The NDP will...

[Little Hawk]

If you haven't heard already, here it is right off the NDP's Election Platform.

The NDP will:
Fund enforcement of environmental protections a • nd regulations.
• Protect endangered wildlife with BC’s first Species at Risk legislation and establish
a Species at Risk Stewardship Fund available to landowners, farmers, First Nations,
academic institutions, community groups.
• Safeguard and enhance freshwater and saltwater fish stocks:
• Implement the recommendations of BC’s Sustainable Aquaculture Committee,
including the transition to closed containment fish farming within five years.
• Strengthen the Salmon Protection Act and re-establish programs that support the
return of salmon and steelhead runs throughout BC.

They are also going to put a moratorium on the Liberal's Rape-of-River projects and the privatization of public energy which will spawn both the end of BC Hybro and affordable electricity.

For me, my vote will be a NO-BRAINER this time around.

 

[agentaqua]

good post little hawk

In addition to quoting the NDP's platform for the more socially-minded bloggers and electorate; here is some info on only 1 of the underhanded and damaging decisions (others include fish farms, BC Rail, etc.) of the BC Liberal party - re: BC Hydro</u> - for the more business-minded pro-liberals in the province whose purse strings and liberal ribbons appear to sing louder than their heart:

1/ From 1994 to 2008, our public utility (i.e. crown corp), BC Hydro, has contributed an enormous $9.5 billion to the province. This amount of revenue generated and subsequently used for programs and offsetting debt IS AT RISK now, due to the changes imposed by the BC Liberals as described below.

2/ British Columbia has enjoyed the 3rd lowest electricity rates in North America for years thanks to public power—assets that are publicly owned and paid for, with cost benefits passed onto consumers. This is due to the fact that the utilities are publicly-owned, and once the capital investment is paid-off (anyone starting a business knows this); the remaining income from power generation is debt-free.

This will NOT happen with power-generating facilities owned by private interests as in the so-called "public-private partnerships" promoted by the BC Liberals.

3/ The BC Liberal government has prohibited BC Hydro from constructing any new public power generation projects. Only improvements to existing BC Hydro dams are permissible. The one potential BC Hydro project under consideration is Site C on the Peace River. This contentious project is presently being examined in a five year feasibility review; and even if approved, there are no guarantees of public ownership.

What this means is that we the taxpayers and hydro rate payers will end-up being renters, rather than owners of our own resources and will pay $$$ for that privilege of use of our resourses.

4/ BC Hydro is already paying more for the 10% of electricity produced by private energy companies than the 90% generated through public power facilities. The per megawatt price of private power electricity is approximately 15 times the cost of existing public power.

Our rates will go-up accordingly, up between 2 to 15 times over the next 40 years. In addition, the interest generated by removing this amount of BILLIONS of $$$ from the public coffers will be lost.

5/ Effective October 1st 2008, the BC Liberal government introduced 2-tier BC Hydro rates that will further increase costs to households where more electricity is consumed—increases of up to 60% over three years, according to the Joint Industry Electricity Steering Committee. Basing such increases on household consumption penalizes larger families and northern communities electricity consumption is higher due to harsh winter climates.

6/ BC Hydro has already entered into long-term Energy Purchase Agreements (EPAs)—some for up to 40 years on specific projects—totaling a whopping $28.4 billion. Additional contracts continue to be negotiated while the specific terms and conditions of the EPAs are kept private.

But whatever the actual costs of these contracts are - we will pay for this power generated by the IPP's - whether we need it or not - and at rates of between 2-15 TIMES that of the market rate. We will pay BILIIONS OF $$$ over the next 40 years.

7/ The BC Liberal government claims that the province desperately needs more power. But that’s misleading because BC Hydro uses its vast supply of reliable hydroelectric power to buy electricity elsewhere when prices are low and sell BC power to other jurisdictions when prices are high, making substantial profits for the province— $1.4 billion in 2007! In fact, over the past decade, some years BC is a net exporter of electricity and other years a net importer.

8/ The BC Liberal government also claims that private power producers will help BC achieve energy self-sufficiency by 2016. This statement is also misleading. Run-of-river power produces in the spring, when BC Hydro’s reservoirs are full, supply is high, and electricity needs of British Columbians are declining. More likely, this power is intended for export to the US—like California—when electricity consumption increases with air conditioning and other cooling system requirements.

9/ The real reason Campbell's Liberals made these changes is to reap over $800,000 in campaign contributions from the multi-national IPP consortiums - thereby costing us BILLIONS of $$$ in future power generating revenues that will come-out of our pocketbooks.

Campbell's Liberal government is NO FRIEND of small business, since they too have to pay these power rates to run their businesses; but rather friends of multi-national corporate interests whose plan is to steal our resources and sell our rights back to us.

10/ at the end of the 40 year contract, these multi-national corporate interests own the water rights to our rivers, and the scale of this development is huge.

the choices for this provincial election are clear to me. Look into the BC Hydro/run-of-the-river debacle - and it should become clear to you, too.

some links:

www.citizensforpublicpower.ca
http://www.ippwatch.info/w/

 

[Little Hawk]

Don't forget Rafe Mair and Save Our Rivers people.

http://saveourrivers.ca/video-library-mainmenu-29/298-watershed-election

"Stoking the Liberal's Funeral-Fire"

 

[beemer]

gimme a break! the NDP has driven this province into the toilet everytime they get into power,why would this time be any different?
Carol James ? Election promises?

 

[Last Chance]

I agree with Beemer. Sunshine and Rainbows on the wildlife policies is one thing, but we have JUST finished picking up the pieces from their last run on the provincial economy.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

 

[Sushihunter]

quote:Originally posted by LastChance

I agree with Beemer. Sunshine and Rainbows on the wildlife policies is one thing, but we have JUST finished picking up the pieces from their last run on the provincial economy.

Last Chance Fishing Adventures

www.lastchancefishingadventures.com
www.swiftsurebank.com

I have to agree. This is not the time to turn back the clocks to either the 1990's or the 1970's.

I am not fond of Campbell, but his government is a far better choice for the province than the left-wing, socialist policies that the NDP would foist on us, yet again.

They will first open the taps to pay off all their union friends. The fisheries union (read COMMERCIAL fishermen) will get lots from them, as they did under Clark. I know, I worked with them on some projects. All sorts of pie in the sky projects.

No, I will hold my nose and vote for the provincial Liberal.


Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250

 

[The Fish Assassin]

quote:we have JUST finished picking up the pieces from their last run on the provincial economy

I am one of the few that, if nothing else, support the effort they made with the fast ferry. The only reason we lost so much money on it was that Campbell sold them for scrap. For how many years the liberal/ social credit government ran the ferries with no foresight what so ever. It took the NDP to come in and do something out of the box so to say. As a result look at the fleet we are building today, the only thing it is missing now is the fast ferries. I rode on them quite a bit, and never once did I ever experience any kind of problem with my crossing, They preformed great every time I was on them. I'll have a little chuckle if they are used to ferry passengers to Squamish.

The social programs that Campbell cut back in order to save a buck and the environmental policies he supports are just sick.

Take only what you need.

 

[spring time]

if you think that the liberals screwed up the fishery then take a look at the pink run in knights inlet. it went from a major fishery to nothing in one year and I think it was 2001 2002 that wasn't the liberals.

 

[The Fish Assassin]

Being a fisherman I have to look at the choice as this:

1. A group that thinks Salmon comes from farms in the SEA and that a river can be used to make hydro-electricity to sell for $$$.

2. A group that thinks Salmon comes from the Rivers and enhances many peoples ways of lives and that the rivers need to be protected from any development and the wild Salmon enhanced.


Take only what you need.

 

[SerengetiGuide]

**** up our economy. After just reading their platform...it's actually scary.

www.serengetifishingcharters.com

http://www.youtube.com/user/canucksfanatic44

 

[Little Hawk]

Let's see if I understand what I'm reading here correctly?

This is a SPORT-FISHING FORUM, presumably frequented by those who hold this precious pastime near and dear. Right?

And while many of us have children and are concerned about what sort of fishing opportunities we will be leaving to them, we are inclined to (and damn well should) fight to protect what we want to leave to them. Right?

And then there's Gordon Campbell. A man who, through his unbridled support of the net-pen business and his more recent RAPE-OF-RIVER power projects scam, has demonstrated - unequivocally - his complete dismissal of the vital importance of Pacific Salmon and fish-habitat to all British Columbians. Right?

As a life-long sport-fisherman, a guy who remembers his first-fish like he remembers his first-kiss, people like Gordon Campbell are my adversary's. His twisted ideas about feeding all of us fish grown in pens while giving away leases to big American power-companies so they can have their way with hundreds of our fish-bearing rivers & streams, for me, were the last straws.

With all due respect for our wonderful democracy, those of you here on this forum - those who claim to hold this wonderful pastime in the highest regard - who will cast another vote Campbell's way this time around - will be stabbing a big-knife squarely in the backs of your fellow sport-fishermen and those who will come after us!

As one who counts himself among those fighting to ensure there will be some fish around for my children, nothing could be more offensive.

 

[beemer]

Hey Little Hawk , your passion for fishing and the outdoors is to be admired. If everyone cared at your level we would not be in this mess.
Gordon Campbell is not the most likable guy and he sure makes it easy to hate him when he does stuff like the B.C. rail deal, BUT he has turned us from the worst economy in Canada to the best in less than ten years and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the province.He has created huge parks , started the ball rolling with settling land claims and has stabilised and diversified our resource based economy.
The Carbon tax about to be put into effect was a result of public pressure , I am not fan , but it shows that groups (like sport fishing) can effect change in government without ripping the whole system apart and starting over. Sportfishing as a group needs to get REALLY organised and target specific issues one by one instead oftrying to change everything at once.WE NEED TO GET ORGANISED!

Lets not throw the baby out with the bath water and become a bunch old curmudgeons sitting around talking about how great fishing used to be. (ok we do that now anyway) If we all got involved at our local level we can effect change on the Campbell government.Lets start with inviting all our MLA's after the election out for a day of fishing and start explaining some of the local issues to them. WE CAN DO THIS!!!

 

[Little Hawk]

Thanks for the kind words Beemer.
Often, I'll get an earful from the other side of the fence...

 

[Captain Dudds]

Was none of the economical problems in the late 90's a result of the natural swing of the economy? I thought the NDP balanced the budget in their last year? I was pretty young then so might be off here - please correct if so.

 

[tubber]

I've been fortunate to travel all of Canada, most of the world and I've lived in Europe and Alberta. BC has been, is and always will be the only place I want to live. The government of the day can't change that.
The worst economic times in BC in my memory have been 1982-3 (Socreds) and now(Liberals).
I could put up with 4 years of the NDP, as punishment to the Liberals for many of the reasons posted above, or merely for the sake of change (they will be lame ducks next time around anyway, because the economy will continue to lag until well into the next mandate).

If you will be making a living regardless of who is in power, as 91-95% of us always will be, and sportfishing and stewardship of the waterways matters to you, a vote for the NDP, even as a one off, is the only choice at this time.

 

[The Fish Assassin]

How quickly they tried to brush off the DUI charge, I'll always remeber that. I knew right then if that is the kind of choice he makes on a personal level, why the hell would I want him in charge of this province?

Take only what you need.

 

[beemer]

because he is better than the alternative! I think you only have to open the newspaper to see we are in a way better position than most places in the world.

 

[Little Hawk]

This ELECTION is a simple choice.

a) If you are about money, economic-issues, building things, satisfying Americans, giving away our river's to foreign control, quadrupling energy costs to British Columbian's, allowing the fish-farmers - that Big Norwegian doggy sh!tting in our front yard while growing fish to feed Americans'- to continue their stronghold on our beloved Coastline - then you will vote Liberal.

b) If you are about Conservation and ensuring that our precious Wild-Things & Wild Places are still there for your children & grandchildren, you will - with a little pencil at the Polling Station on May 12th - give Gordy one up-the-side-of-the-head and send him for a 4-yr time-out in the corner with a Vote for the NDP.

"STOKING THE LIBERAL'S FUNERAL-FIRE!"