False claims on federal Conservative Party website about $1 billion pine beetle funding for BC Interior
By Peter Ewart
As noted in previous articles on 250 News, the Harper Conservative government promised $1 billion in funding for the BC Interior to address the devastation of the pine beetle epidemic but, according to its own budget figures, only delivered $200 million before the funding was suspended in 2009 (and folded into a country-wide “Community Adjustment Fund”).
However, this has not stopped the Harper government from continuing to claim on the Conservative Party national website that it has provided the $1 billion in pine beetle funding after all. For example, on the portion of the party website devoted to Dick Harris, Conservative MP for the riding of Cariboo-Prince George, the claim is made that “as a leading spokesman for the Mountain Pine Beetle issue, Dick’s experience and determination secured a $1 billion commitment of support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to mitigate the damage caused by the pine beetle infestation in BC” (1).
The website further goes on to say that “this fund was encompassed in the 2009 Economic Action Plan that resulted in the riding of Cariboo-Prince George being the recipient of the largest amount of federal funding ever delivered to the Central Cariboo-Region by a sitting member of parliament.”
There is some tricky and misleading language here. Just what does “this fund was encompassed in the 2009 Economic Action Plan” mean? In fact, no actual figures about the pine beetle fund are given in the 2009 Plan. However, when the 2012 edition of the Plan is read, you find, lo and behold, buried deep inside its hundreds of pages, the notation that only $200 million has been allocated to pine beetle mitigation, not $1 billion. In other words, “encompassed” means shrunk to just 20% of the original promise. Yet, on the Party website today in 2015, the opposite impression is given.
Instead of admitting that $800 million was slashed from the original $1 billion promise, we also get the unsubstantiated claim that the Cariboo-Prince George riding got the largest amount of federal funding ever. Interesting word play to gloss over a glaring negative.
Such misinformation is an insult to all the people in the BC Interior who are being hit hard by the pine beetle devastation through the destruction of vast tracts of prime forest, decimation of the timber supply, mill closures, production cutbacks, economic development slowdown, environmental impacts, and so on.
It is especially an insult to all the city and village councils, as well as beetle coalition members (many of whom are volunteers) who were given the false impression back in 2006 that the region and its communities would be receiving $100 million a year for ten years ($1 billion in total) from the federal government to grapple with this devastating natural disaster.
It is even more galling that the Conservative Party continues with this charade on its website in the lead-up to the Fall 2015 federal election.
But this is not the first time something similar has happened. For example, it was recently revealed that although the Harper government has repeatedly boasted about how much “the budget for veterans care has gone up under their watch,” in fact $1.13 billion of the funding was never spent but instead was allocated to other uses, in spite of the fact that many veterans were being denied benefits and services.
Such shenanigans should serve as a caution to Canadians, especially now in the lead up to the federal election, when the Harper government is travelling the country like Johnny Appleseed, handing out infrastructure grants of one kind or another.
But based on the experience so far, why should we believe such promises will actually materialize after the election? Will these regional grants end up being dramatically slashed, shrunk or disappeared into other programs as happened to the pine beetle funding? And will we discover more shell games being played, once again, on rural regions like ours?
Peter Ewart is a columnist and writer based in Prince George, British Columbia. He can be reached at: peter.ewart@shaw.ca
- Conservative Party of Canada website. July 5, 2015. http://www.conservative.ca/cr/cariboo-prince-george/
- Brewster, Murray. “Veterans Affairs handed back %1.1 billion in unspent funds: documents. Globe and Mail. Nov. 20, 2014. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/11-billion-in-unspent-funds-at-veterans-affairs-documents-show/article21665655/
Comments
What. Harper deceiving us…say it isn’t so…
What? That can’t be right, Harper and the Cons always tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
/sarcasm
Shell game. Now you see it, now you don’t. Encompassed means ‘handed back to the general treasury’. Now holding the Duffy thing in limbo until after the federal election? Micro managing to the nth degree but at the same time claiming to have been blissfully unaware about what was going on! Well, it appears that some can fool most of the people most of the time! Keep voting for them!
“Harper Harper he’s our man, if he can’t do it no one can!” Cheers.
I suspect that the Government came to the conclusion that giving $1 billion to small communities would amount to a serious waste of money.
They did spend hundreds of millions in small communities under the Western Canada Diversification fund, which anyone can look up and see where it was spent.
Perhaps Peter can give us some indication where and how this additional $800 Million could have been spent. I cannot recall any communities coming up with any great ideas on how to spend this money.
Small communities, municipalities, etc; are just as irresponsible when it comes to spending tax dollars, as the Provinces, and the Federal Governments.
Perhaps all Governments should take some down time in the money spending business, and just do their jobs and then go home.
Comrade Ewart preaching to the loopy left choir on NDP-250.
Hey Pete, how about giving us your cutting edge analysis of the economic fiasco in Greece? Borrow, spend, borrow, spend, borrow, spend, default, default, default, blame the creditors, blame the world, invoke ‘democracy’ to justify your failures. You should be thankful you’re living in a developed country that has its economic house fully in order.
If I was a savvy provincial politician I would go after that money to help pay for some of BC’s firefighting costs as the pine beetle trees definitely made fires in those areas more expensive to fight.
VOR, are you saying our economic house is in order…lol. Compared to Greece almost everyone’s is..but when you are cutting back essentials etc and still going deeper in debt your house isn’t in good financial order.
P Val, so many on the left keep complaining that our Government is cutting back on essential services. Funny thing is, I’m so busy taking care of myself that I haven’t noticed!
Between taking care of myself and my family AND paying taxes to take care of those that are unable to take care of themselves AND paying taxes to take care of those that are “unwilling” to take care of themselves, who’s got time to notice cut backs on essential services?
A short time ago I posted a link that showed the growth in the public sector as compared to the private sector. The lefties on this site chose to ignore it, I suspect because the “facts and truths” in the report didn’t align with their anti-Conservative views.
I keep saying that we need a complete review and rationalization of our Government, government at all levels, to ensure that we are getting the best value for our tax dollars and to ensure that we are directing tax dollars to the most appropriate places. Excessive public sector wages, benefits and pensions are NOT the most appropriate places! Neither are politician’s expense accounts or retirement benefits!
From the link above:
Quote: Às a leading spokesman for the Mountain Pine Beetle issue, Dick’s experience and determination secured a $1 billion commitment of support from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to mitigate the damage caused by the pine beetle infestation in BC. End of Quote.
Meaning that it was just a commitment and not an actual promise. Then it became uncommitted, or decommitted, whatever…
Yuuuup Harpervalley got dicked . Now it’s Bob and weave time . You cons a funny as heck . Come on Bob weave us a picture of what’s really going on . In your mind , that is . Harper is a the master of delusion . He and his harperettes are the only ones buying it . Some call it creative accounting . I call it fraud .
I find Hart Guy’s comments about growth in public sector employment interesting in that he blames “lefties” for ignoring it. What I find interesting about it is that he completely ignores the fact that BC has had a rightist government since 2001, so any excessive growth in public sector employment has been due to the rightists making up that government. Any waste of taxpayers’ money from this increase in public sector employment has been due to the same rightist government. We should remember that employees do not hire themselves. Management does the hiring, and in the case of government that means decisions taken under the control of ministries and the minister involved – all rightists in this case, every single one of them. Much the same can be said about the Federal government and the rightists that have controlled it one way or the other since the Liberals were defeated. Perhaps I should point out that “Lefties” have had nothing to do with the number of public sector employees in the Federal service since the NDP has never before formed a government. It has always been one or other of the rightist parties, Conservatives or Liberals. In future it would be refreshing to see blame laid by rightist commentators at the feet of the rightists who caused the problems instead of using the scapegoat of political convenience in order to mislead the voting public away from those at fault.
ammonra, for far too long Governments at all levels have all been guilty of giving us what we want! We demand more and more and more of government and government keeps giving us what we want! We want this program and government gives it to us! We want that program and government gives that program to us as well!
We want, want, want and government gives, gives, gives! Actually, we don’t really “want” so much as we “demand”!
We need governments at all levels to finally grow a pair and to say NO once in a while! We can’t afford the amount of Government that we have and we can’t afford all of the “wants” that we “demand”! We are like a bunch of spoiled children who never think that their allowance is enough!
ammonra, do you seriously think that a left wing government would be more inclined to grow a pair and say NO more often? After all, it is typically their “left wing bleeding heart” supporters that seem to want the most!
The delusion of the hart guy is admittedly amazing . It’s driven by ideology . Not by reality in the least . The righties are responsible for the largest debt in Canadian history . Under the harperettes we now have also the largest most expensive government in history and it’s still growing . And to boot these incompetents have put us in recession . I wouldn’t put any of them in charge of a two hole long drop .
First Hart Guy criticises left wing posters for ignoring comments made then he proceeds to ignore comments himself when he doesn’t like them. Not a peep in his response about my reference to rightist governments being responsible for any excessive public sector employment. Now, what’s that English word for people who criticise and condemn others for doing what they themselves do?
The Pine Beetle commitment was made in 2006 after putting in some 200 plus millions the Federal Government terminated the program in 2009 and folded it into another program.
Since then the Conservative were re-elected with a majority Government in 2011. The two main ridings in this area ie’; PG Peace River, and PG Cariboo were won by the Conservatives with stunning majorities.
So who’s concerned about the Pine Beetle Program. Or better yet who is reading what’s on the Conservative Website. Even Conservatives don’t read that website. Most people do not read political party websites, so at any given moment they would be hard pressed to say whats on the Liberal, NDP, Conservative, or Green websites,.
So what we have here is a regurgitation of some old news (2006-2009) being put front and centre in an election year, with the idea that this is something new.
Is there anything to indicate that the export of softwood lumber has actually increased in the past few years, which of course would mean that production has increased. Is this possible even though there were some mills shut down.
The real crunch from the pine beetle and reduction in available timber is still to come. Probably within the next 5/10 years. Even if the Conservatives stuck with the original plan, the program would have expired next year.
So in essence this is a non issue, other than it has some legs for political reasons but that’s about it.
To the question in Hart Guy’s last paragraph. The only way we will ever know is to elect an NDP government federally. Let’s do that and find out.
Palopu it’s not old news for forestry workers . They are living the effects of a deceitful , incompident , federal government . Heck they are even willing to throw their own ridings under the bus . dick , are you still taking credit for the full amount promised ? Or are you going to revise your claim ?
Posted on Monday, July 6, 2015 @ 11:25 AM by Hart Guy
ammonra, for far too long Governments at all levels have all been guilty of giving us what we want! We demand more and more and more of government and government keeps giving us what we want! We want this program and government gives it to us! We want that program and government gives that program to us as well!
We want, want, want and government gives, gives, gives! Actually, we don’t really “want” so much as we “demand”
=====================================
So the better option is to elect the government that you know won’t listen to you and that will do whatever it is they want, as opposed to doing what the people who they represent want?
Makes complete sense, LOL.
P.S. Since you want future governments to grow a pair, doesn’t that mean that you should actually support them when they don’t? After all, they are not abiding by your wishes . . .
Ataloss. Get your facts straight. The Provincial Government is responsible for the forests in British Columbia. The Federal Government offered some assistance for the pine beetle because of the devastation is caused in the Province. Only a lefty would scoff at $250 Million.
The money went to other programs in BC and in Canada, and that is the Governments prerogative. The mere fact that they were elected with a majority Government in 2011 should give you some insight into how many people are actually concerned about this issue.
The amount of $1 billion was originally put on the table, and then in 2009 taken off,. No one cares about the balance except for the weeping, left. The Government has done a number of things since being elected that would be construed as good, except by the lefties.
Unless you guys can come up with some good ideas as to what the other $800 million could have been spent on, you may as well move on to bigger and better things.
NMG exactly . Being a con is like being religious . One Must leave ones brain at the door before entering .
Palopu, when the government promises money and then doesn’t come up with the money it’s called lying. Paint it how you want but it’s not right…we know you are a harperminion, but your blind ignorance is somewhat scarey..
ammonra, you must have missed the part of my comment where I stated:
“for far too long Governments at all levels have all been guilty of giving us what we want!”
You probably also missed the part where I further stated:
“We need governments at all levels to finally grow a pair and to say NO once in a while! We can’t afford the amount of Government that we have and we can’t afford all of the “wants” that we “demand”! We are like a bunch of spoiled children who never think that their allowance is enough!”
ammonra, when I stated “Governments at all levels”, I was referring to our local municipal Government, our Provincial Government and our Federal Government!
Sounds like I’m criticizing all of them, which I am!! I want, expect and demand responsible handling of my hard earned tax dollars! I have no problem telling the Conservatives to shape up! I have no problem telling the BC Liberals to shape up! I have no problem telling our City Council to get with the program!
ammonra, if you think that our right wing Governments are responsible for any excessive growth in public sector employment, I fear that with an NDP Government, we haven’t seen anything yet!
I’d rather criticize and take my chances with a right wing Government than give the NDP a shot, ANY DAY!!
First there is a mountain ( of cash) then there is no mountain then there is . On their website that is . Coolaid for everyone .
Hey Palopu, perhaps some of that $800 million could be used to inventory the province’s forests, it has been noted that better inventory information is needed.
“BC Council of Forest Industries Vice-president Doug Routledge said companies have been harvesting in pine-dominated stands within the hardest-hit areas for 15 years. He welcomed the report, saying industry also wants a better understanding of what’s left of the forest. Better inventory information is needed.”
Hey Palopu, perhaps the rest of that $800 million could be used to increase reforestation / replanting of areas where the annual allowable cut has increased to unsustainable levels that most likely will not support future industry.
Come on Harper, give us the money you promised, and we will make sure it is spent wisely… wait a minute… it would be the Christy Clark government who would be making sure it is spent, but “wisely” I am in much doubt. At both the federal and provincial levels, we get the double whammy of incompetence.
Oh, and for those of you who are interested in finding out just how bad a shape our forests, and corresponding forest industry, is in right now, take a look at this article, I guarantee you will be “alarmed”:
www. biv.com/article/2014/4/beetle-wood-salvage-estimates-ring-alarm-bells/
If you prefer a rightist government over the NDP no matter what, Hart Guy, you can obviously expect even more public sector employment and waste of tax dollars. As the expression goes, “Plus ça change, plus c’est la meme chose”. If that is what you prefer, why are you complaining?
$800 million dollar to reforest ? How many millions of CROWN LAND acres will be burn out before this fire season that will burn till fall ? Is it in the interest of the crown to protect the crowns asset ?
P Val,. Welcome to the real world of politics. Seems Chretian campaigned on getting rid of the GST and the Free Trade Agreement. Paul Martin robbed the EI fund of some $46 Billion dollars to balance his budget and then had his friends claim he was a genius.
Provincial Government sold BC Rail and created a monopoly in the central interior that is costing industry millions of dollars.
It goes on and on. However in the case of the missing $800 million, its not missing. The Government decided to spend it in a different place.
Perhaps at a later date, when the s..t hits the fan we will once again need this money, and if the weeping left or the liberals are in power, it will be interesting to see if they come up with the bucks.
Palopu, just because other parties “did” it doesn’t make it right… Why do all the harperminion said always try to deflect what Harper is doing by mentioning what the other parties did when they where in power…some have not been in power for decades but you harperminions always bring up what they did…
It’s time to look what’s happening now..not looking so far back for excuses or someone to blame.. Ask seniors, veterans, anyone on a surgery waiting list, etc how this gov is doing.. Deepest in debt we have ever been..selling our country to anyone with cash..
BREAKING NEWS!
Standard and Poor’s has once again downgraded Ontario’s credit rating again for “very high debt burden and very weak budgetary performance”. Aren’t the Ontario Liberals a bit “left-leaning”?
Poor Kathleen Wynne, what’s she and her Ontario Liberal to do?? She’s worse than Stephen Harper or Christy Clark by far, and yet we hear very little about her and her Government. I suspect that the Alberta’s NDP Government led by Rachel Notley won’t be far behind!
But, that’s just my opinion!
What does your comment have to do with the missing $800 million the Harper Government promised us Hart Guy? This discussion thread is beginning to look like a Friday Free For All, judging by the comments coming from the right.
What does Ontario’s credit rating have to do with the topic at hand? These righties will bring up any subject to try and deflect the discussion away from the Harper is a liar, liar, pants on fire, subject that is $800 million being promised but not delivered.
Sophic, if you are going to make comments such as the following:
“At both the federal and provincial levels, we get the double whammy of incompetence.”
..then I think it’s fair to point out that incompetence even within the left wing governments that you in your infinite wisdom adore!
Obviously you missed my point! That surprises me, what with your self-important and supreme level of intelligence and all!
Cheers!
Ummm… I think we all missed your point Hart Guy, but it is inspiring to see you trying so hard to keep up.
Toodles!
Sophie, I am so glad and so proud to have Stephen Harper as OUR Prime Minister!
Here’s another just released article about our Prime Minister Stephen Harper! I thought that I would share it with you, just because I’m such a gosh darn nice guy!
“Harper’s refusal to help bail out Europe draws Germany’s ire”
http: // www. theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/harpers-refusal-to-help-bail-out-europe-draws-germanys-ire/article4240996/
As always, remove the spaces, blah, blah, blah!
P.S. – You’re welcome (for the link, not the instructions to open the link)!!
…and Sophic, as far as me keeping up, in spite of your delusions of grandeur, you really don’t set the bar very high! ;-)
Before any one says anything, us kids better start playing nice in the sandbox!
Palopu:”It goes on and on. However in the case of the missing $800 million, its not missing. The Government decided to spend it in a different place.”
A simple slight of hand (shell game) explanation! It goes to show that if one is convinced about a certain party, politician or politics any excuse will do! However, no matter how much lipstick is put on this particular pine beetle pig – it is still a lying pig!
Hmmm, for a minute there I thought Hart Guy was blaming left wingers, (other than the existing right wing govt’s that have been in power for decades in this country) for all our social and economic ills.
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