Average
families would benefit from budget surplus with NDP, says James
CPP
New Service
With high commodity
prices, low interest rates and an improving global economy
contributing to BC's bottom-line, NDP Leader Carole James said today
that average families must benefit first.
”Gordon Campbell
has made the wrong choices for BC, and average families have been
hurt,” said James. “Taxes and fees have increased, services
have
declined, and opportunities have been denied. New Democrats would
ensure that those people benefit first from budget surpluses.”
James
said that despite growth in the BC economy resulting from high
resource prices, low interest rates and a global economic recovery,
there is still reason to be concerned about both the short- and
long-term economic prospects for the province.
She said that
unemployment remains stuck at seven per cent, higher than when the BC
Liberals took office, with 15,000 jobs lost last month alone, and
average weekly wages are down. And resource dependent and rural
communities still aren't seeing the kind of improvement being seen in
urban British Columbia.
”After three years of Gordon
Campbell, average families are worse off today than when he took
power,” said James. “They pay more in taxes and fees for
fewer
services, their pay checks are getting smaller, they are waiting
longer for health care, paying more for education, and they're having
a harder time making ends meet.”
James said that New
Democrats would make different choices than Gordon Campbell.
”Unlike
Gordon Campbell, the NDP will use the projected surplus to put
ordinary people's needs first, improving health care, expanding
access to education, and improving economic opportunities for
ordinary people and communities that have been hit hard,” said
James.
"Those aren't Gordon Campbell's priorities. At
every turn he's chosen to reward the few at the cost of the many.
With that record, the premier hasn't earned four more years in
government. It's time for a change.”
