Bell Looks Forward to New Challenge
By 250 News
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 11:01 AM
Prince George, B.C.- Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell says he is excited about his new Cabinet post.
Bell was named yesterday as the Minister in charge of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation. He says trades training will fall under that ministry’s umbrella. “Trades training has a significant budget, and I’m continuing to hold on to what we call forest innovation investment which is all of the work I’ve been doing in China as well as our wood first policy, initiatives around building bigger buildings, new building codes, that sort of thing. So if it’s anything to do with trade or building the economy, it’s probably me.”
Although this new Ministry wasn’t included in the latest budget, Bell is confident there will be appropriate funding “ When I sat down with Premier Clark and she explained on what she was looking for me to take one, she clearly said she would make sure I had the fiscal resources necessary. This is really an investment portfolio, if you are prepared to spend a little money, we will get far more return on that resource, so we are going to be looking across the sectors in the next month or two to see where the early winds are. We’ve got one of those with China with forest products. I think we can do the same thing with mineral product in particular . I think mining is a big opportunity as well as tourism. I think there’s a couple of key sectors in the tourism industry, but technology, bio-energy those are going to be big ones for me as well to grow. We’ve got to grow our economy beyond where we’ve been. Two and a half, 3 percent does not pay for the social services the public is looking for in health care, education and so on. We need economic growth of 4 or 5% if we are going to do that.”
Bell says since the softwood lumber agreement falls under the “trade file” he carries that with him to the new portfolio. He says he will miss some of the initiatives under forestry, such as silviculture practices, and tenure reform, “ I love the people in the forest industry, it has been a passion for me for a long, long time, and I will miss that, there is no doubt, but the offer of taking on a role that is much larger that gives me the opportunity to touch the economy right across the province and hopefully have a positive impact on every community in the province, is one that I couldn’t pass up.”
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Posted by: He spoke on March 15 2011 12:22 PM
I am not a Bell fan,particularly considering his stand on the HST,but it would have made more sense to leave him right where he was.
He is certainly not the worst forestry minister we have ever had,and at least he knows the job.
As well,Bond should consider herself lucky to be still in cabinet.
There were a few cost overruns as Transportation Minister that kind of got away on her and I would not have been suprised to see her cut.
She also backed the wrong horse.
Rustad...well,he should consider himself damn lucky to even have a job as an MLA!
Speaking of that...where IS John Rustad?
Does he ever have anything to say about anything?