We believe in our people – and the willingness of the vast majority to be daring – in seeking solutions to the challenges which will face us

The election campaign is in its' final hours.  After everything you have heard from them, I ask; “Are either the BC Liberals, or NDP parties you believe should govern our province?”

 

Again, the questions asks if they “should govern” – not if they “can govern”.

 

Late last week both the NDP and Liberals ran full-page ads, in the same edition of the Kamloops Daily News, which attacked and tore each other down.

 

This is what THEY DO, rather than giving YOU a positive choice and option to support and vote for.  So here is the choice, which I ask you consider; the BC Conservative Party which instead wishes to build up the people of BC. 

 

I freely admit we do not have all of the answers, to the many questions and issues which face our province.  However, we welcome the opportunity to enter a dialogue -- with you – so that WE can work together for the betterment of our province.

 

We believe in our people – and the willingness of the vast majority to be daring in seeking solutions to the challenges which will face us in the coming months and years ahead. 

 

We believe in our potential … and we believe in our future as a province that can lead the country in jobs, prosperity, in working together to create new opportunities for the next generation which follows us, and in ensuring we lend a hand to those in need.

 

Tomorrow you have a choice.  

 

Do we want more of the same from the BC Liberals and NDP ... or a return to accountability in government. 

 

The polls seem to show that the vast majority of British Columbians; our seniors ... our families ... our children ... and small business people, are looking for an alternative and a return to government that gets down to the basics of good governance. 

 

The BC Conservatives are that alternative.  The alternative for smaller government, less taxes, and real family supporting job creation. 

 

I commit to you, that as your MLA, I will fight to control wasteful government spending. Government does not need to spend more … it does not need to spend less … it simply needs to cut waste and spend smarter.

 

To do that, I'm counting on your support.

 

I ask you to vote Peter Sharp, and together we can build a better BC to live, work and raise a family.

 

I'm Peter Sharp -- I'm a BC Conservative -- and I BELIEVE in BC!

 

"I challenge my fellow Kamloops - South Thompson candidates, Todd Stone and Tom Friedman, to make the same clear and unambiguous statement!"

Today my campaign team and I put together the following Media Release, which was sent out to radio, newspaper, and TV here in Kamloops.

The voters of Kamloops - South Thompson will soon make their choice for MLA.  But who will stand up for the best interests of this riding?  

 

Will it be Liberal Todd Stone voting with the docile herd according to the direction of the party whips?  Or NDP Tom Friedman, tied to a party beholden to big union interests?  Or a clear alternative; Peter Sharp of the BC Conservatives. 

 

"Kamloops South needs an MLA who will speak his mind, and represent the best interests of the voters who have elected him -- even if that runs counter to the stated position of the party." stated Kamloops - South Thompson BC Conservative candidate Peter Sharp. 

 

"I have personally received an assurance from party leader John Cummins, while in Kamloops, that he expects his MLA’s to vote according to their constituents wishes." Sharp continued.

 

John Cummins is also on the record (Vancouver Sun - May 3) saying: “You put your constituents ahead of the party. Manning used to tell us that. It’s the folks at home that elect you. You’ve got to put their interests ahead of the party.  I believed that; I still do.” 

 

Continued Sharp, "The position my party takes is clear; you should have Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA's) who listen to you, first and foremost.  I have a leader who backs that up 100 percent."

Change for the better will not come from taxing and spending more -- as BOTH the Liberals and NDP have proposed.

Last night was the CBC / Kamloops Daily News all-candidates forum.  From coverage in the newspapers today one would be hard pressed to know that BC Conservatives attended, and actually had some important comments to make, but that's life.

Regardless, I would like to provide you with the opening and closing statements I made last night.

INTRODUCTION  

Good evening, and thank you for being here tonight.  

 

Earlier this year Terry Lake was quoted saying:  “What we do see, as we get closer to election, is that people are understanding what the BC Conservatives are all about ...”

 

Terry's implied threat, was there was something to be concerned about. 

 

Well let me tell you one thing here and now -- he knows that his implied statement was completely without a scrap of truth. 

 

In fact ... because WE BELIEVE IN BC ... and the people of BC ... I am proud to say our beliefs, principles and policies differ greatly from the BC Liberal Party. 

 

WE - as BC Conservatives - believe in clearly defined policies and programs that are affordable, effective, and accountable to each one of you.  

 

We believe you are entitled to full knowledge of the services government provides ... AND what they cost. 

 

After all ... how else can any of us know if we are getting good value? 

 

WE -- as BC Conservatives --  believe that our provincial government must operate with the highest standards of integrity and transparency.  

 

And we believe that governments at all levels ... are responsible to serve, and respect, all individuals and their families.  

 

In a matter of minutes I am sure that Kamloops South BC Liberal Todd Stone, will repeat Christy Clarks claim that top bond rating agencies have declared her budget as one which is balanced. 

 

That is a NOT true. 

 

Helmut Pastrick, the chief economist of Central One Credit Union says Moody's and other credit rating agencies examine budget projections ... they DO NOT verify them as balanced ... or not balanced. 

 

In fact, Queen University economist Donald Drummond, said Moody's actually raised concerns about the government hitting its balanced target. 

 

The provincial budget in February came with a 'claim' it was balanced ... but how does that square with a report from BC Statistics?  

 

Under this so-called balanced budget, BC Stats showed a further $6.7 billion in debt was about to be added -- another 10% increase -- over the four year budget projections presented in the legislature. 

 

I am proud to say I am a BC Conservative --- I am proud to say I BELIEVE in BC --- and I am proud to say that using common sense, WE CAN do better. 

 

Change for the better will not come from taxing and spending more -- as BOTH the Liberals and NDP have proposed.  

 

Instead it will come from getting back to basics and learning to spend smarter. 

 

I will come from MLA's who are truly free to be accountable to, and vote the wishes of, the people they represent. 

 

I HAVE the authority to do exactly that, by my party, and by my leader John Cummins.   

 

And ... I can assure you this is NOT a statement which either BC Liberal Todd Stone, OR the NDP's Tom Freidman, will be able to make to you.

BC voter states: "It is like a slap in the face, just like it is to every other BC skilled trade worker, that has to work elsewhere "

The other day, my Campaign Manager received an email message from a young woman. This is what she had to say. 

I am yet another skilled trade worker that has to work in Alberta, despite all the false ads claiming "skilled trade labor shortage" by the Liberals.

The only job creation they have made are the jobs for the people shooting and starring in the false ads. My favorite ad is "Candace is an electrician and a mom"

Pffft!!

As a female electrician it is like a slap in the face, just like it is to every other BC skilled trade worker that has to work elsewhere." 



BC Premier Christy Clark.  Do those looking for work, and having
to leave BC to find it, pasting on a big smile like this?

I find it utterly appalling that under the management of Christy Clark, and the BC Liberals, this is the situation that many of BC's best and brightest find themselves in.

But that is not the ONLY comment I have received. Here's another one that came in to me. 

My son is another example of a person training and working in Alberta because there is none here in BC. 

He is training to be a welder and is now a 2nd year apprentice working in a shop building tanks for the pipeline. He moved to Alberta when the film industry was drying up. 

He is thriving there, just fine in Grand Prairie.

Sadly, these are not just two isolated incidents -- this is happening all the time -- as this message shows:

I have two married Granddaughters in Alberta and one grandson that works in all three provinces (British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan).  I know what you mean.
When elected as the MLA for Kamloops South Thompson, I pledge to be part of the BC Conservative team that WILL undertake to turn this situation around; in a real and meaningful way. 

The people of BC -- our sons and daughters -- neighbors and friends -- deserve nothing less from the people they elect to serve them.  

BC Conservatives believe in British Columbia. We believe in our people, their willingness to be daring and innovative, our natural resources and our geographic advantages. We believe in our potential; we believe in the future. 

Let's 'stay sharp' Kamloops.

I'm Peter Sharp -- I'm a BC Conservative -- I BELIEVE in BC.

I challenge my BC Liberal opponent Todd Stone to tell the people of Kamloops South Thompson ... 'How will BC Liberals get any different fiscal result from not making any kind of real change?'

Today BC Liberal Premier Christy Clark told voters here in Kamloops, and around the province, that we are headed in to the “the most important election in modern history”.

 

I couldn't agree with her more! 

 

The writ has finally been dropped, and I'm sure it is a relief to all British Columbians, because several key things seem to be weighing heavily on the minds of people here in our Kamloops South Thompson riding.

 

BC debt to rise additional $6.7 Billion under Liberals

The Liberal Platform doesn't address the financial problems which THEY have created, and banking on the possibility of future billions of revenues from liquefied natural gas is a risky bet. 

 

BC Liberals still fail to understand government has to learn how to spend smarter!

 

I think the BC Liberals need to take one of the 'Game Sense' suggestions, from the BC Lottery Corporation, to heart.

Wondering if you can win back losses by playing more? It's possible, but unlikely. Chances are the more you play, the more money you'll lose. "Chasing losses" almost always leads to bigger losses.

 

If I apply that to BC Liberal fiscal planning and management, then it says to me, "Doing things the same way gets the same results!"

 I challenge my BC Liberal opponent Todd Stone to tell the people of Kamloops; 'How will BC Liberals get any different fiscal result from not making any kind of real change?

 

BC Liberals say the budget over the next three years will be balanced, and yet according to a Ministry of Finance document, it showed Total Provincial Debt was expected to rise a further $6.7 billion dollars -- that according to the budget they released just two short months ago.

Many moons ago an old fart was asked what he thought of politicians. He replied "They should all be drowned at birth". I think he had something there.

This morning, I received an email from a voter in the Kamloops South Thompson riding.  He was passing along the words of a friend of his, regarding news that the government had allowed a contract with the teachers to be negotiated, that included unlimited massage sessions on the taxpayer tab.

The language in the email was strong so I am only going to included the opening sentence ... and then the close of what he had to say:

 

just heard a clip on the news that has me setting my hair on fire!

 

The blame must go to the Ministry of Education who negotiate on our behalf and allow this totally unacceptable &$^%$#@$ to happen!  I am reminded of the justification for raising MLA salaries, “in order to attract the best and the brightest” Duh?

This is, in my tiny perfect mind  just another example of “serve two terms and hit the pension jackpot”! As soon as we understand that as the primary agenda of our politicians we will be better able to deal with it.

Clearly what we need sometime in the future (after you and I have gone on to our reward) is a Maggie Thatcher to get rid of the unionized monopolies that are driving BC into bed with the Greece’s of the world.  Another NDP govt in BC  will surely revive the underground economy and drive good things away.  

How the hell did we allow ourselves to get into this stupid mess?

 

Now first, I wish to say that I do not agree totally with what this person had to say -- however I can understand the frustration that has driven then to have such a strong negative thought, and opinion, of the political process.

Now, the individual that sent me the email also had their own thoughts to share, and again I am going to pass them on for you to read:

 

Peter:

This is from a friend of mine who has a way with words.  The language is a bit strong but, if you intend to swim in the cesspool of BC politics, you will get used to it.

I do not read contracts because my eyes glaze over quickly, but my friend has a keener eye on him than most.  The government negotiators who permitted this "benefit" to be included in the last go-around with the BCTF should be publicly exposed for the incompetents that they are.

I sure pine for the days when we had the Social Credit Party running things.  They too were no angels and shifty at cutting corners BUT at least the province was humming and not wallowing in debt.  Sadly, they imploded.  Our only hope is a resurrected BC Conservative Party, one who closely resembles the Socreds.

Deep down the NDP and the Liberals have the same DNA but, like competitive kids in a family, they don't get along.  And, they have proven, over and over, that they cannot be trusted to live up to their fiduciary duties.  Thus the province keeps going further and further into debt. 

Our crown jewel of Crown Corporations, BC Hydro, has been raped and robbed so often that, in the real world, would be bankrupt.

So, it is no surprise that this perk (massages) was permitted to sneak into the last BCTF contract.  One only has to look at the competency of the players.

Neither the NDP or Liberals have seen fit to ensure that the hard working doctors, nurses, and support staff at Royal Inland have what they need for more timely patient care

A story in Kamloops This Week says:
It’s not quite the same as a shell game, but the pieces — stretchers with patients on them — are getting moved around almost as much some nights at Royal Inland Hospital.

Now, here's what I personally have to say, this is an outrage. Further, our hospital in Kamloops has indeed been be part of a chess game; one in which patients are the pawns. 

Government talks about how much is being done, but in fact very little, with the exception of the barest of necessities, gets attention.  AND ... this has happened under the watch of BOTH the NDP, and the BC Liberals.

What possible explanation can they provide for this?

The more nurses and doctors I talk with, the more families I meet who have seen first hand the conditions in our ER, and the more I read ... the more outraged I am becoming.

Neither the NDP or Liberals have seen fit to ensure that the hard working doctors, nurses, and support staff at Royal Inland have what they need for more timely patient care.

EVERY community deserves to have the best possible patient care that can be provided to the residents. 

This leads me to question why, in recent years, Kelowna and Vernon have been the recipients of $840 million dollars in upgrades to their hospitals (the vast majority spent in Kelowna) ... while Kamloops has received just $80 million.

Our community, despite an ever increasing population, has seen 50% of patients beds at RIH removed and closed in the past two decades.  This under governments led by both the NDP & BC Liberals.

What possible excuse can they have for this?  As far as I am concerned, there is NONE!  And I would have to say most people in Kamloops, no matter what the political leaning may be, agree.

The number of people being looked after at the ER has also increased by over 50 percent, and yet the needs to care for these Emergency patients has not kept pace.

We deserve better ... and I pledge right now, that when I am elected as your MLA, I will not rest until we get no less than our fair share.

Let's 'stay sharp' Kamloops!

I'm Peter Sharp – I'm a BC Conservative – and I believe in BC.