NDP MLAs push for report recommendations to protect education, arts
New Democrats on the legislature’s finance committee stood up for British Columbians by refusing to back the Liberals’ Harmonized Sale Tax while pushing for recommendations to protect public services in the committee’s final report released today.
“Though there were many issues we were able to find common ground on with government MLAs, at the end of the day we could not vote for the report because it contained recommendations we fundamentally disagreed with,” said New Democrat MLA Doug Donaldson, deputy chair of the committee.
“The only recommendation related to the B.C. Liberals’ HST that New Democrats would support would be to stop it entirely. As the committee heard time and time again during our travels around the province, the HST is a $1.9 billion tax burden from corporations to consumers, and will be a big blow to families and many small businesses.”
The finance committee provides direction to government on spending priorities, submitting the Budget 2010 Consultations Report after soliciting input from organizations, businesses and individuals from around the province.
Donaldson said there were 49 recommendations in all, eight of which relate to fine-tuning of the HST, which the B.C. Liberals said during the election they were not going to introduce but then announced shortly after votes were cast.
“If the Liberals wanted to bring in the HST, they should have put that choice before voters during the election, rather than trying to tinker with a broken promise after the fact,” said Donaldson.
“Fortunately, there is still time to stop this tax. The enabling legislation will not come before the provincial and federal legislatures until the spring, and New Democrats will continue to work with British Columbians of all political stripes who are mobilizing against the HST.”
Donaldson noted New Democrat MLAs on the committee voted for 37 of the 49 recommendations, and used their position to push for recommendations supporting funding for education and the arts, both of which were severely cut by the B.C. Liberals after the election.
“During the campaign, the Liberals promised to protect vital public services, including health care and education, but since the election they have broken promise after promise. We welcome the support of government MLAs in calling on their B.C. Liberal colleagues to listen to British Columbians who want to ensure our public services are protected,” said Donaldson.
New Democrats also voted against four recommendations that could weaken environmental regulations, further devastate rural health care, give a tax break to the wealthy, and reinforce the B.C. Liberal deficit lie.
In addition to Donaldson, New Democrat members of the finance committee include MLAs Bruce Ralston, Michelle Mungall, and Bill Routley.
Carole James and the New Democrats have been holding the B.C. Liberals accountable for breaking their word on the HST, and for backtracking on their election promises to protect health care, education, and other vital services.
The report can be found here www.leg.bc.ca/budgetconsultations
Friday, November 13, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
New Democrat MLAs Stood Up for Paramedics All Night Long
All this week, New Democrat MLAs have been standing up against the BC Liberals’ attempt to impose a contract onto paramedics.
From 9 am on Nov. 5 to 8am on November 6, our teamstood up in the legislature to fight – all night long – for the integrity of our health care system and the collective bargaining rights of all British Columbians.
Bill 21 is an admission by the government of their failure to manage the health care system.
Instead of addressing the critical issues paramedics face across the province, the government decided to ram through legislation that undermines our ambulance service and damages our public health care system. We spoke out against that legislation, NDP MLA after NDP MLA. Watch my speeches at November 4, 2009 ~ Second Reading Bill 21 — Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act ~ Michelle Mungall, MLA Nelson - Creston and November 6, 2009 ~ Second Reading Bill 21 — Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act (on the amendment).
If the government were serious about improving health care, they would respect front-line workers, including our hard-working ambulance paramedics who save lives in our communities every day. But that wasn't the choice they made.
From 9 am on Nov. 5 to 8am on November 6, our teamstood up in the legislature to fight – all night long – for the integrity of our health care system and the collective bargaining rights of all British Columbians.
Bill 21 is an admission by the government of their failure to manage the health care system.
Instead of addressing the critical issues paramedics face across the province, the government decided to ram through legislation that undermines our ambulance service and damages our public health care system. We spoke out against that legislation, NDP MLA after NDP MLA. Watch my speeches at November 4, 2009 ~ Second Reading Bill 21 — Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act ~ Michelle Mungall, MLA Nelson - Creston and November 6, 2009 ~ Second Reading Bill 21 — Ambulance Services Collective Agreement Act (on the amendment).
If the government were serious about improving health care, they would respect front-line workers, including our hard-working ambulance paramedics who save lives in our communities every day. But that wasn't the choice they made.
New Democrats will continue to stand up and speak out for the benefit of all British Columbians.
Update on flu clinics for East Shore
Not the answer we were looking for in Crawford Bay and Riondel... Rather than things getting better, looks like they are getting worse. Here is hte notice from the IHA about which communities will be getting dual vaccine clinics for seasonal and H1N1 flus.
We'll keep working on it.
NEWS RELEASE
Important Update on Interior Health’s H1N1 Vaccine Campaign
Public Health Mass Clinics:
The Canadian shortage of H1N1 vaccine is resulting in a reduction in the number of Public Health mass clinics that will be held for the week of November 9th.
The H1N1 vaccine shipment expected for next week will be significantly smaller than what has been received in the past two weeks. Given the reduced vaccine availability, Interior Health will only be offering combination H1N1 and seasonal immunization clinics in four communities—Lillooet, Nakusp, Sparwood, and Princeton.
The decision to offer clinics in these communities was based on available vaccine supply, their proximity away from larger clinics in their geographic area, and because they have not had a flu clinic in their community yet. These clinics will be for high-risk individuals only that meet the eligibility criteria for H1N1 vaccine and seasonal vaccine (if applicable.) The details on dates, times and locations for these clinics are still being worked out, and, when available, will be posted on our website at www.interiorhealth.ca. All previous planned seasonal clinics for this week will also be cancelled.
For the week November 9-14, people in the highest risk category, living in communities where there will not be a mass clinic, should be directed to check with their family physician or walk-in clinics to see if they have some remaining vaccine available.
If significant vaccine re-supply does recommence by mid-November, then we would once again re-establish Public Health mass immunization clinics across IH. If vaccine supply is adequate and if indicated by BC’s Provincial Health Officer, these clinics would be available for all the general public to be immunized, not simply high-risk individuals.
Pregnant Women:
A limited supply of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine is expected to begin arriving in Interior Health the week of Nov 9th. Pregnant women are encouraged to contact their health care provider to discuss and/or receive the vaccine, as this vaccine stock is being routed to physicians providing prenatal and obstetrical care. The unadjuvanted vaccine will not be provided through public clinics at this time.
We'll keep working on it.
NEWS RELEASE
Important Update on Interior Health’s H1N1 Vaccine Campaign
Public Health Mass Clinics:
The Canadian shortage of H1N1 vaccine is resulting in a reduction in the number of Public Health mass clinics that will be held for the week of November 9th.
The H1N1 vaccine shipment expected for next week will be significantly smaller than what has been received in the past two weeks. Given the reduced vaccine availability, Interior Health will only be offering combination H1N1 and seasonal immunization clinics in four communities—Lillooet, Nakusp, Sparwood, and Princeton.
The decision to offer clinics in these communities was based on available vaccine supply, their proximity away from larger clinics in their geographic area, and because they have not had a flu clinic in their community yet. These clinics will be for high-risk individuals only that meet the eligibility criteria for H1N1 vaccine and seasonal vaccine (if applicable.) The details on dates, times and locations for these clinics are still being worked out, and, when available, will be posted on our website at www.interiorhealth.ca. All previous planned seasonal clinics for this week will also be cancelled.
For the week November 9-14, people in the highest risk category, living in communities where there will not be a mass clinic, should be directed to check with their family physician or walk-in clinics to see if they have some remaining vaccine available.
If significant vaccine re-supply does recommence by mid-November, then we would once again re-establish Public Health mass immunization clinics across IH. If vaccine supply is adequate and if indicated by BC’s Provincial Health Officer, these clinics would be available for all the general public to be immunized, not simply high-risk individuals.
Pregnant Women:
A limited supply of unadjuvanted H1N1 vaccine is expected to begin arriving in Interior Health the week of Nov 9th. Pregnant women are encouraged to contact their health care provider to discuss and/or receive the vaccine, as this vaccine stock is being routed to physicians providing prenatal and obstetrical care. The unadjuvanted vaccine will not be provided through public clinics at this time.
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