Editor,

In regards to our MLA Jackie Tegart’s budget criticism, it reflects in sync perfectly with the Liberal government’s last Throne speech. The BC Green Party thoroughly disagrees with both the Liberals and the NDP ‘clone’ speeches.

Their $10/day daycare, though adopted by the Liberals, was nothing more than a campaign slogan. This pork barreling for the rich would be punitive to the working poor. The Green Party got this one right, while making daycare free up front, it would now be considered a taxable benefit. Making those who can afford, to pay on the strength of their incomes.

The $400 Renter’s Tax Credit, not rebate, that was also supported by the Liberals, was doomed on conception by the Greens as reckless and financially irresponsible.

As far as increased taxes go, when the Liberals were in power it cost my family $1,800/year in medical premiums. At the urgency of the Greens, the new government has removed those fees, saving us that amount.

Because the Liberals had been using ICBC as an ATM, ICBC is now $1.3 billion in debt, now our insurance rates will be going up by $100’s per year, not much savings there. The Liberals used the same practice with BC Hydro, over the years robbing BC Hydro for over $25 billion, as well as selling power from Independent Power Projects (IPP’s) at a rate of 30 per cent of the cost, racking up commitments of $50 billion. Add these amounts to an already staggering $80 billion in structural deficit, BCers are now on the hook for over $150 billion in debt.

The Liberals still falsely claim that their budgets were balanced. They were balanced because they robbed their Crown Corporations for the money, creating these massive deficits.

There is one point that Jackie made that I totally agree with, “British Columbia deserves better”!

Art Green

Art Green was the BC Green Party candidate for the Fraser-Nicola riding in the last provincial election.