New Democrats Slam Budget

By 250 News

The provincial New Denocrats have  issued the following release reacting to the provincial Budget  delivered by Finance Minister Carole Taylor:

Carole Taylor's so-called green budget puts all the pressure of tackling climate change on average families already struggling to get by as big banks score a windfall, big polluters get a break and key public services like health care are ignored, BCNDP Finance Critic Bruce Ralston said today.  

"This new carbon tax is not a climate change plan," said Ralston. "The tax will hit consumers and average families the hardest as large industrial polluters get a pass and a handout. That's unfair and even the government admits it will accomplish little in the way of reducing actual emissions. The proposed dividend and tax cuts will not help low and middle income earners buy expensive hybrids or retrofit their homes.  This budget puts all of the burden on individuals instead of big  polluters. Clearly, the industrial lobbyists won in the backrooms."

 Ralston also pointed to the fine print which highlights the real winners of Budget 2008. The biggest tax cut, $220 million, goes to big banks. In addition, the oil and gas sector that is responsible for 21 percent of all emissions in B.C. is getting the largest subsidy ever. This year, the oil and gas sector will get $327 million in government subsidy
followed by $358 million next year. 

Ralston also expressed deep concern about the state of health care funding in this budget.

 "B.C.'s health authorities are looking at a $300 million shortfall as big banks get a $220 million tax cut," said Ralston. "This government's priorities are completely backwards. As a result of this shortfall, patients are going to see even more cuts and longer waitlists." 


Budget 2008 also ignores many of the most pressing challenges facing our province like child poverty, crime and the crisis in the forestry sector.

 "There's not one thing to help reduce child poverty," said Ralston. "B.C. has the worst child poverty rate in the country and the Minister didn't even mention it. Rural British Columbia is suffering under the worst forestry crisis our province has seen, but this budget offers those communities nothing. Carole Taylor says it's just a 'bump' in the economy. She should tell that to communities like Kamloops, Mackenzie,Campbell River and New Westminster that have lost their mills and hundreds of jobs.

 "This budget also takes a status quo approach to crime and community safety," said Ralston. "Gang violence and property crime are on the rise, but this budget turns a blind eye."

Overall Ralston called the budget a huge disappointment for ignoring many of the real challenges facing individual British Columbians.

 "This budget won't help patients suffering on waitlists or children and their families living in poverty," said Ralston. "It also ignores people at the SkyTrain station worried about their safety and the workers in Kamloops who just lost their jobs at the mill."

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