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.

The voters I wish to represent, regardless of whether they choose to vote for me or not, deserve nothing less.

I've been busy on the campaign trail again the past week ... meeting and talking with the people of Kamloops South Thompson.

 

As you know I, and fellow candidate for Kamloops North Thompson Ed Klop, both attended the Kamloops and Thompson Teachers Association / TRU Facility, all-candidates forum last Thursday evening --- as well as the Council of Canadians forum which was held on Saturday morning at the Kamloops Farmers Market. 

 

Regretfully neither BC Liberal candidate, Todd Stone or Terry Lake, choose to attend either of these forums. 

 

Getting out and 'earning' the votes of the people of Kamloops, is just one of the reasons why I did indeed attend these forums.

Another -- and perhaps of even greater importance -- is the respect that I feel is owed those who will be casting their votes on May 14th. 

 

Today, I would also like to take a moment and share an email which I received -- and the response I gave this individual: 

 

Hello, Mr.Sharp, my name is Taylor,  

 

I am currently doing a research project on the different political parties, looking for what they intend to do if they win.  On your webpage, you say "we need a change!". I would like for you to try to sell my vote to your party. Why do you think you are certain you'll win? 

 

Good luck, thanks  

 

I responded to this individual saying: 

 

Good morning Taylor, 

 

Thank you for contacting me, and for your question.  There is nothing certain about me, or any of my fellow candidates, winning election on May 14th.  I do believe however that we do need change, and that appears to be a feeling amongst many of the people here in BC.

BC Conservatives have a number of common sense ideas, which we believe can indeed provide a better education system, for students -- teachers -- and parents

The BC Teachers Federation recently asked the leaders of BC's political parties, their thoughts on a number of questions.  Here are the questions, and the responses made by BC Conservative party leader John Cummins. 


Question 1: Teachers are feeling battered after a decade of cutbacks and restrictions on bargaining rights. What can you offer that would restore some hope of improvement?  

I think that the reality is that, here in British Columbia, there is a crying need for people with the skills necessary to obtain the educational resources, if you will, necessary to lead productive lives and of course it starts right at the beginning, it starts in elementary schools, secondary schools, and then there has to be obviously the post-secondary institutions that are ready to help prepare these people to lead productive lives. 

We see now in British Columbia that that is simply not the case. We are having to bring people into this province to perform jobs that British Columbians are more than capable of performing but we don’t have the skilled people necessary, and I think that’s a reflection on governments’ commitment to financing adequately the education system and I don’t think that can continue. 

Teachers are obviously valuable members of our community, they’re the frontline when it comes to providing those educational services, and I think that government has to ensure that teachers are going to work each day with a positive frame of mind, which I know that they do, but without that lingering doubt that their value and worth is recognized by government and the public at large. 


Question 2: Are you prepared to restore full, free, collective bargaining right? 

Well, what I think we need to do—well it would be easy to say yes to that—but I think what we need to do is restore a positive relationship between teachers and bargaining agents and build a trust between the two. 

I would just hate to think that to solve these issues we have to go to strike, it certainly is negative and I’m sure that most teachers would feel the same way that that’s the last thing they want to see. I would rather see us at this point try to resolve our issues without having to resort to a strike; I think it’s counterproductive and it doesn’t do any one any good, whether it’s the students or the teachers. 


Question 3: Teachers’ salaries are falling further and further behind those of other provinces. What will you do about that? 

On the salary issue, I think that part of the problem is that the public loses a sense of where teachers stand in relation to other provinces and other professions.

Too often, in the bargaining process, the needs in the classroom are brought to the fore and the teachers, when it comes to their salary, the pay that they deserve, the jobs that they do, don’t get that public recognition or they’re not part of the discussion.  

I think in that sense there has to be a separation between the legitimate wage, pensions, and benefits demands of teachers and the legitimate pedagogical concerns. I think that if we do that it could help the public become aware of any shortcomings that there may be, and it makes it easier for government to address those concerns. 


Question 4: Bills 27 and 28 stripped the collective agreement in 2002. There has been a huge loss of classroom teachers and learning specialist teachers over the last 10 years. What will you do to redress the situation?