James Making the 'Rounds

Sunday, March 18, 2007 03:58 AM

Provincial NDP Leader Carole James is back on the road and she has gas prices on her mind.

As the price at the pumps climbed another 6 cents per litre, James says it is time to take a look at provincially regulating gas prices. James says the Province regulates hydro rates, natural gas rates, why not gasoline prices?

James sat down with Opinion250’s Ben Meisner for a half hour interview to be aired on Shaw T.V.’s "The Daily" .

Carole James also says she wants to see the report that looked at the potential for a cancer clinic in Prince George. Although not officially announced, it has "slipped" that a full service cancer clinic will be established in Prince George. The only thing not clear is the timing.

Having gone through the cancer treatment cycle herself, and having a loved one go through it as well, James says she understands the hardship of not being able to have the support of your family when you must travel long distances for treatment.

Having said that, James will not say she fully supports the idea of a cancer clinic being established in Prince George. She says she wants to see the full report that was prepared by Dr. Charles Jago and Northern Health’s Jeff Burghardt. "That report should have been released last fall, and the people of British Columbia should be asking to see that full report."

The full interview will be aired on Shaw T.V.’s "The Daily" on Wednesday March 21st, and Thursday the 22nd at 7 p.m.both days. The program will be broadcast again on Sunday the 24th at 3 p.m and 9 p.m.

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Posted on Sunday, March 18, 2007 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on March 18 2007 7:49 AM

The price of gas going up didn't change Carole James mind about going on a road trip. Not only do we have to pay our higher gas bill, but James's as well! Why doesn't she stay home and save us all some money? HeeHee! Typical NDP, let the people pay for it.

Posted by: Chester on March 18 2007 8:30 AM

Why can't she say she supports the establishment of a cancer clinic in PG? She has been around long enough to know the situation.

This is not a new idea that has just been launched. Remember the competition between PG and Kelowna a good number of years back?

We were still waiting and hoping for an announcement and the foundation was already poured for the clinic in Kelowna.

Just games and politics and we are the pawns. More study's and more delays? Let's just get on with things. Chester

Posted by: Harbinger on March 18 2007 8:31 AM

Why didn't the NDP think of building a cancer clinic up here while they were in power? It is nice to jump on the bandwagon when you finally catch up to it. And the cancer clinic is the slowest bandwagon , among others, that I can remember. Is she paying carbon credits to someone or something while she is wasting her time driving around BC? It is the right thing to do, you know. Just ask David Kawasaki, or whatshisname.

Posted by: diplomat on March 18 2007 2:08 PM

"This is not a new idea that has just been launched. Remember the competition between PG and Kelowna a good number of years back?"

Sure do. It was promised to us by Mike Harcourt, NDP during the election campaign.

As soon as he won the election the clinic was built in Kelowna instead.

Prince Rupert wants a cancer clinic and may get one before we do.

Politics.

Posted by: diplomat on March 18 2007 2:20 PM

"James says the Province regulates hydro rates, natural gas rates, why not gasoline prices?"

The countries that have the highest gas prices are also those where people buy the highest percentage of fuel efficient vehicles and where the most advanced fuel saving techniques are being invented.

They also have the most modern affordable mass transit systems where trains are on time, fares are competitive and pollution at a minimum.

Keeping gas prices artificially low by regulation and government interference discourages the use of alternative sources of energy, like electric cars which can be fueled by electricity from wind power and solar power, or by hydrogen generated by the above mentioned clean renewable sources.

Her simplistic suggestion may have mass appeal at election time but it isn't something that will be useful or even desirable as far as the future of our planet goes.

Thinking in a box isn't going to wean us off the non-renewable fossil fuels!

Posted by: HepCat on March 18 2007 2:21 PM

It was a bad idea when Harcourt proposed it and it's probably still a bad idea now. Let's see that Jago study; where are the cancer patients going to come from to keep the oncologists busy enough to A) pay their salaries and B) keep them up-to-date on their skills? Ask your friends in Fort St. John where they'd rather go for cancer treatment: Vancouver or Prince George? Which is more accessible? Same goes for anything west of Burns Lake, south of Quesnel, north of Mackenzie or east of McBride.

If it's feasible, build it. The Jago study was supposed to outline its feasibility. Let's see it.

Posted by: billposer on March 18 2007 2:30 PM

I remember hearing that the tradeoff was UNBC vs. the cancer clinic, that we would get only one of the two and UNBC won out.

Posted by: HepCat on March 18 2007 3:48 PM

Posted by: diplomat on March 18 2007 4:25 PM

"...that the tradeoff was UNBC vs. the cancer clinic, that we would get only one of the two and UNBC won out."

The Provincial Act establishing and initially funding UNBC was passed during the final days of the Bill VanderZalm government.

The PG cancer clinic promise came later as an election carrot.

One is to take politicians seriously, but not their promises - shame on me if I do/did.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on March 19 2007 10:27 AM

I hear you diplomat, but we all suffer from the same need to believe these spin doctors.Human nature I suppose.I still do at times,and I am usually disappointed.
The truth of the matter is,I have a 13 year old grandaughter with cancer and her life would be much easier if that cancer clinic was nearby.You cannot imagine how much easier.Her quality of life would also be much better.
It should have already happened by now,but look for it to be an election cookie from Mr.Campbell.Then wait for it to once again be put on the back burner.Carole James is a simpleton and I wouldn't cross the street to listen to her retoric.

Posted by: Palopu on March 20 2007 7:51 PM

Gas in Kamloops Monday 105.6 Prince George 105.6. 100 Mile House and Williams Lake 102. Quesnel 99.9. You figure it out.

Enough talk about gas prices. Firstly 60% of all Gasoline used in North America is for recreational use. People driving around in circles wondering what to do,. Lined up a Tim Hortons, engine idling, waiting for a cup of coffee. Driving from the Hart Hiway to Wal Mart to buy a useless piece of junk. Driving is entertainment for a lot of people. It gets them out of the house, and gives the impression that they are doing something, when in fact they are just sitting on their butts, staring out the window.

If we didnt burn up this gas the Oil Companies would just sell it to someone else, in China, Japan or Russia, and it would still get burnt.

The Oil Companies have us just where they want us,, and will continue to do so into the distant future. When the oil is gone we will go to plan (2).

Remember that before the invention of the automobile oil was a somewhat useless commodity. Get rid of vehicles and it will become somewhat useless again.

If your serious about saving fuel, then ask your Government to implement rations on Gasoline, and to make it mandatory for all automobiles to have governers on them that restrict your speed to 50 miles per hour. If you dont want these restrictions, then quit complaining and continue driving until the last well is dry.