BECAUSE EVERY FACT MATTERS - WEEK 1

April 19, 2009

When the NDP speaks, it always seems the facts are the first thing to go. 

As a service to those who think that the facts matter when it comes to important issues regarding the future of our province, here is a summary of some of the facts that Carole James and the NDP just got wrong last week.


The Economy in the 1990s

NDP CLAIM:  “Under the NDP government (1991-2001), average annual economic growth was 2.8 per cent, compared to 2.6 per cent under the Campbell Liberals.”

WRONG: According to Statistics Canada, B.C.’s average economic growth under the NDP (1991 -2001) was actually 2.5 per cent, NOT 2.8 per cent as the NDP claim. To compare, in 2001 the BC Liberals inherited the second-worst GDP growth rate in the country, and still had average annual economic growth of 3.2 per cent since that time – 28 per cent higher than under the NDP.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_smears/ndp_in_denial_about_disastrous_1990s)


The Success of Public-Private Partnerships

NDP CLAIM: The Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre, the William R. Bennett Bridge, and the Sea to Sky Highway all had cost “overruns.”

WRONG: None of those projects experienced overruns. In fact, they were all not only completed on time and on budget, they produced either additional savings or additional benefits under these contracts. The prices wrongly cited by the NDP were actually restated accounting guidelines directed by the Auditor General requiring that both the capital costs and long-term operating expenses for P3s be presented. These are not additional capital costs, and Budget 2008 explicitly states that.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_smears/ndp_s_p3_spin_misleading_and_destructive)


Clean Energy Production and Water Rights

NDP CLAIM: The BC Liberals have sold the water rights to 120 BC rivers and waterways. Over 550 water license applications are in process.

WRONG: No rivers have been sold. The Crown awards water licenses for fixed lease periods to produce clean power for British Columbians. The public maintains ownership of the water and the river at all times.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_smears/the_facts_on_the_bc_energy_plan)

NDP CLAIM: Even after their 30-40 year contracts end, private firms, not British Columbians, own the generating plants, retain first dibs on the rights of water, and are free to sell the power to the highest bidder, Canadian or American.

WRONG: The Crown is the owner of the resource and after leases expire the assets revert back to the Crown. Under the NDP there were no time limits on the licenses they granted for their numerous run of river IPPs; under the BC Liberals there are now time limits of a maximum of 40 years.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_smears/dissecting_the_ndp_s__truth__on_power)


Gas Consumption in B.C.

NDP CLAIM: Gasoline consumption is up over last year, and that is proof the carbon tax isn’t working.

WRONG: The report by Statistics Canada actually shows retail gasoline consumption declined by two percent in 2008. More simply, it went down, not up. Emissions data for 2008 actually will not be fully reported until 2010, which will be the true indicator of progress in that year. And that would only include half a year during which the tax on carbon emissions was in place, as it only came into effect on July 1, 2008.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_ndp/stop_the_ndp__learn_more/carole_james,____agrees_to_disagree____with_the_facts)


Log Export Numbers

NDP CLAIM: The NDP say there has been ‘unprecedented growth in raw log exports” under this government.

WRONG: Log exports from provincially controlled crown lands have actually declined by 25 per cent since 2001. And those that are exported are done so only in exceptional circumstances to support the jobs of 2,000 loggers and workers in our forest industry.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_ndp/stop_the_ndp__learn_more/ndp___s_reckless_forest_policies_put_jobs_at_risk)


Minimum Wage Earners in B.C.

NDP CLAIM: There are 115,000 people earning minimum wage in British Columbia

WRONG: If the NDP looked at the research they would see that, according to Statistics Canada , there are approximately 50,800 employees making minimum wage. In addition, that same research shows the number of employed people earning minimum wage is actually decreasing in B.C. – from 6% of workers in 2001 to 2.7% in 2008 – the second lowest proportion in Canada.
(http://www.bcliberals.com/stop_the_ndp/stop_the_ndp__learn_more/the_ndp_and_the_real_facts_on_minimum_wage)

Contact:
BC Liberal Party
PO Box 21014, Waterfront Centre
Vancouver, BC V6C 3K3