programs they were depending on have been cut.”
The programs that will be cut include the Permanent Disability Benefits Program, the Debt Reduction in Repayment program, the B.C. Loan Reduction for Residential Care Aide and Home Support Worker Program, Nurses Education Bursary, Health Care Bursary, Early Childhood Educator Loan Assistance Program, and the Premier's Excellence Award program.
Herbert learned of the axed programs from a concerned constituent who contacted his office after being informed that the program she applied for no longer exists.
“We’re nearly half way through the fiscal year but the Campbell government hasn’t yet come clean with students about their plans for these popular programs,” said Herbert. “This is not a good way to manage services that people depend on.”
Michelle Mungall, the New Democrat deputy critic for post-secondary education, is worried about the impact of cutting programs designed to help former students manage their debt loads at a time when many people are losing their jobs.
“It’s cold-hearted to axe programs that are aimed at former students who have become permanently disabled and other people who are absolutely unable to make their student debt payments in the middle of a recession,” said Mungall. “Cutting these programs won’t save money in the long term.”
Mungall is also concerned about the government’s decision to cut programs aimed at attracting students to fields where there are significant skills shortages.
“The government used the cloak of good economic times as an excuse to let the costs of post-secondary education soar,” said Mungall. “Now they are cutting programs aimed at retraining the workforce to alleviate the skill shortages looming in our future. It is clear that they have no plan for bettering B.C.’s economy in the long term.”
The Campbell government quietly axed several student aid programs in the aftermath of the election, New Democrats said today.
“This is another example of how Gordon Campbell hid the truth from voters during the election,” said Vancouver West-End MLA Spencer Herbert. “He didn’t campaign on cuts to students. We are just a month away from a new school year and people are only now learning that the programs they were depending on have been cut.”
The programs that will be cut include the Permanent Disability Benefits Program, the Debt Reduction in Repayment program, the B.C. Loan Reduction for Residential Care Aide and Home Support Worker Program, Nurses Education Bursary, Health Care Bursary, Early Childhood Educator Loan Assistance Program, and the Premier's Excellence Award program.
Herbert learned of the axed programs from a concerned constituent who contacted his office after being informed that the program she applied for no longer exists.
“We’re nearly half way through the fiscal year but the Campbell government hasn’t yet come clean with students about their plans for these popular programs,” said Herbert. “This is not a good way to manage services that people depend on.”
Michelle Mungall, the New Democrat deputy critic for post-secondary education, is worried about the impact of cutting programs designed to help former students manage their debt loads at a time when many people are losing their jobs.
“It’s cold-hearted to axe programs that are aimed at former students who have become permanently disabled and other people who are absolutely unable to make their student debt payments in the middle of a recession,” said Mungall. “Cutting these programs won’t save money in the long term.”
Mungall is also concerned about the government’s decision to cut programs aimed at attracting students to fields where there are significant skills shortages.
“The government used the cloak of good economic times as an excuse to let the costs of post-secondary education soar,” said Mungall. “Now they are cutting programs aimed at retraining the workforce to alleviate the skill shortages looming in our future. It is clear that they have no plan for bettering B.C.’s economy in the long term.”
Thursday, July 16, 2009
KOOTENAY REGION JOINS TOGETHER TO FIGHT GORDON CAMPBELL’S SELL-OFF OF WATERWAYS AND WILDERNESS AREAS
NELSON— Hundreds of people from across the Kootenay region joined with New Democrat MLA Michelle Mungall on Wednesday night to protect Glacier, Howser, Suck and Behrman creeks from the proposed Glacier-Howser private power project.
“People came away from the meeting energized and ready to take this fight to the next level,” said Mungall. “We’re ready to protect our region from Gordon Campbell’s giveaway of our waterways and wilderness areas.”
“People came away from the meeting energized and ready to take this fight to the next level,” said Mungall. “We’re ready to protect our region from Gordon Campbell’s giveaway of our waterways and wilderness areas.”
Community members joined with New Democrat energy critic John Horgan, Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy, Save Our Rivers spokesperson Rafe Mair, the West Kootenay Eco Society’s Lee-Ann Unger and Western Canadian Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director Joe Foy to talk about protecting the watershed.
“The people of this region have deep environmental, economic and social concerns about the Glacier-Howser project,” said Mungall. “They expect the environmental assessment process to be more than a rubber stamp.”
The controversial private power project would divert water from four creeks to create up to 125 megawatts of electricity. None of the water would be returned to creeks after it is extracted to produce power.
The company plans to cut through more than 75 kilometers of old growth forest in Howser and Horsethief Valleys to connect the project to the electrical grid.
Carole James and the New Democrats are calling for a moratorium on new private power projects until the province has a plan in place that protects the environment and puts the public good above private profit.
Comments about the project can be sent to
glacier.howser@gov.bc.ca
Garry Alexander
Project Assessment Director
Environmental Assessment Office
PO Box 9426 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9V1
Comments can also be made to the Federal Environmental Assessmen process:
sislerr@tc.gc.ca
Robert Sisler
Regional Manager
Environmental Services, Transport Canada
620-800 Burrard St.
Vancouver BC V6Z 2J8
Friday, July 10, 2009
RAFE MAIR COMING TO NELSON TO JOIN GLACIER-HOWSER FIGHT
NELSON— Save Our Rivers spokesperson and former Socred Environment Minister Rafe Mair will be in Nelson on July 15 for a meeting sponsored by New Democrat MLA Michelle Mungall on the controversial Glacier-Howser private power project located north of Kaslo.
“The protection of rivers and creeks brings people from all walks of life together,” said Mungall. “The Campbell government should take notice and start listening to them. People of British Columbia will not stand idly by while Gordon Campbell parcels out our wilderness and our waterways to private interests.”
Mungall says the fact that Rafe Mair is joining with New Democrats in the fight to protect the province’s rivers and creeks shows that the B.C. Liberal government’s sell off of watersheds and wilderness areas is an issue that cuts across party lines.
“This battle cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a British Columbian,” said Mungall. “If Gordon Campbell doesn’t start listening to the people of this province he is going to have a real fight on his hands.”
The proponent, AXOR, the Environmental Assessment Office and the environment minister all refused to hold a meeting in Nelson, even though diverse stakeholders asked for a meeting to be held in the central Kootenay community. After hearing from local government officials, tourism operators, recreational hunters and fishermen Mungall decided to hold a public forum to address their concerns. More than 1000 people showed up in the tiny community of Kaslo to speak out against the project.
“I’m looking forward to joining with Rafe Mair, Joe Foy of the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee, and the people of this region at an informative meeting next Wednesday,” said Mungall. “This is our chance to send a strong message to the Campbell government. We will not be ignored.”
Carole James and the New Democrats are calling for a moratorium on new private power projects until the province has a plan in place that protects the environment, and puts the public good above private profit.
The meeting will be held in Nelson at 7 p.m. on July 15 at the Prestige Lakeside Inn.
“The protection of rivers and creeks brings people from all walks of life together,” said Mungall. “The Campbell government should take notice and start listening to them. People of British Columbia will not stand idly by while Gordon Campbell parcels out our wilderness and our waterways to private interests.”
Mungall says the fact that Rafe Mair is joining with New Democrats in the fight to protect the province’s rivers and creeks shows that the B.C. Liberal government’s sell off of watersheds and wilderness areas is an issue that cuts across party lines.
“This battle cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a British Columbian,” said Mungall. “If Gordon Campbell doesn’t start listening to the people of this province he is going to have a real fight on his hands.”
The proponent, AXOR, the Environmental Assessment Office and the environment minister all refused to hold a meeting in Nelson, even though diverse stakeholders asked for a meeting to be held in the central Kootenay community. After hearing from local government officials, tourism operators, recreational hunters and fishermen Mungall decided to hold a public forum to address their concerns. More than 1000 people showed up in the tiny community of Kaslo to speak out against the project.
“I’m looking forward to joining with Rafe Mair, Joe Foy of the Western Canadian Wilderness Committee, and the people of this region at an informative meeting next Wednesday,” said Mungall. “This is our chance to send a strong message to the Campbell government. We will not be ignored.”
Carole James and the New Democrats are calling for a moratorium on new private power projects until the province has a plan in place that protects the environment, and puts the public good above private profit.
The meeting will be held in Nelson at 7 p.m. on July 15 at the Prestige Lakeside Inn.
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