• Connect to CKNW
Related Links

BC Conservatives give the throne speech a failing grade
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Shane Woodford | Email news tips to shane.woodford@corusent.com
2/13/2013

The leader of the provincial Conservative party says the BC Government is banking on a wish list built on phantom revenues as its big plan for the future. 

 

John Cummins is giving the throne speech a failing grade. 

 

"I mean it was so boring that Harry Lali had to be nudged to stay awake."

 

Cummins says banking on liquid natural gas revenues from plants not even built yet is like a lottery ticket retirement strategy. 

 

 "The Premier relied, I think is relying a great deal on almost a lottery like windfall from liquified natural gas to pay the bills in the future and provide for this prosperity fund that she is touting."

 

He says absent from the speech is any 'real' solutions

 

 "The real issue is, is what is going to fill the gap in the interim that is what was simply lacking I mean we have got a huge problem with the return of the PST it is going to increase taxes to businesses considerably. The government promised in its budget last year to increase business taxes by one-percent if things didn't improve."

 

Cummins says he was surprised at the lack of a cohesive plan in the throne speech considering an election is looming.

 

 "It was more of a wish list and I fully expected that given the fact that we are looking at an election five months from now and given the position the government is in, in the polls that we would have seen a failry well thought out and constructive plan for the future not from this government."

 

Cummins says he would have liked to have seen issues like job creation not just an all or nothing LNG plan for the a future many years down the road. 


 «  Return to previous page
 »  Send to a friend
Subscribe to channel

Leave a comment:

showing all comments · Subscribe to comments
  1. BlakeN posted on 02/13/2013 10:34 AM
    It seems like the throne speach included a scheme to use LNG to try and reduce debt. In fact it is being hailed as the savior of the BC economy. This in spite of the fact it will be at least seven years before these plants get going. The throne speach is in that light as realistic as wishing the debt gone, and poof it's gone- or wishing CC will be able to hold onto power.
  2. bctaxpayer posted on 02/13/2013 01:39 PM
    The throne speech totally for the birds.
  3. DougB_25 posted on 02/13/2013 04:43 PM
    John Cummins has been a big disappointment to me.I would have no problem turfing the current government if there was an option other than the NDP.John Cummins wanted to offer that other option,but he has blown it.Big time.First,he should have done this when the NDP was down to two seats in the legislature.Had he done that,we might actually have 3 viable options on the ballot.At least that way,a minority government would be another option.
    Do not underestimate the value of LNG "BlakeN".In past years it paid huge royalties to the government.Had the price not tanked in North America,we would not be in deficit now.But you are right.The time line is less than helpful.It's a shame that new industry almost always takes a decade or more to come on line.No one builds much of anything useful in less than that. 10-15 years is not uncommon.
  4. BlakeN posted on 02/13/2013 08:55 PM
    Doug, the problem with LNG is that it is already too late to capitalize on it. Even if that were not the case, it would take the better part of a decade to get to the place where it would start contributing to the economy. I just can't however see the current government doing anything though. She is done and the latest polls prove my point. In the interior where I am from it is likely that the Liberals will be lucky to come in third. That's just the way it is. At least here.
showing all comments