Funny how the highest priority programs that are not cut, are the ones that should be base funded by the province in the first place and not funded by gambling money. If the province was doing their job right there would be no need for those programs in the first place to be provided by usually volunteer organizations.

I'm sensing the old WAC Bennett shell game being played here. Hit them hard with news releases then back off just a bit to look like a not so bad guy. Do it early in your term and then give back a little just before the next election. Aint politics wonderful?

Man, we're sure a cynical bunch around here.

Opinion250 - 'Where there is no good news'.

But while the premier is neglecting hard working British Columbians he is rewarding friends in his inner circle.
Gordon Campbell gave himself a hefty 54 percent raise in 2007, and under his watch, CEO's of crown corporations have seen their compensation skyrocket by as much as 166 per cent.
Gordon Campbell gave his deputy ministers a hefty pay raise in 2001 and another in 2006 - this time promising not to do it again for four more years. Then the premier broke his promise two years later, giving his deputy ministers another raise and opening the door for an increase of up to 43 per cent in 2008.
In February 2008, the public learned that Campbell's TransLink board voted themselves a 500 percent pay raise. Only a few weeks later, the premier's BC Ferries directors received an increase of up to 60 percent -- on April 1, 2008 - the same day ferry fares were increased for British Columbians.
In 2008, more than 50,000 British Columbians worked for minimum wage or less.
Since 2001, Campbell has raised the salaries of deputy ministers three times. If Campbell had raised the minimum wage at the same rate of increase as his deputy ministers' salaries, the minimum wage would now be $12.20 per hour.

One can certainly see there is no justice in the increases detailed above when the minimum wage remains unchanged, and inadequate.

But the question in regards to that is, I think, just how can we ever make it adequate?

Any increase in it will have to be reflected in higher prices. Just as the obscene increases doled out by Campbell and Co. to those who do their thinking for them; and then the actual "dirty work" of eliminating those with far lesser incomes under them, are already being reflected in higher taxes.

In both cases it's the "public" which is being disadvantaged whenever it CONSUMES the goods and services provided. It does us little good to raise the minimum wage if ALL, and probably more, of the increase is taken back in increased prices, (because the 'money' it's paid in isn't "free", it has to be borrowed ~ and now more of it and at a likely higher 'price').

All we're doing is working with bigger figures, there's no net advantage to the minimum wage earner, or anyone above him, who doesn't get a similar increase.

Time to look for a new approach. A repeat of what's been tried, over and over again, and repeatedly failed, just isn't going to cut it.