Economy And Jobs Focus Of Clark Government
Tuesday, February 14, 2012 @ 10:29 AM
Prince George, B.C. – MLAs from around the province have gathered in Victoria for the spring session of the B.C. legislature, a session that’s sure to be packed with fireworks given that we’re just over a year away from the next scheduled provincial election.
The Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation, Pat Bell, says common themes on the government side will be the focus on economic development and job creation. The Prince George-Mackenzie MLA says “We are all squarely focused on that and I think it’s because the globe is in for a tough time. Whether you look at what’s going on in Europe with Greece, Italy, Ireland and other countries, whether you look at the U.S. and the challenges that they’re having, the whole economic environment is shifting and if we’re smart I think we can take advantage of it and we can still see very strong economic growth. Of course that means linking ourselves more to China, Korea, Japan has always been a key trading partner and then India as well is going to be very, very important. But that requires big changes, it requires forward-looking government that is saying how do we create these economic partnerships in a timely way and help stimulate our economy, because if you don’t do that you’re spending money that you don’t have and that’s what I always worry about with Adrian Dix and his folks. They are very, very fast in making promises, very, very slow to tell us how they’re going to fund them and if they think they can just do it out of a magic pot of money well we all know that money doesn’t grow on trees.”
Bell says as far as his riding is concerned, there are a couple of possibilities and they have quite different overall outcomes. He says there is an opportunity to be coming into a very strong economic period, “probably as strong as we’ve seen since the 1960’s or early 1970’s. It’s as a result of things like Site C, the natural gas pipelines, natural gas ports, forestry expansion, mining expansion, all those sorts of things if we are smart and we manage our trading relationships with Asia appropriately. Conversely, I think if we do not manage it well, and I think there is a risk of that, there’s an election coming up in a year and a half and there’s a risk of a change of government there and we’ve seen what that does, then I think we could follow the tide that the U.S. and Europe and Greece are on where we run up significant debt, we don’t manage our economy and we don’t create jobs and benefits for people. I think it’s two quite diverse options and I know which one I would chose but everyone will have that opportunity in a year and a bit from now.”
Comments
âprobably as strong as weâve seen since the 1960âs or early 1970âs”
In 1981 PG was the 7th largest city in BC with 67,559
1991 PG moved to #12, with Victoria, Kelowna etc. moving ahead
2001 PG moved to #15 with Kamloops and Nanaimo moving ahead
2011 PG moved to #17 with Maple Ridge and Chilliwack moving ahead.
1. We have a lot of catching up to do and it would take a big unknown to do any reasonable quantity of catching up.
2. The years of 1965 to 1975 saw growth rates similar to Surrey, Kelowna, etc. of the last decade+
If the population were to follow the expected investments, we would be back to uncontrolled growth and all those pains associated with that, including the unplanned aftermath 20 years later that we have had to deal with in the last 20 years.
Our May 2011 City population was 71,974
If we use an order of magnitude of rapid expansion on an annual basis for 10 years, we could be looking at the following populations 10 years down the road with a 4 to 6% annual increase:
4%2021106,539
5%2021117,238
6%2021128,894
I cannot foresee that amount of activity, or even half that amount over the next ten years.
Of course, we may not be a proportional recipient of that population increase. Instead, it might be Kitimat, Terrace, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Tumbler Ridge and the Peace that will see the bulk of it.
Terrace, get ready for more big box stores.
I see Bell is responding the the recent polls that show the NDP would crush them if an election were held right now.
It takes an awful lot of audacity to proclaim that the BC Liberal Party is still the party to choose after the legacy of destruction they have heaped onto this province in the last few years, but I think having a skewed perspective is requisite for politics these days, meaning you never own up to your mistakes you just keep pointing the finger elsewhere even when it’s beyond ridiculous.
I personally think it will be poetic to see the end of HST and then the BC Liberal Party in short lock-step. I’m of the opinion that just about anyone would be better than a BC Liberal, ANYONE. The sooner the better.
The economy and jobs is the focus. Gee, never heard that one before. This looks more like political posturing than anything else.
There you have it folks! All you have to do is vote Liberal and you can sit back and wait for the good times to roll again. Sounds like a great plan.
As an aside, isn’t it about time for the next “PG is set for a boom” story to grace Global news? LOL :)
“Conversely, I think if we do not manage it well, and I think there is a risk of that, thereâs an election coming up in a year and a half and thereâs a risk of a change of government there and weâve seen what that does, then I think we could follow the tide that the U.S. and Europe and Greece are on where we run up significant debt, we donât manage our economy and we donât create jobs and benefits for people. I think itâs two quite diverse options and I know which one I would chose but everyone will have that opportunity in a year and a bit from now.â
Well, jeez-louise, Pat Bell see the future! “There’s a risk of a change in government and we’ve seen what that does” and guess what? he’s right! The last change in government saw the Liberals take power and things haven’t been that rosey since. And guess what, Pat? I know which government you’d choose as well, but hey, we don’t all think like you do, Pat.
As for your vague promises? Pie in the sky, by and by . . .
Everything that has happened in the last few months indicates to me that we are going to have a spring election.
Theres hardly a day goes by that we do not get some **good news** announcement from the Liberals.
1. New Jail in Oliver
2. New world class ski lodge in Valemount area.
3. LNG Plants in Kitimat and Pr Rupert.
4. Power Lines up Highway 37
5. More money for seniors health
6. BC Hydro to back away from private power. This will allow for the development of the LNG Plants.
7. Site C to move to next stage of viability
8. Major mines to develop on Highway 37
and other areas.
9. Increase in Ferry fares tied to rate of inflation. Government to get more involved in Ferrys.
10. Completion of the Port Mann Bridge.
11. Governments focus on family and jobs.
12. No increases for Teachers or Government employees. Teachers legislated back to work if necessary.
There are more but you get my drift. The table is almost set.
Next we will get an announcement that the HST recinding date will be moved forward, and WALLA. THE ANNOUNCEMENT.
How else can you explain all this largesse.
The Government has nothing to gain by waiting. The time to go is now. If they carry on with the HST around their neck it will drag them to defeat. By eliminating it sooner they can declare that they carried out the wishes of the electorate.
Bang on Palopu. Add the Seniors care announcement today aimed at getting seniors onside. The Liberals know they can’t wait until 2013. That would give the fledgling Conservatives that much more time to get organized and funded and mount a real challenge which at the very least would ensure a right-wing split occurred in an election next year. All the Liberal strategists are looking for now is a trigger issue, one they can point to as “forcing us to call an election this year to preserve our way of life in British Columbia”.
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