bc liberal 2001 platform

8/7/2019 BC Liberal 2001 Platform

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bc-liberal-2001-platform 1/12

LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA

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A 1 isioizfoi’ ope & Prosperity

for the iie~i decade ciizcl beyoiicl.



ANewEra of eid’ s ii

We want British Columbians

excited about their future again.

We want to create a New Era in

British Columbia. A New Era

of vision, imagination, hope

and prosperity.

If you are a parent, we wantyou

t o know that your children will have

the education they need and the

economic opportunity they deserve

to build a successful future at homein your community.

The plan in this booklet lays out a

vision for a brighter future that is

realistic, affordable and measurable.

We will focus your tax dollars on

the critical services that you want

and deserve, while getting more

value for each dollar spent.

We will act to build your trust andto re-establish BC’s leadership role

in Canada.We want our province

to have the leading economy in the

country, with the highest levels of

private sector investment anywhere.

We want our schools, universities

and colleges to be at the leading

edge of educational achievement

and excellence.We want our public

health care system to guarantee all

patients the care they need, wherethey live and when they need it.

A BC Liberal Governmentwill be

guided by the principles and values

that are the pillars for prosperity.

Fiscal responsibility. Free

enterprise. Equality of opportunity

and responsibility. Compassion

for those in need. An unflagging

commitment to public health care,

education and public safety.

Commitment to Canada’s

Constitution and equality under the

law. Open and accountable decision-

making. Beliefin a professional,

non-partisan public service.

Those are the pillars for a New Era

of hope and prosperity for all people

who l ive here, in the best province,

in the best country in the world.

U ISIO :1. A top-notch education system for

students of all ages.

2. High-quality public health care servicesthat meet all patients’ needs where theylive and when they need it.

3. A thriving private seetor economy thatcreates high-payig job opportunities.

4. Safer streets and sehools in everycommunity.

5. Better services for children, families

& First Nations.

6. The fastest growing technology industryin Canada.

7. A leading edge forest industry that isglobally recognized for its productivityand environmental stewardship.

8. Greater equity and equality for BritishColumbia in Canada.

9. The most open, accountable anddemocratic government in Canada.

10. Responsible, accountable management

of your public resources and tax dollars.

V:J’i be als



NewPri p’ ,y

British Columbians have always taken pride in our great province. We have the richest resources, the best locationand the most talented people anywhere.With all we have going for us in BC, we should be leading the way in

building new growth and prosperity. Our plan will put BC’s economy back on track.

BC Libera ls will implement tax, fiscal and regulatory reforms that will fuel new growth, revitalize investment,

st imulate job creation and provide new opportunities for all British Columbians. It will bring prosperity back to BC .

B lb a! Go em entwill• Pass real Balanced Budget legislation,

to make balanced budgets mandatoryby our third full budget and to holdall ministers individually accountable.

• Reduce the cost of governmentby increasing efficiencies, andeliminating wasteful spending ongovernment mismanagement,propaganda, and business subsidies.

• Reduce the “red tape” and regulatoryburden on BC business by one-thirdwithin our first three years.

•Restore open tendering ongovernment contracts, to reducecosts and give all British Columbiansa fair chance to compete for workon taxpayer-funded projects.

• Eliminate the NDP’s “fixed wage”policy, to lower the construction costsof schools, hospitals, highways andother capital projects.

• Eliminate government subsidiesto businesses that give some taxpayer-subsidized businesses an unfair

advantage over their competitors.• Restore workers’ democratic rightto a secret ballot vote on certificationunder the Labour Code and restore allworkers’ right to negotiate contractsby outlawing sectoral bargaining.

Give workers and employers greaterflexibility in Employment Standardsto negotiate mutually beneficialrelationships that help them competeand prosper.

• Reform the NDP’s job-killing

ForestPractices Code to createa results-based Code that eliminatesneedless costs while maintainingenvironmental standards.

• Provide faster approvals and greateraccess to Crown land and resources,to protect and create jobs in tourism,mining, forestry, farming, ranching,and oil and gas production.

• Work with the technology industryto capitalize on the tremendouspotential for growth and job creation

in exciting new sectors like biotechnology, forestry technology,software development, multi-media,electronics and telecommunications.

• Help BC’s tourism industry witha plan aimed at improving tourismoperators’ ability to successfullycompete for visitors from around

the world.

• Aggressively support and championBritish Columbia’s bid to host the201 0Winter Olympics.

• Push Ottawa for provincial controlover BC offshore fisheries, to improvefisheries management and protect jobs.

• Negotiate affordable, workable treatieswith First Nations that providecertainty, finality and equality.

• Protect private property rights toprevent government expropriationwithout fair compensation.

• Restore consumers’ right to Hydro

rates that are independently se t by theB.C. Utilities Commission, and no tartificially inflated by governmentinterference.

• Encourage job creation from viable,independent power productionprojects that will increase benefitsto consumers through greatercompetition.

• Pass a Community Charter tooutlaw provincial government“offloading” of costs onto municipalgovernments, and to give localgovernments greater autonomy andbetter planning tools to reducepressure on property taxes.

• Fight for BC’s fair share of federaltax dollars through a fairerequalization program and moreequitable distribution of federalgovernment contract expenditures.

• Push to eliminate interprovincialtrade barriers that are hurtingconsumers, job creation andBC businesses.

• Push to eliminate overlaps in area offederal and provincial jurisdictionthat have added bureaucratic costsand frustrated economic developmentand sound management.

• Establish regional transportationauthorities, to give local communitiescontrol over transportation planning.

www.bcliberals.cornLEGISLATiVE UiVTrTORIA BC VSV JX4 NOV 2 2 2~O~



a] Higher’,Providing you with the tax relief that you need is a

crucial part of building new prosperity.Tax relief

st imulates new investment and job creation. Tax relief

also helps to att ract and retain skilled workers in areas

l ike health care and technology. It gives working

families the resources they need to build a better

quality of life. And it helps increase government

revenues needed to support health care and education.

The reason is simple. Lower taxes leave more moneyin your pocket.You will spend that money in your

community on services and goods.That spending

creates jobs. More people working means more revenue

to government, more money for health care and

education, and a higher standard of living for everyone.

IC ii’ alGo ‘r‘ wd

• Introduce a dramatic cut in personal income taxes, within 90 days.

• Cu t the base personal income tax rate to the lowest rate of any province in Canada fo r the bottomtwo tax brackets, on the first $60,000 of income, within our first term.

• Honour this commitment without cutting funding fo r health or education.

Tax reliefhas workedwherever it’s been tried. $19 billion

It has worked in Canada. Nine provinces have

reduced personal income tax rates between 1996

and 2000. In every case revenues have increased.Since 1996, Ontario has cut its basic personal

income tax rate by 20 points, and personal income

tax revenues have soared by over $3.3 billion.

Tax relief has worked in the United States. A 1995

report for the U.S. Congress Joint Economic

Committee found that, from 1965 to 1993,

the 25 low-tax states enjoyed growth in real per

capita income that was 32° o higher than in the

25 high-tax states.

Tax relief has even worked in BC . After imposing massive tax hikes over the past decade, the NDPintroduced some miniscule cuts in 1999. Since then, personal income tax revenues increased by over $500 million.

V~I~ er

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.1 TaxRelief I

Ontar io Personal Income Tax58% 58% vs. Tax Rate

$18 billion 56%

$17 billion48%

$16 billion

$15 billion

$14 billion

$13 billion1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Revenue ($ BRhlon) Basic Income Tax Rate

Thorcoo C~ian Thx Fo~r.jrIion.Orn~rio Po~.,do, Third O~arle, Updrte)

— 600

- 54%

— 480

- 42%

35 0



Lower Taxes ar’ a mustThe truth is, the real threat to the revenues needed topay for health care and education isn’t tax cuts it’s

NDP tax hikes. As the chief economist for the Toronto

Dominion Bank recently put it: “~ftu cannot afford not to

cut taxes, because you will not get the income growth youneed unless you have a competitive tax system.Without that

income growth you’re not going to have the revenues to do all

the health care and education and all the other nice things

thatyou want to do.”

Over the past decade, British Columbians’ real,annual after-tax income has dropped by over $1,700per capita the worst drop in Canada. Unbelievably,British Columbians’ average real disposable incomeis now $2,216 lower than the average for Albertans.This tax burden is undermining jobs, investment andeconomic growth in BC .

That ’s why BC liberals are committed to giving you thetax reliefyou need.Within our first term in government,

BC will cu t the personal income taxrate to the lowest level in Canada for

the bottom two income brackets,covering the first $60,000 of income.And we want to do more. It’s thesurest way to fuel economic growthand job creation, to strengthen publicservices, and to build a New Era ofhope and opportunity for everyone.

Average annualtake-home pay

dropped by $1,738over the las t decade in BC

Average Real Per Capita After-Tax Income in BC(1999 ConstantS)

$21,000

$20,000 $20509

$19,000

$18,000

$17,0001990

$18 771

1999

I t’s t ime to put our economy back on

top. It’s t ime to build a New Era of

prosperity thatwill revitalize publicservices for everyone. It’s time to giveyou the tax relief that you deserve, to

put more money back in yourpocket, where it belongs.

We must do betterBC is the only province in Canada where real per capita GDP did not

improve over the 1990’s. BC ranks last in private sector investmentgrowth since 1992, and last in private sector employment growth since1996. Fo r the first time in our history, BC now has a smaller economythan Alberta despite having one million more residents.

130

Last inInvestmentGrowthPrivate SectorInvestment Growth,1992-20000, ‘ ~ ‘ ~

Alt. NB SOOS Man NIld Oft~ OS Qua PEt BC

20%

Last inEmployment Growth 15%

Private SectorEmployment Growth, 10%

1996-2000

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5% 4 4Alt. NS PSI

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4 4 4 4 4 ~,t Sue Ntld NB Man Seek BC

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Last inEconomicGrowthReal Per-CapitaGD P Growth,1992-2000% 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4’s’

NIldSeek

Alt.Out

QuoNB PSI

ManNO BC

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www.bcliberals.corn



ANewErafor ‘i

11me1~ effective ‘i i e — nomatterwhere you liveAll British Columbians must be able to receive the public health care they need, where they l ive and whenthey need it. NDP cuts, waste and mismanagement have led to deteriorating patient care.

We will protect health funding, and establish provincial standards to ensure all British Columbians receive the

care they deserve and need.We will work with health care providers to develop a long-term strategic plan to

safeguard and improve patient care. By properly managing resources, we can ensure timely, effective health

care services for everyone.

V:IiLi ,

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Work with health care professionals, caregivers, administrators, community leaders,patient groups and

the public to develop a comprehensive 10-YearHealth Strategy for BC.Aspart ofthatplan, we will:

Establish provincial healthstandards that ensure all citizens inevery part of the province areentitled to equitable, reliable, highquality health services.

Develop a 10-year human resourceplan, that properly provides for thetraining, recruitment and retentionof physicians, nurses, specialistsand other health care providersin every area of the province, andthat addresses critical skillsshortages and staffing levels inunder-serviced areas.

Maintain this year’s overall$9.3 billion budget for health.(See 200 1/02 Budget Reports,

pg. 139).

• Increase future health care fundingas economic growth increasesgovernment revenues.

Provide health regions andhospitals with 3-year rollingfunding commitments (updatedannually), to enable them to planand act with certainty.

Fully fund and implementthe $125 million mentalhealth initiative.

Focus funding on patient care, byreducing waste in the system and

eliminating administrative duplication and costs from provincialgovernment mismanagement.

Expand training programs for careaides, licensed practical nurses andregistered nurses, in collaborationwith our universities, colleges andinstitutions.

• Develop a Rural and RemoteTraining Program that providesforgivable loans to BC studentsattending accredited nursing andmedical schools who agree topractice in a rural or remotecommunity in BC.

Increase the number ofmedicalschool graduates over the nextfive years.

• Introduce a Rural and RemoteTraining Support program thatprovides financial and travelassistance to health care providerswho want to update or upgrade

their skil ls and training.

Give ambulance attendants betteraccess to training and better life-support and communicationsequipment needed to capitalize onthose skills.

• Ensure that appointees to regionalhealth boards are representative oftheir communities’ needs andaccountable for their performancein meeting provincial healthstandards.

Work with non-profit societies tobuild and operate an additional5,000 new intermediate and longterm care beds by 2006.

Provide expanded home care andpalliative care services to assist

chronically and terminally illpatients with supportive homeenvironments, as an option toinstitutional care.

Intensif~’ efforts to promoteweilness and preventative carethrough better education, dietaryhabits and physical activity.

Establish a Rural and RemoteHealth Initiative to ensure allfamilies get the care they need,

where they live, when they need it.



A New Era forEd ‘I

We will protect education funding.We will establish

strong province-wide education standards, provide

multi-year funding envelopes to improve planning,

and give districts the financial flexibility to meet

students’ needs. We will protect parent volunteers,

invest in computers and in technical training for

teachers, to ensure our young people have the skillsand knowledge to compete with the world’s best and

win.We will create new opportunities and better

access to advanced education by investing in skills

training, research and development.

Restore education as an essentialservice under the Labour Code toensure that no child’s right to aneducation is denied during schoolstrikes and lockouts.

• Establish specific goals andoutcomes to measure the successof educators in public schooling.

• Devote more of each educationdollar to improving the quality ofeducation, and less to bureaucracy.

Give local school boardsmoreautonomy and control over thedelivery of education services,subject to provincial curriculumand testing standards.

Give school boardsmulti-yearfunding envelopes, to improvelong-term education planningand budgeting.

Work with educators and employersto expand job training and skil lsdevelopment opportunities.

• Put more computers in schoolsand increase resources to improvcomputer literacy for students ofall ages.

Double the annual number ofgraduates in computer science,and electrical and computerengineering, within five years.

• Establish a “Leading EdgeEndowment Fund,” based ona cost-sharing partnership withthe private sector, to establish20 permanent BC LeadershipChairs across the province in thefields ofmedical, social, environmental and technological research.

Ensure that music, arts andphysical education curriculumsare fully funded in BC’s publicschools.

• Work with employers, post-secondary institutes and theIndustryTraining andApprenticeship Commissionto increase training andapprenticeships in tradesand technical sectors.

• Support the current 500 tuition cutand tuition freeze and fully fund itin the current fiscal year to offsetcosts to post-secondary institutes.

• Strengthen our network ofcolleges, institutes and on-linelearning throughout the province.

• Increase research funding forcolleges, universities and institutes.

• Train more social workers to meetthe critical skills shortage that hasdeveloped under the NDP.

Excellence in’, i 10 for students ofall agesChildren and students of all ages deserve the best public education possible.Th e NDP’s “one size fits all” approach

to education has forced schools to cu t services and has compromised student learning possibilities.

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www.bcliberals. corn



Pass realTruth in Budgetinglegislation to ensure all provincialfinances are fully and accuratelyreported under GenerallyAccepted Accounting Principles.

Pass Merit Employmentlegislation, to restore aprofessional, non-partisan publicservice, appointed strictly onmerit and no t on patronage.

Establish performance standardsand targets for all government

programs. Progress will bemeasured, audited and publishedin annual reports and on theInternet, for all taxpayers to see.

Introduce free votes in theLegislature, to allow all MLAs tovote freely on behalf of theirconstituents on all matters notspecifically identified as issues ofconfidence.

• Establish a fixed date for thetabling of the provincial budget,and a set legislative calendar.

• Eliminate the use of SpecialWarrants, to prevent the ability ofthe government to increase budgetexpenditures without priorlegislative approval.

• Give all British Columbians adirect say, by way of referendum,on the principles that will guidethe Province’s approach totreaty negotiations.

1 m• Hold open Cabinet Meetings at

least once a month to ensureCabinet decisions on land useissues like those involving theAgricultural Land Reserve, newparks, land claims, and majorcapital decisions are decided inpublic.

Amend the recall and initiativelegislation to make it moreworkable and easier for BritishColumbians to hold MLAsaccountable, and to initiatereferendums on issues of province-wide concern.

• Appoint a Citizens’Assembly onElectoral Reform, similar to how a

jury is selected, that will beresponsible for assessing allpossible models for electingMLAs, including proportionalrepresentation, preferential ballotsand “first past the post’~

• The Assembly will hold publichearings throughout BC, and if it

recommends changes to thecurrent electoral system, thatoption will be put to a province-wide referendum.

• Give all-party Legislativecommittees a vital role in policymaking.The committees willtravel to every region of theprovince and conduct hearingsthat are open to the public andmedia, with all recommendationssubmitted to government andposted on the Internet.

ii.• Make BC a leader in electronicgovernment, to facilitate publicparticipation throughout thelegislative process, improveefficiency, and improve access toservices over the Internet.

.

• Expand the preparation ofgovernment data and informationin digital formats, to increasefreedom of information and helpreduce the cost of paper flow andbureaucratic bottlenecks.

Ban all non-essential governmentadvertising in the four-monthperiod prior to the fixed electiondate, to prevent any opportunityfor-partisan abuse of taxpayer-funded advertising.

• Amend BC’s Constitution Ac twithin 90 days of our fl~stlegislative session to establish fixedelection dates, based on a four-year term, to eliminate thePremier’s ability to manipulatethe timing of elections for personal

or partisan purposes.Amend the Election Act toeliminate the loopholes ondisclosures of financial contributions to political parties and toinclude~donations of labour, asrequired in municipal elections.

• Establish a “Waste Buster” Websitefor taxpayers to help identify, reportand stamp out! government waste.

• (~)utlaw donations from charitiesto political parties.

I

A New Era of

P bileS’rvGovernments around the world are embracing important reforms to put the public interest first, and give people a

real voice in decision-making.With our talented people, skills and resources, British Columbia should be a leader inproviding public services that are accountable, accessible and efficient.

BC Liberals are committed to dramatically reforming government decision-making so that you have a real say inhow our province is run. Ou r goal is the most open, transparent and accountable government in Canada.

www.bcliberals.corn



George Abbott Val Anderson ~ ~~ I_~~i..i~E)(~~i~~I1Shuswap) (Vancouver— Langara)

Farmer/CollegeInstructor Clergy

Tony Bhullar Harry Bloy Shirley Bond Jeff Bray Elayne Brenzinger Susan Brice Graham Bruce(Surrey — Newton) (Burgoittam) (Prince George — (Victoria — Beacon I-till) (Surrey— Wholley) (Saunich South) )Cowichan — Ladysmith)RCMP Lawyer Telecommunications Mount Rubsun) Provincial G overnment Executive Director BetterBusiness Bureau Small Business Owner

Boniness Owner Schosl Trustee Policy Analyst Charitable Organization Executive Director

h Coleman Michael de Jong Kevin Falcon Gary Farrell-Collins Stan Hagen Greg Halsey-Braudt(FortLangley—Aldergrove) (Abbotofurd-Mt. Lehman (Surrey — Cluverdale (Vancouver — Foirview) (Comos Volley) (Richmond Centre)Boniness Lawyer Business Owner Pilot? Flight Instructor Construc tion Csmpony Manager Mayor/Town Planner

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Gordon Hogg Mike Hunter Daniel Jarvis Ken Johnston Brian Kerr Kevin Krueger Daniel Lee(Surrey — White Rock) (Nanaims) (North Vancouver — Seymour) )Vancnuver — Frase rvie w) (M alu hu t — Juan de Fuca) )Kamlsopo — North Thompson) (Vancouver— Hastings)

Former Mayor Business Consultant Realtsr Business Person Business Manager? Insurance Manager Councillor

Chartered Accountant

We need your helpIi

Gordon Campbell Ted Nebbeling Paul Nettleton

(Vancouver— Point Grey) ( We st V u n co uv er G an ba ld i) ( Pr in ce George — Omineca)Former Mayor/Educator/Business Fo rme rMuyur Sma l Business Lawyer

Richard Neufeld Rob Nijjar John Nuraney Sheila Orr Barry Penner Geoff Plant Judith Reid(Peace River North) (Vancouver — Kingoway) (Burnuby —Willingdnn) (Victoria— Hillside> )Chilliwack Kent> (Richmond — Steveston) (Nanuimo — Parkoville)

Small Business/Oiland Gos P ub li c R ela tio ns C un na lt an t S ma ll B us in es s O wn er S ma ll B us in es s O wn er? Park Ranger Lawyer Lawyer Shelttish Former

Cosncillsr

Lynn Stephens Ken Stewart Richard Stewart Blair Suffredine Ralph Sultan Rick Thorpe(Langley) (Maple Ridge — P it t M e ad ow s) ( Co qo it lam — M aillardville) )Nelsun — C re st on ) (W es t Va nco uv er— C ap ila no ) (Okanogan — Weotside)

Small Business / Realtor Farm Manager Government Relations Lawyer? Small Business Person Economist Small Business / CMAConsultant



‘I Bill Barisoff Pat Bell Bill Belsey Bill Bennett(Penticton O ka na ga n V alle y) (P rin ce George North) (North Coast) (East KootenSmall Busineaa Agncsltare Small Business Owner / Logge r Me ta ll ur gi ca l Technalngiat Lawyer

Gulzar Cheema Ida Chong Tom Christensen Dave Cholter Christy Clark Walt Cobb MorrayCoel l(Sarrey— Pannrama Ridge) (Oak Bay— Gordon Head) (Okanagan — Vernon) (Yale — Lilloset) (Port M oody Westwood) (Caribso S outh) (Saanich North & the Islands)

Phyaician / CGA Former Coancillor Lawyer Farmer Public Service Small Boniness Owner! Former Mayor / Social WorkerFormer Munitoban MLA Farmer Mayor

Arnie Hamilton Cnlin Hansen RogerHarr is Randy Hawes Siodi Hawkins Dave Haye(Esguimalt — Metchosin) (Vancouver— Quilchena) (Skeena) (Muple Ridge — Mission) (Kelowna — Mission) (Sarrey—Tynehead)Small Business Owner! Small Business Small Business Owner Mayor Farmer Nurse / Lawyer Assistant PublisherRetired Police Sergeant

Richard Lee Blair Lekstrom John Les Brenda Locke Harold Long Dennis Mackay karn Manhas(Burnaby North) (Peace River South) (Chilliwack— Sarnas) (Surrey — Green T imber s) ( Powe ll R iv er— Sunshine C oa st ) ( Ba lk le y V al le y — Stikine) (Pnrt Coqaitlam —

Applied Mathematician Mayor Business Person! Small Bosiness Transportation Business Owner Commercial Private Burke Mnantain)Former Mayor Executive Directsr Investigator Small B usiness M anager

to elect Reni Masi Lorne Mayencourt Wendy McMahon Joyce Morray(Delta North) (Vancssver— Burrard) (Cnlsmbia River— Revelstnke) (New Westminster)

Teacher/Administrator Small Baainesa Owner Edncation Administration Retorestation Business Owner

Ls’a sen

1Linda Reid Claude Richmond Val Roddick Patty Sahota Rod Sanderson Visser Sandy Santori Gail Sparrow

(Richmond East) (Kamloops) (Delta Snuth) (Bamaby—Edmonds) (North Ia and (West K.n tenay—Bsundary) (Vancoaver—Mount Pleasant)T ea ch er /A dm in is tr at or l nd ep en de nt Co ns al ta nt Small Business ForeatryConsultant Small Bas inessOwner Operator May.r InsuranceAgent Small Bssineao Owner!

Former Band Chief

Gillian Tromper John van Dongen John Weisbeck katherine W hittred John Wilson Patrick Woog(Alherni — Onalicam) (Abbotoford — Claybars) (K elowna — Lake Country) (North V ancnuver— L enadale) (Caribou N orth) (Vancouver — Kensington)

Mayor Farmer/Business Dentist Teacher V eterin aria n/Ra nc he r Chartered Accountant



Authorized by Rory Lambert,Financial Agent for Sheila Off,phone 250-384-9467

GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE

Ii!iiberals

A ERAI•

4—4

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1111COLU IA

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bc liberal 2001 platform

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