James

Economy:
When external markets for BC’s exports are robust, government benefits from increased
royalties, stumpage, and taxes. If at the end of the fiscal year, the “forecast allowance” is not
needed to ensure a balanced budget, half of the allowance ($200 million) will be used to pay
down debt. The other half will be used by communities around the province for investment
in measures that will diversify and strengthen regional economies.
In addition, the NDP plan would include funding above that allocated in the Liberal budget
for the following initiatives:
– Help interior and northern communities cope with the results
of the mountain pine beetle epidemic $40 million
This funding is an estimate of the additional stumpage the
government will collect this year from the increased cuts due
to the pine beetle infestation. Spending of these funds will be
controlled by the communities affected by the epidemic.
– Restore government funding for “Buy BC” 2 million
The value of this program to the province’s farmers and to
consumers who value the high-quality agricultural products
they produce is far greater than this new funding.
– Improve funding for employment standards 3 million
Without proper funding of the personnel who ensure that the
rights of vulnerable workers are respected—especially children,
youth, and immigrant workers—employment standards are
an empty promise.
Environment:
The Campbell government doesn’t even have a Ministry of the Environment; that
demonstrates its lack of interest in ensuring we pass on to our children a British Columbia
that is as least at clean and beautiful as the one we enjoy today. In this area, as in so many
others, the effects of budget cuts on BC’s amazing parks and protected areas, on efforts to
improve our basic public transportation system, and on protection of our air, land, and water
has been devastating. The damage can’t be repaired instantly.
The NDP plan does, however, propose increases beyond the allocations in the 2005 Liberal
budget in a number of areas:
– Improve the ability of a restored Ministry of the Environment
to do its job $6 million
Over 180 conservation, science and planning officers were
eliminated during the past three years, greatly reducing the
province’s ability to protect environmental values.
This increase will allow for the restoration of an additional
fifty of those positions.
– Increase funding for “green” transportation 11 million
The estimates in the Liberal 2005 budget actually reduce funding
for BC Transit. The NDP plan will increase the budget for public
transportation. $10 million.
And after totally eliminating the cost-sharing program to improve
urban cycling infrastructure, the Liberal plan proposes only a one
time $2 million program. The NDP plan will provide $3 million per
year for a multi-year commitment to a cost-shared program: $1 million
BCNDP Platform 2005 69