NDP MLA Bob Simpson Says 250 Big Loser In Throne Speech

Wednesday, February 13, 2008 03:54 AM

Prince George - Caribou North MLA Bob Simpson says there was not a lot in the throne speech for the people in the 250, only a re- hash of climate change promises. "The Liberals made 25 promises" he said "16 of them they have made already."

All of the capital spending says Simpson is taking place in the lower mainland. "It is an urban agenda from an urban Premier. The Premier doesn’t get the fact that the economic engine of this province is driven by the rural areas. Without the wealth of these rural areas this province would not be able to provide the education, health and other social services that we do."

Simpson says forestry barely got a mention, "All the Premier could say in the throne speech was that mining was good, well we haven’t had one new mine in this province of late and oil and gas are coming off. We also all know that forestry is in a melt down along with agriculture. These are the areas that should have received the most attention in the throne speech."

Opposition Leader Carole James says yesterday’s Speech from the Throne showed "An out of touch Gordon Campbell with no vision to make life better for average British Columbians and highlighted seven years of wasted opportunities under the B.C. Liberals."

“Gordon Campbell came up with some new slogans about tomorrow, but he failed to provide the vision B.C. needs to meet its challenges today,” said James. “British Columbians expected more. This was a hollow Throne Speech full of slogans designed to cover up empty promises.” James says Gordon Campbell’s Throne Speech mentioned climate change, healthcare and homelessness, but he didn’t provide any concrete actions, "No help today for the forestry crisis, nothing about child poverty, nothing to make life more affordable for average families and no plan to tackle crime except more studies."

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Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 03:54 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on February 13 2008 6:00 AM

It's all about the lower mainland with the Liberal government. They know where their bread is buttered and could give two s***s about anything north of Cache Creek

Posted by: pisspulper on February 13 2008 7:35 AM

I thought the boundary was Hope!!

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on February 13 2008 7:42 AM

Did Bob Simpson back the NDP when they would not support the north keeping all MLA ridings? Or is Bob OK with less representation from the north?

An urban agenda indeed. Kind of like the kettle calling the pot black, eh Bob?

Posted by: Eagleone on February 13 2008 7:48 AM

Same with our local politicians...They are all about the lower mainland as well IMO. I think one day we will realize that the lower mainland commits economic warfare on our part of the province on a regular basis. The focus on the olympic spending is only the most obvious latest example.

I think our local politicians need to fight back if we are to get our fair share. We need to be proactive in proposing infrastructure development on a regional scale, but locally PG could do other things. Why is Vancouver more competitive for a forest company head office? Its because of office space costs, commute times, or cost of living as an effective competitive advantage over Prince George� so why are the forest companies like Canfor all HQ out of Vancouver? Is it connections to the shipping industry? I'd like to see studies that look into those kinds of things, and if we are more competitive, then provide that information to corporate shareholders when management does not. IMO PG could be competitive as a corporate headquarter location... especially if our shipping connections are expanded.

Anyone that thinks a throne speech from a government and legislature dominated by the lower mainland could in anyway speak of the future hopes of the north and interior doesn't understand the balance of power in this province. For outside the Vancouver-Victoria majority there is no real economic policy unless only when it coincides with congruent favour to the lower mainland. The north and interior are political beggars with no power to determine their own economic policy or infrastructure development and thus are simply a competing special interest group along with corporations and other special interests that influence government policy.

IMO a province of Northern BC would be different.

Posted by: socredible on February 13 2008 8:28 AM

All this talk of infrastructure and development. And now a Province of Northern BC.

Yet if we can't pay for what we've already made from the money paid out in the course of making it, how is making 'more' going to solve the problem? Your debt just gets larger and larger.

Seems to me we're continually trying to divide a 'financial' pie that's too small. While ignoring the physical reality of there being more than enough for all. Isn't it about time we started to insist that the 'figures' fit the 'facts'?

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 13 2008 8:40 AM

I tend to agree with you Eagleone.
If we simply lay down and let the Campbell government ignore us as they usually do,we lose out bigtime.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and given the economic circumstances that we may very well be facing up here,we need to become a major thorn is the Liberal side.
And don't be looking for any help from the NDP!
And I think you also have a good point about local politicians,and not just in Prince George either!
They all need to become a LOT more vocal throughout northern and central B.C.
But,unfortunately that won't happen with any elected Liberal politician,unless Gordon Campbell says it's ok!
We have been silent far too long with the tokens that they throw at us from the lower mainland from time to time.
The old excuse about that is where the population is, so thats where the tax dollars get spent, is crap and the spending has been out of control.
The tipoff to the scam should have been when they took our tax dollars, but did not give us a vote on the Olympics.
That's when it started to get crazy down there and since then, it's gotten worse by the month.
In the run up to 2010,it will REALLY get crazy!
But not to worry...I am sure Campbell will see fit to throw a token of some sort our way to to buy us all off in the very near future.
He wants to be Premier for the games more than anything in the world, but he will wait til the next election for any big announcments regarding the north.
The only solution I can see is too keep the heat on and embarrass the Liberals every chance we get!
If we do that long enough,they just might start to take us seriously north of hope.

Posted by: diplomat on February 13 2008 9:12 AM

Vancouver Island is beautiful, so are the capital Victoria and the Buildings of the Legislature - to me it all looks almost like another *country* basking off the coast of the mainland.

Shouldn't the capital of B.C. be in the geographical center of the province rather than on some Pacific Ocean balmy island?

Once there, it is very hard to remember that something important actually exists east and far to the north from that idyllic spot.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 13 2008 9:30 AM

We spend a lot of time on the island, and I couldn't agree more!
It's like anything north of the lower mainland doesn't exist...which is about how we are treated too!
And hey,Prince George is pretty close to the geographical center of B.C.give or take a few miles!
Hmmm...

Posted by: Howrd_B_Stern on February 13 2008 10:47 AM

Ok, making PG the capital of BC based on geographical location is a joke right?

I knew there were some Rhino party members still left.

Posted by: realitysetsin on February 13 2008 11:03 AM

Some fault lies with the region for electing representatives from the non-ruling party.

Who do you think the Lib's are going to look out first? Uncle Bob's constituents? Not likely.

Cross the floor Bob, you are good at what you do, but your roots are in the Liberal party.

Posted by: lostfaith on February 13 2008 11:05 AM

Just a little side note about the north not meaning much to our wonderful govt.
While opening the northern winter games in Dawson Creek our fine premier wished to "Welcome everyone to Dawson City".
No correction was ever made.

Posted by: Death to Socialism on February 13 2008 12:59 PM

Obviously any political party will favor the most populous areas & the Peeg ain't it. Get over it.

Posted by: RRrabbitt on February 13 2008 1:18 PM

How soon you forget !!! (cue the music)

Prince George is "BC's Northern Capital" !!

Which is about as silly as saying that Prince George is a "winter city"... as if that somehow makes the City special... what a delusion !!!

Is nobody at City Hall going to take their head out of the snowbank long enough to grasp reality ???

We have to beg Victoria for each piece of toilet paper when we want to wipe our.... noses.

Goodtimes !!

Posted by: Andyfreeze on February 13 2008 1:21 PM

"Some fault lies with the region for electing representatives from the non-ruling party".
Very true...but unfortunately,the problem is that the ruling party knows that!!
The attitude we now have is, if your representative is not a Liberal,you get nothing,and maybe next time you will know better!
And that is exactly what is wrong with the political/electoral set up in B.C.
There has to be a better way!

Posted by: lostfaith on February 13 2008 1:45 PM

The way things go in politics these days it doesn't matter who we elect or what thier party is. They may just change parties depending on what benefits them at the time.

Posted by: Chester on February 13 2008 8:16 PM

Seems to me that our local Provincial Government stepped up to the plate to pay for our Flood costs. Seems to me that we are in the process of twinning a bridge into our city that we have wanted for years. Seems to me that our highways to the south have improved substantially over the past few years. Seems to me that our economy have expanded and our resource industry has diversified in the past few years. Seems to me that the expansion and growth of our community and the increase in the values of our property's have made our community a better place to live.

I agree, life in the center of our province is not the same as on the island or the lower mainland. And I'm happy about that. I am also thankful for where I live, where I earn a living and for the lifestyle I enjoy. If we continue to work together for a better life in the north, our voices will be heard. It's not really that bad, is it? Chester