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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - May 17, 2005
Dear Editor;
No wonder there is public distrust with politics. A politician and a political party that repeatedly lie to the public, ruins the reputation of all those sincere individuals and political party's that contribute to the democratic process in governing our society.
Websters dictionary defines a lie, lying as "to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive", "to create a false or misleading impression", "an untrue or inaccurate statement that may or may not be believed true by the speaker".
I attended the all candidates forum on Wednesday evening in Merritt and was disgusted to hear Mr. Lali repeatedly make false and misleading statements in order to discredit the BC Liberal Party. Websters defines Mr. Lali's actions as lying to the public in Yale-Lillooet.
I respect different political opinions and honest debates are informative to the undecided voter. Outright lies by a politician to the undecided voter is dishonest and unethical. Why can't Mr. Lali be constructively critical and explain a defensible alternative? I assume because he is incapable of providing effective and affordable solutions to governing, as his 10 years of involvement in the worst government in the history of the province attest to. Let me support my claim of lying - with facts.
Lali stated "sale of BC Rail" Fact-BC Rail, a crown corporation owned by the people of BC, continues to own the rail bed, the tracks and the right-of-way land. A lease of use by CN provided $1 billion dollars to pay off $500 million debt saving 30 million per year in interest costs. A lease of use is not a sale.
Lali stated "killed mining...no new jobs or mines" Fact-300% increase in mining developed and 72% increase in drilling, all employing more people, with intent to discover new mines and oil and gas.
Lali stated "3 balanced budgets". Remember the 2 fudget budgets with deceptive accounting. The last so called balanced budget was due to a windfall in electrical sales but even Paul Ramsey NDP Finance Minister stated that significant spending cuts would be necessary to achieve balanced budgets...another deception.
Lali stated "health care cut". Fact-BC Liberal government added 2.3 billion or over 20% to health care and made changes to address escalating costs, poor service and burnt out Dr.'s and nurses. For example NDP created 52 health authorities which was changed to 6, saving $30 million per year in administration costs. Changes include providing optimum care in regional hospitals, closer to home, provide 24/7 assured skilled and practiced specialists and support teams with modern equipment.
Lali stated "education cut". Fact-highest grade 1-12 funding in history in spite of 29,000 fewer students, an increase of $2 billion (2001-2007).
Lali stated "offer $10 million more than BC Liberal tourism budget". Fact-NDP platform cuts tourist budget.
Lali stated "special needs education funding costs". Fact-this funding has always been provided through school districts and will continue to be $231 million now and growing by $28 million in 2005...almost $75 million more per year than in 2001 (than the NDP!)
Lali stated "closed schools" deceptive. Fact- 29,000 fewer students than 2000 so fewer teachers and classrooms needed. 19 new schools built, 24 replacements, 124 additions and 24 renovations. School districts have decided to put funds to best value in teaching our kids. NDP would hire more teachers to sit in empty classrooms.
Lali stated "class size gone up". False-elementary class size has remained unchanged for the past decade. Fact-average class size increased by only 0.6 students since 2000/01 and there are fewer students on average in 04/05 (23.2) than in 95/96 (23.5).
With Mr. Lali, Carol James and the NDP (Party Flyer Feb 2005) spreading false information, where can undecided voters obtain the truth? The public can view the government website www.gov.bc.ca <http://www.gov.bc.ca> to obtain ministry information as documented by public employees, contact the independent Auditor General or visit their government agent office. The media should verify all statements reportedly made by politicians as a service to the public.
The public should act cautiously with political information, confirm information and check out the credibility of the speaker and party.
Based on the false statements made by Harry Lali, he is not credible and can not be trusted. Based on history during the 90's the NDP cannot be trusted and are incompetent to govern. Corky Evans, NDP Health Minister, January 17, 2000 stated "We made announcements about things we weren't ever going to do". That is called lying! Do not forget the Harry Lali NDP way on election day.
- Dave Chutter, Merritt
Dear Editor,
Thank you to my many friends and supporters in Princeton who have helped in my efforts to raise funds for Multiple Sclerosis research. Three Canadians a day are diagnosed with MS, and unfortunately, my day was in September of 1991. I am, however, blessed with a wonderful support network of family and friends, and am very fortunate to live in this caring community.
My goals in participating in the MS Walk are to raise awareness of this often debilitating, life altering disease, to be part of a support network for others with MS, and to raise funds to help find a cure for MS.
In each of these regards, the MS Walk in Penticton was a wonderfully successful event.
Princeton was well represented among the almost 200 people from age 2 to 82 who gathered on a beautiful, sunny day in Penticton to take another step towards finding a cure for Multiple Sclerosis. The Stevens' family entered a team and I was joined by my sister, parents, Raelene, Susan and our friends, former Princeton residents, Louise, Alanna, and her children.
Of course, not everyone walked the three, five, or ten kilometer route along the Parkway Channel; many ran, some used scooters, others roller bladed, there were many in strollers propelled by a parent, one brave soul used stilts, and there were some, like myself, who used a wheelchair.
Canada has one of the highest incidents of MS in the world and is a leader in research to find a cure for MS.
The MS Society of Canada commits almost $7 million annually towards MS research and also provides services and programs to enhance the quality of life for the more than 50,000 Canadians affected by MS. Eighty-six percent of funds raised by the MS Society is through independent donations and special events such as the MS Walk.
This year, Walkers in the South Okanagan/Similkameen raised over $40,000.
Thank you for your generosity. A cure is only a step away.
- Yours truly, Ken Carlson
To the Editor:
The harm the NDP government has done to the Province of British Columbia.
They put us approximately 35 billion dollars in debt, borrowing money to balance the budget. I don't think they ever balanced one budget without borrowing money.
When they got into power there was a five hundred million surplus, six months later we were five hundred million in the hole. 28 cents of every tax dollar goes to pay interest on this money.
The latest NDP government blows four hundred million on ferries they were told would never work, then Carol James criticizes the Liberal government for blowing money.
40 brand new busses sitting in Coquitlam, never made one run around the bus circuit, they are sitting in storage costing us money, they're obsolete.
Water dam in Pakistan, taxpayers were never told about, they were going to use BC Hydro money, again tax payers lose, as BC Hydro is owned by the taxpayers.
Bought obsolete pulp mill at Prince Rupert costing hundreds of millions to taxpayers.
Then they make a park out of mining property that could have employed a thousand people or more.
What would be wrong with fixing up the parks along the highway between Vancouver and the Alberta border with running water and toilets so tourists and residents alike could easily drive to them and enjoy a few days or a week with their families with out having to use a helicopter to get there?
They never did develop Windy Cragge for any worth while use, what's the use of making a park if no one can enjoy it?
Head of CUPE Nurses Union claiming she was worth sixty dollars per hour, how, could tax payers afford this?
Why don't unions invest money in our province, they seem to want it all?
With out investment capital in this province it will slowly die, as the Industry dies so does wealth.
The NDP never built a highway or hardly ever repaired one.
The Liberal government has paid 1.5 billion on the debt, this surely is a step in the right direction.
It takes heavy industry payrolls to make pensions not fast food restaurant payrolls.
If a government like the NDP don't do something to get industry going then they won't be able to pay all this welfare they're promising, at least the Liberals are trying to bring industry back such as mining who was once the highest taxpayers in BC.
The NDP chased mining out of BC by threatening to tax it to death.
Approximately twenty thousand people left BC because of this NDP government, they are starting to come back as they see a strong improvement under this Liberal government.
The health care plan in BC is above average as stated by the media, a poll done by the media states fifty percent favour privatization.
The NDP want to say that education is not an essential service, so the teachers can strike any time. At one time under the NDP administrators there was 1 teacher teaching 2 pupils in 1 class room, does this make economical sense?
Community services in Princeton have never been cut as suggested by NDP.
I am going to vote Liberal for industry and paycheques.
- Ray Spinks, Princeton
Dear Editor;
Concerning small towns such as Princeton throughout Premier Campbell's so-called Heartland. What progress is being made to boost our economy and population growth? Very little, if any.
It seems unlikely that much will change regardless of the party in power after this provincial election. Why? Because there is a minimum of population in the Interior, and more importantly a meagre of MLA's to state our case in the Legislature.
The power base of any BC government will be composed of representatives from Vancouver, the Lower Mainland and Victoria. What chance is there that elected officials from the urban areas will support growth in the Interior? If it was proposed that government incentives be given to businesses and industries to open up shop in small Interior towns such as ours, how could that concept be accepted when the vast majority of MLA's are looking after their own constituents in Vancouver, Victoria, Richmond and North Vancouver, etc.
The Lower Mainland of British Columbia continues to grow at a gigantic rate both commercially and population wise; power breeds power.
It is quite disgusting that only minimum strides have been made by successive provincial governments to really and truly put a concerted effort into rejuvenation and expanding the economy in the vast bulk of this great province. It would be impossible for a political party to get elected on a platform that would promote Heartland expansion and job creation as a priority. That would be equivalent to the tail wagging the dog.
Which candidate or political party in this provincial election is best suited to truly develop ALL of our province? If asked, ALL of them would be. But in truth we must remain being the hinterland, a tail, controlled by a body bloated with power and its own importance.
Yours truly, Monty Raine
Dear Editor;
The local Green Party candidate has tried to attack the NDP on log exports. While I am sure that he is well intentioned, his comments demonstrate his lack of understanding on this critical issue. I would like to take this opportunity to provide some facts.
Log exports have increased dramatically during the past four years and this has been partially responsible for the job loss experienced on the Coast. Changes made by the Campbell government have shifted management of our forest resources toward industry and away from communities.
The Green Party seems willing to sacrifice jobs throughout forest dependent communities with it's well intentioned but single issue focus. I believe that both of these approaches are fundamentally flawed.
Last week, Carole James announced that the NDP would put decisions impacting log exports into the hands of the local communities impacted by the resource. I believe that this is the type of balanced approach to resource management we need. We simply have to allow more decisions from local communities over things that affect them. That is why I will be marking an X beside Harry Lali on May 17.
- Sincerely, Gary Gattrell, Keremeos
Letter to the Editor;
Many people say they do not understand the Single Transferable Vote (STV) electoral system that they will be voting on in the May 17th BC election. An animation that can be quickly understood shows how it works in a single district, at http://citizensassembly.bc.ca/resources/flash/bc-stv-full.swf.
The "Yes Campaign" offers upcoming events, radio spots, and newspaper endorsements, and an interview with Australian Senator Dr. Bob Brown at http://stvforbc.com/
A Flash presentation at http://bc.demochoice.org/index.html allows you to try STV out, by voting for candidates in your own riding. Fun.
The Citizen's Assembly Alumni hosts the http://bc-stv.ca website, presenting the Referendum Question and an online copy of A Citizens' Guide to Electoral Reform in British Columbia, by Citizens' Assembly member Jack MacDonald of Victoria.
Finally, the BC government offers STV brochures in French, Punjabi, Chinese and English at www.gov.bc.ca/referendum_info/ , and the case against STV is presented at http://knowstv.ca/
- Elizabeth Woodworth, Professional Librarian, Victoria
Letter to the Editor;
Re: Stephens may run again
If the article in the Tuesday Province dated April the 26 is anything near accurate, then I think that our politicians have sunk to a new low.
Who does Lynn Stephens think she is that she feels that some how she or every politician deserves to get a full years salary because she decided not to run again for office. After 14 years she is entitled to a pension for life, what more does she want?
Does this person not know that the money she feels she is entitled to comes from each and every real person, the real worker, who pays taxes?
Does she also not know most of us have never gotten a severance payout when we have left a job at our own or someone elsešs bidding?
Where does she get the idea that politicians are the best and the brightest? My opinion of a politician, is that all you really have to do to be one, is to open your mouth and a lie will flow out. We will believe you for a while, but not forever.
Before she takes up this quest she would do well to remember that there are people out here that earn a pittance i.e. 9,000 dollars who still have to pay income tax, so the likes of the greedy have an income and do not have to go to work every day to get it.
- Richard Dodds, Princeton
