A Vision for Hope & Prosperity for the next decade and beyond.

GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE

www.bcliberals.com We can work Wonders

I am excited about our future. I was born here and I know what we can accomplish when we unite behind a common purpose. In BC there is a special spirit. It’s the spirit that reaches beyond ourselves. It’s the spirit of enterprise, community and imagination. Imagine looking at our province 100 years ago and then look at it today.Think of the public legacy of our past – the roads, bridges, dams and power lines that brought us together.Think of all we have built: wonderful schools, universities and colleges to teach students of all ages; excellent hospitals to provide us all with care; and countless community services. This election provides a chance to embark on a New Era of enormous scope to build on that proud legacy.Together we can reverse the NDP’s decade of decline, incompetence, mismanagement and betrayal of trust.We can cut personal income taxes and unleash the power of a thriving free enterprise economy. We can restore the sense of hope and prosperity that defined BC’s past, to build a future in every community that is ripe with opportunity for our children and families. We can create a public education system that’s the envy of the world and develop a public health care system that meets the needs of all BC families, regardless of where they live.And we can bridge the “digital divide,”to ensure all British Columbians can participate in the new world of technology and communicate through high-speed Internet access. We can revive the spirit of democracy and reform our public services so they meet your needs.Working together, we can become leaders again in Canada and put our province’s economy back on top. This booklet outlines some of the goals we have set for ourselves. I invite you to read it, offer suggestions for improvement, and hold us to account should you honour us with the right to form your next provincial government. We will act boldly and decisively to open up government, to rebuild our economy and to lead the way to a New Era full of promise and potential for you and your family.

Gordon Campbell Leader, BC Liberal Party

2 A New Era of Leadership

We want British Columbians We will act to build your trust Fiscal responsibility. Free excited about their future again.We and to re-establish BC’s leadership enterprise. Equality of opportunity want to create a New Era in British role in Canada.We want our and responsibility. Compassion Columbia. A New Era of vision, province to have the leading for those in need. An unflagging imagination, hope and prosperity. economy in the country, with the commitment to public health care, highest levels of private sector education and public safety. If you are a parent, we want you investment anywhere. to know that your children will Commitment to Canada’s have the education they need and We want our schools, universities Constitution and equality under the economic opportunity they and colleges to be at the leading the law. Open and accountable deserve to build a successful future edge of educational achievement decision-making. Belief in a at home in your community. and excellence.We want our public professional, non-partisan health care system to guarantee all public service. The plan in this booklet lays out a patients the care they need, where vision for a brighter future that is Those are the pillars for a New they live and when they need it. realistic, affordable and measurable. Era of hope and prosperity for A BC Liberal Government all people who live here, in the We will focus your tax dollars on will be guided by the principles best province, in the best country the critical services that you want and values that are the pillars in the world. and deserve, while getting more for prosperity. value for each dollar spent.

Our Vision: 1. A top-notch education system for students 6. The fastest growing technology industry of all ages. in Canada. 2. High-quality public health care services 7. A leading edge forest industry that is that meet all patients’ needs where they globally recognized for its productivity live and when they need it. and environmental stewardship. 3. A thriving private sector economy that 8. Greater equity and equality for British creates high-paying job opportunities. Columbia in Canada. 4. Safer streets and schools in every 9. The most open, accountable and community. democratic government in Canada. 5. Better services for children, families 10. Responsible, accountable management & First Nations. of your public resources and tax dollars.

www.bcliberals.com 3 A New Era for BC begins within90days

Within 90 days of being sworn into office, a BC Liberal Government will act to initiate the following commitments:

Introduce a dramatic cut in Restore all workers’ right to Ensure that Crown corporations • personal income taxes. • negotiate contracts by outlawing • are subject to local zoning and • Pass real Balanced Budget sectoral bargaining. land-use by-laws. legislation, to make balanced Restore open tendering on • Scrap photo radar in British budgets mandatory by our third • government contracts to allow fair Columbia. full budget and to hold all competition for businesses and Establish a fixed provincial election ministers individually accountable. provide better value to taxpayers. • date under the BC Constitution • Pass real Truth in Budgeting Appoint an independent task force Act, to ensure provincial elections legislation that ensures all • to review the options, models, costs must be held on a fixed date every provincial finances are fully, and effectiveness of private sector fourth year, or immediately if any accurately and honestly reported pay equity legislation, and make rec- government loses a confidence vote under Generally Accepted ommendations to the Legislature. in the Legislature. Accounting Principles. • Eliminate the HCL union-only • Establish a fixed date for the • Restore education as an essential “hiring hall” requirement on tabling of the provincial budget, service under the Labour Code to highway construction projects and a set legislative calendar. ensure that no child’s right to an and government-sponsored Establish a new Premier’s Council education is denied during school silviculture contracts. • on Technology to help bridge the strikes and lockouts. • Eliminate government subsidies “digital divide” and recommend • Pass Merit Employment legisla- to businesses that give some strategies to enable all British tion, to restore a professional, companies an unfair advantage Columbians to participate in and non-partisan public service, over their competitors. benefit from increased jobs and appointed strictly on merit and opportunities in the new economy. Pass a Community Charter to not on patronage. • outlaw provincial government • Repeal the NDP’s “fixed wage” • Establish a “Waste Buster” “offloading” of costs onto legislation that has added huge Website for taxpayers to help municipal governments, and to costs to taxpayers on public identify, report and stamp out give local governments greater construction projects. government waste. autonomy and better planning Restore workers’ right to their pen- Restore workers’ democratic right tools to reduce pressure on • sions by repealing the law that allows • to a secret ballot vote on certifi- property taxes. some pension plans to suspend cation under the Labour Code Appoint an independent public pension benefits for early retirees and ensure the same rules apply • inquiry into the fast ferry fiasco and who choose to continue working in for certification as de-certification. the mismanagement of BC Ferries. their previous field of employment.

4 A New Era of Higher Paycheques

We want to cut your taxes and put more money back in your pocket, because when you work hard, you should be able to get ahead.You should keep more of every dollar you earn – and government should take less.That’s the best way to stimulate investment, job creation and a thriving economy that can sustain the revenue growth needed to pay for crucial public services like health care and education. Money is always far more powerful in your hands than it is when government spends it. We can have the most attractive personal income tax rates in Canada, and we will. Within our first term in government, BC Liberals will cut the base personal income tax rate to the lowest level in Canada for the bottom two income brackets, covering the first $60,000 of income. Lower tax rates will mean higher incomes for all taxpayers. And that will mean more jobs, more taxpayers and ultimately more revenue to improve the public services you want and need. Tax cuts work Provinces like Ontario have proven that lower personal income tax rates lead to higher revenue – not less. Ontario cut its income tax rate by 20 points since 1996, and personal income tax revenue has gone up by over $3.3 billion a year. $19 billion Ontario Personal Income Tax 60% 58% 58% vs. Tax Rate In Canada, nine provinces cut personal income

$18 billion $18.9 56% tax rates since 1995, including BC. In every case, 54% $17 billion audited financial statements show that income tax 48% $17.6 revenues are now 9% to 36% higher than they

$16 billion $16.7 48% were before rates were cut, because the economy

$16.4 is more competitive.

$15 billion $16.3 $15.6 42% This same principle has been demonstrated 42.7% $14 billion $14.8 throughout the world.When income tax rates are cut, 39.5% 38.5% tax revenues go up over time as the economy grows. $13 billion 36 % 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Revenue ($ Billion) —— Basic Income Tax Rate

(Sources: Canadian Tax Foundation, Ontario Public Accounts, Third Quarter Update)

A BC Liberal Government will: • Introduce a dramatic cut in personal income taxes, within 90 days. • Cut the base personal income tax rate to the lowest rate of any province in Canada for the bottom two tax brackets, on the first $60,000 of income, within our first term. • Honour this commitment without cutting funding for health or education.

www.bcliberals.com 5 A Decade of Decline The NDP has taken BC’s economy from first to worst in Canada.

Glen Clark Former Premier Real Per-Capita GDP Growth, 1992-2000 30% 33.6% 27.3% 27.0% 20% Last in Economic Growth 24.2%

22.3% This chart shows just how badly our economy has performed compared 21.6%

18.6% to every other province in Canada. Since 1992, BC’s per capita economic

10% 17.5% 16.2% growth has fallen to dead last. Other provinces’ economies have grown five times more than ours. In 1998, BC was the only province in Canada where

5.3% the level of real per capita GDP was actually lower than in 1990. 0% Nfld Sask Alta Ont Que NB PEI Man NS BC

(Sources: Stats Can., Provincial Economic Accounts; average private sector forecast, Feb. 2000.)

130% Private Sector Investment Growth, 1992-2000 122.9% Last in Investment Growth 113.3% The NDP’s assault on free enterprise has crippled private sector investment 90.8% 75.9% 69.5%

in BC. While other provinces have seen investment in their economies soar, 65.8% 58.5% investment in BC has dropped to the bottom. BC also had the largest 53.2% 49.6% increase in business bankruptcies from 1992 to 1998. 10% 18% Alta NB Sask Man Nfld Ont NS Que PEI BC

(Source: Statistics Canada)

20% Private Sector Employment Growth, Last in Employment Growth 1996-2000 15% British Columbia has the highest unemployment rate west of Quebec 18.0% 17.5% for one simple reason: job growth in the private sector has been virtually 16.0%

14.9% non-existent under the NDP. As the chart on the left shows, BC ranks last 10%

12.2% in job creation in Canada since 1996. In fact, from 1994 to 1999, we 12.0% 10.9% experienced a net loss of 469 small and medium-sized businesses that 8.8% 7.1%

5% 5.2% moved from BC to other provinces. Alta NS PEI Ont Que Nfld NB Man Sask BC

(Source: Statistics Canada)

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

Average annual take-home pay $21,000 dropped by $1,738 $20,000 $20,509 $19,000 over the last decade in BC $18,771 $18,000

$17,000 6 1990 1999 (Source: Stats Canada, Provincial Economic Accounts) A Decade of Incompetence “No one believes that we are committed to sound financial management of our province.” – Ujjal Dosanjh, May 27, 2000

◆ Eight consecutive deficits ◆ BC had two credit rating downgrades ◆ Over $2 billion in tax hikes ◆ Skyrocketing spending and debt ◆ Two “fudge-it” budgets ◆ $ billions in unauthorized spending ◆ Countless missed budget forecasts ◆ The worst fiscal record in Canada Ujjal Dosanjh Premier The NDP Doubled the Debt

Total Provincial Debt ($ Billions)

$35 billion $34.2 $34.7 $33.8 The NDP have doubled the total debt accumulated by all $32.0

$29.2 $30.2 previous BC governments combined. Since 1991, the debt $30 billion $28.7 $27.1 has grown from $17 billion to almost $35 billion. $25.9 That works out to about $8,428 for every woman, man and $25 billion $23.4 child in BC. It’s all borrowed money that will have to be repaid

$20.0 by tomorrow’s taxpayers – by our children and grandchildren. $20 billion $17.3 While other provinces have reduced their debt as a percentage of economic growth, our taxpayer-supported debt has gone $15 billion from 12.5% to 19.7% of GDP. 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

(Sources: 2000 Financial & Economic Review; BC Budget 2001)

Annual Interest on Debt ($ Billions)

Debt costs have soared $3.0 billion Despite the lowest interest rates in 30 years, interest costs have soared by almost 45% under $2.5 billion the NDP. BC taxpayers now spend more than $2.6 billion a year in interest on dead-weight debt. $2.6

Higher borrowing costs mean more money to the banks, and less money available for crucial $2.0 billion services, like health and education. Annual debt costs now consume almost double the entire $1.8 budget for Children & Family Services – or half the entire education budget. $1.5 billion 1992 2001 (Sources: Debt Management Progress Report 1994-95; BC Budget 2001)

7 A New Era of

Joyce Murray Accountability Gary Farrell-Collins New Westminster Vancouver – Fairview

As everyone now knows, the NDP’s 1996 election budget was a fraud. Now Mr. Dosanjh said it: they are at it again.The NDP’s new budget has been exposed as yet another “fudge-it budget,” incorporating over $1 billion in “revenues” that rely on “As a person who changes in accounting methods and politically inflated Hydro and ICBC has been in Cabinet… “contributions” to government coffers. I can’t escape the collective It’s time to hold the NDP accountable for their abysmal record in government. Mr. Dosanjh and his colleagues supported every one of Glen Clark’s policies. responsibility.” They voted for eight straight NDP deficits and turned a blind eye to scandal after scandal. Now Mr. Dosanjh has tabled his own “fudge-it budget.” Mr. Dosanjh sat on Treasury Board during both the fast ferry fiasco and the 1996 “fudge-it budget.” He was responsible for the Carrier Lumber appeal, which he filed as Attorney General without even reading the court judgement. That disgraceful fiasco alone will cost taxpayers millions in settlement costs, to say nothing of the damage it has done to BC’s reputation. It’s time for a New Era of Accountability. Our plan will deliver real transparent, accountable government.

A BC Liberal Government will: Conduct a comprehensive audit of Honestly balance the budget, Establish a “Waste Buster” Website • the Province’s finances within 90 • without cutting funding for health • for taxpayers to help identify, report days and make the results public. care or education. and stamp out government waste. Pass real Balanced Budget Restore a professional, non- Establish service plans that include • legislation, to make balanced • partisan public service, based on • measurable performance standards budgets mandatory by our third merit – not patronage. and targets for all programs that full budget and to hold all Increase funding for the Auditor are annually audited and published, ministers individually accountable. • General’s Office, to help identify for all taxpayers to see. Pass real Truth in Budgeting and prevent waste, and to increase Require Crown corporations • legislation that ensures all value-for-money. • to be directly accountable to a provincial finances are fully, Eliminate the use of Special committee of the Legislature for accurately and honestly reported • Warrants, to prevent government their financial management and under Generally Accepted from spending your money budget plans. Accounting Principles. without prior legislative approval. Establish a fixed date for tabling • the annual provincial budget.

8 A New Era of

Sindi Hawkins Hope Ted Nebbeling Kelowna – Mission West Vancouver – Garibaldi

As we move forward to a New Era of hope and prosperity, it’s important for New hope for: government to safeguard the values that underpin our free enterprise Private property rights economy.You shouldn’t have to worry about government trampling on your • property rights, as we saw in the Carrier Lumber fiasco and when the NDP • Homeowners and buyers confiscated non-profit societies’ assets, without compensation. • Regional transportation You shouldn’t have to pay higher than necessary electricity or auto Affordable housing insurance rates, because government wants to play politics with BC Hydro • or ICBC.You should be confident that government will protect your • Lower energy bills interests. • Lower auto insurance costs You should be confident that your public ferry system will not be held hostage to strikes or lockouts. And your local government should be given Local governments • the tools and resources it needs to better plan and manage local services, while remaining accountable to local property taxpayers.

A BC Liberal Government will: Protect private property rights Pass a Community Charter that Protect BC Hydro and all of its • to prevent government from • will increase autonomy for local • core assets, including dams, expropriating assets without fair governments. reservoirs and power lines under compensation. Establish regional transportation public ownership. Modernize the Residential • authorities that are accountable to Designate BC Ferry routes as an • Tenancy Act to properly protect local taxpayers and give local • essential service, to ensure that renters and landlords in plain communities more control over water transportation routes are not language everyone can understand. their transportation needs and shut down by labour disputes. Give property buyers more planning. Introduce greater competition • information about prospective Require taxpayer approval by • in auto insurance, to create properties by ensuring that notices • regional referendums prior to increased choice and reduce of known archaeological sites authorization of any new type of motor vehicle premiums. must be registered in the Land TransLink tax or levy. • Implement a flexible, innovative Title Office. • Outlaw “offloading” of provincial program to increase the supply of • Restore an independent government costs onto the backs affordable housing. BC Utilities Commission, to of local property taxpayers. Focus resources on improving re-regulate BC Hydro’s Not sell or privatize BC Rail. • Northern and rural transportation. electricity rates. •

www.bcliberals.com 9 A New Era of

Susan Brice Prosperity Graham Bruce Saanich South Cowichan – Ladysmith

With all that our province has going for it, people should be flocking to New hope for: invest, work and live here. But the opposite has happened under the NDP. • Small business High taxes, over-regulation and hostile business policies have driven Tourism workers and employers out of our province. Since 1997, more than 43,000 • British Columbians have left for Alberta alone. Between 1994 and 1999, we • Agriculture had a net loss of 469 BC companies that moved out of British Columbia. Mining • We can turn that around in short order with the right attitude, policies and • Fishing taxation environment. Our commitment to cut personal income taxes is a • Oil & Gas critical first step. But there’s much more that can and must be done. Retail Our plan is aimed at kick-starting the economy in every sector, to create • a New Era of prosperity in British Columbia.We want British Columbians Transportation • to stay at home and to come back to BC, to build a bright future for • Construction themselves, their families and their communities.

A BC Liberal Government will: Eliminate all government subsidies Phase out taxes on investment and Eliminate the backlog and delays • to business that give some firms an • productivity to stimulate economic • in Crown land applications, which unfair advantage over their com- growth and job creation, in have cost over $1 billion and petitors in BC. keeping with our commitment to 20,000 lost jobs. Cut the “red tape” and regulatory balance the budget and protect Encourage mineral exploration • burden by 1/3 within three years. health care and education funding. • which has dropped by 80% under Restore open tendering on • Stimulate tourism with a plan to the NDP. • government contracts, to reduce improve operators’ ability to Consider the Northern Develop- costs and give everyone an equal successfully compete for visitors • ment Commissioner’s forthcoming right to compete for taxpayer- from around the world. report on offshore oil & gas. funded work. • Aggressively support and Increase funding for the British Make the Workers’ Compensation champion British Columbia’s bid • Columbia Arts Council to • Board more responsive to workers’ to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. promote and support BC arts, and employers’ needs. • Push for provincial control over music, artists and culture. Increase access to Crown lands the management and revenues of Make the Agricultural Land • and resources, to create jobs in BC’s offshore fisheries, to improve • Commission more regionally tourism, mining, forestry, farming, fisheries management and protect responsive to community needs. ranching, and oil & gas. fishery jobs.

10 A New Era of

Richard Stewart Employment Brenda Locke Coquitlam – Maillardville Surrey – Green Timbers

To compete and prosper in the new economy, workers and employers alike need more flexibility and a modern work New jobs environment that encourages innovation and rewards creative thinking and increased productivity. Increased flexibility Our plan to cut your income taxes will help, by allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned money, so that you know, if you work hard, Higher paycheques you will get ahead. But that’s only part of what must be done to create a thriving, free enterprise economy that will stimulate investment and job creation.We also have to restore workers’ rights and modernize employment standards to ensure all workers are treated fairly and equitably. Our New Era is about liberating our economy and minimizing undue government intervention in people’s lives. It’s about giving employees and employers the tools they need to foster better working relationships and safe, healthy, dynamic workplaces. It’s about giving working women and men the safeguards and incentives they need to participate fully and equally in the competitive global economy in which we all work and live.

A BC Liberal Government will: Restore workers’ democratic right Appoint an independent task Cut BC’s base personal income • to a secret ballot vote on any • force to review the options, models, • tax rate to the lowest rate in Canada proposed union certification. costs and effectiveness of private on the bottom two income tax Give all workers a fair and equal sector pay equity legislation, and brackets, covering the first $60,000 • chance to compete for work on to make recommendations to of income, within our first term. taxpayer-funded projects through the Legislature. Introduce a dramatic personal the restoration of open tendering Make the Workers’ Compensation • income tax cut for all taxpayers, on public sector contracts. • Board more responsive to the needs within our first 90 days. Restore all workers’ right to of workers and employers alike. Focus on reducing BC’s youth • negotiate their contracts by Eliminate the NDP’s “fixed wage” • unemployment, which is the worst outlawing sectoral bargaining. • policy that has increased costs to of any province west of Quebec. Give workers and employers taxpayers for public sector Work with employers, post- • greater flexibility in Employment construction projects. • secondary institutes and the Standards to negotiate mutually Restore balance to the Labour Industry Training and beneficial relationships that help • Code by ensuring the same Apprenticeship Commission them compete and prosper. rules apply for certification to increase training and and de-certification. apprenticeships in trades and technical sectors.

www.bcliberals.com 11 A New Era of

George Abbott Sustainable Forestry Shirley Bond Shuswap Prince George – Mount Robson

“Under the NDP,our forest NDP promises and harsh realities industry has gone from the • In 1996, the NDP promised to create 21,000 direct forest jobs by lowest cost producer of fibre in 2001.The following year, they vowed to create 39,800 direct and North America to the highest indirect jobs under the Jobs & Timber Accord.The NDP broke those promises. cost producer. • Between 1996 and 1999, 8,500 forest workers lost their jobs. We need to fix that, to make Since 1997, 17 major sawmills and secondary manufacturing mills our forest industry strong again • and one pulp mill have been permanently shut down. and ensure a bright future for As the NDP’s own former Forest Minister has admitted, the • Forest Practices Code has added over $1 billion in costs to the forest workers.” industry – for no public benefit. Gordon Campbell

A BC Liberal Government will: Establish a working forest land Create a market-based stumpage Protect private property rights in • base, to provide greater stability • system that reflects global market • treaty negotiations. for working families and to realities and local harvesting costs. Work to expedite interim measures enhance long-term forestry Either fix or scrap Forest Renewal • agreements with First Nations, to management and planning. • BC, starting by removing the provide greater certainty during • Streamline the Forest Practices political appointees on the Board. treaty talks. Code to establish a workable, Invest in research to promote Increase the Allowable Annual Cut results-based Code, with tough • forest stewardship. • over time through scientific forest penalties for non-compliance. • Cut the forestry regulatory management, proper planning, • Apply 1% of all direct forest burden by one-third within three and incentives to promote revenues, not including “super years, without compromising enhanced silviculture. stumpage,” to global marketing of environmental standards. Eliminate “waterbedding.” BC’s forest practices and products. • Scrap the “HCL” silviculture • hiring hall policy that discriminates against silviculture workers.

12 A New Era of

Murray Coell Environmental Stewardship Saanich North & The Islands

Throughout the world, BC is known for its spectacular scenery and incredible natural BC Liberals have been first to act environment.We want to build on that legacy through the proper management of to protect your environment your Crown land and resources. ✔First to commit to protecting Burns Bog, which the NDP tried to turn into a theme park. For too long, the NDP have only focussed ✔First to demand the protection of the Upper Pitt watershed on the creation of parks, and largely from a proposed gravel pit (the NDP resisted this protection ignored the other aspects of environmental for months). stewardship that are critical to your health ✔First to call for a full environmental assessment of the Skytrain and well-being. project, which the NDP never did. It’s time for a New Era of environmental ✔First to propose the protection of drinking water through management, based on sound science, ground water legislation. cleaner air, cleaner water and sustainable ✔First to call for the cancellation of the Kemano Completion practices. It’s time to unite British Project. Columbians to find solutions to our ✔First to call for the phase-out of Burrard Thermal, which the common environmental goals and NDP has expanded, despite its harmful effects on air quality. challenges. ✔First to fight the Sumas 2 power project.

A BC Liberal Government will: Adopt a scientifically-based, Create a BC Trust for Public Maintain the longstanding ban • principled approach to • Lands to encourage and facilitate • on bulk water exports. environmental management the expansion of public lands Replace the NDP’s blanket that ensures sustainability, through private land donations. • moratorium on grizzly bear accountability and responsibility. Pass a Living Rivers Act to protect hunting with a proper peer review Pass real comprehensive ground • and improve BC’s river systems by scientists and biologists, and • water legislation to improve the with scientifically-based standards local moratoriums where grizzly quality of British Columbians’ for watershed management, populations are endangered. drinking water. enhancements to fish habitat, Ensure Cabinet decisions on any Oppose the Sumas 2 power project and a 10-year program to correct • new parks are made in public. • past damage. and phase out Burrard Thermal. • Promote clean and renewable Ensure mining or logging is not • Work to develop an internationally alternative energy sources, like • permitted in parks. accepted standard for “eco- wind, thermal, solar, tidal, biomass labelling” of BC forest products. • Acquire and preserve Burns Bog. and fuel cell technologies.

www.bcliberals.com 13 A New Era of Connectivity

“We must bridge the ‘digital divide’ to give We live in exciting times.The world is now just a mouse click all citizens the skills, tools and Internet away, and within a few short years, it will literally rest in the palm of our hands, through the advances of technology. access they need to fully participate in the global technology revolution.” But as many citizens already know, there is a growing “digital divide” between those who have access to new Gordon Campbell technologies, and those who do not. Many families have been shut out of the new economy, simply because they do not have high-speed access to the Internet, or because they can’t afford a computer.The lack of computer literacy is also a huge barrier. With real leadership, we can bridge the “digital divide”.We can ensure that all British Columbians, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike, have the skills, tools and means to fully benefit from, and participate in, the new economy. British Columbians are already proving that they can compete with the best technology companies in the world – and win. We have leading edge firms in information technology, multi-media software, video games, biotechnology, wireless communications, aerospace, and electronic equipment manufacturing, among others. But we can be better yet.With all of our competitive advantages, we can train, attract and retain the brightest minds in the world. Our quality of life is fabulous.There’s no place more beautiful on the planet.We have a great education infrastructure and an exceptionally talented workforce. All we lack is a government with the vision and will to create a business climate that will attract investment and retain knowledge workers.

A BC Liberal Government will: Work to extend high-speed, broad- Create a new Premier’s Council on Instruct the new Premier’s • band Internet access to every • Technology, comprised of business • Council on Technology to community in BC through leaders, educators and researchers recommend solutions to bridge wireless technology, cable, phone from all major technology sectors. the “digital divide” within 90 days. lines and fibre optics. The Council will be Chaired by Provide incentives to make Use public assets, like roads, the Premier; it will have a full-time • computers and Internet access • railways and power lines to president and it will meet in public more affordable for all families. leverage rapid growth in on a quarterly basis. Put more computers in schools communications infrastructure • and more resources into and broadband capabilities. enhancing computer literacy.

14 A New Era for Knowledge Workers

Our vision My commitment We want to make British Columbia a global magnet for “The Premier’s high tech investment, growth and job creation – recognized Office will be as the best place on earth to live, learn, work and prosper. responsible for Our aim is to develop the most computer literate, highly the development, skilled workforce in Canada, with a broadband funding and communications infrastructure and a competitive business environment that is second to none. execution of BC’s technology strategy. We want to build an exciting new, modern economy that extends the benefits and opportunities in technology to As Premier, I will lead annual every family and community in British Columbia. ‘Leading Edge’ marketing missions to key international customer and New earning power capital markets, to promote BC technology and capital investment.” New technologies Gordon Campbell New discoveries

A BC Liberal Government will: Introduce a dramatic cut in Restore BC as a world leader in Cut the cost of paper flow by • personal income taxes, to attract • E-government, to give all citizens • digitizing all government data, and retain high tech workers. and businesses better on-line forms and information possible. Work with the federal government access to core services, 24 hours Double the annual number of • to ensure that our tax treatment of a day, seven days a week. • graduates in computer science, stock options and capital gains is Use on-line procurement and electrical and computer globally competitive. • technology to save costs and engineering, within five years. Lead annual international maximize taxpayers’ value- Increase investment in technology • ‘Leading Edge’ marketing missions for-money on all major • research and post-secondary to promote BC technology government purchases. skills training. and investment.

www.bcliberals.com 15 A New Era for

Patty Sahota Students Gordon Hogg Burnaby – Edmonds Surrey – White Rock

The New Era demands new skills and lifelong learning from students of all ages. Education is the cornerstone of our society – and it has never been more critical than it is today. It’s time we formally recognized that fact and restored education as an essential service, to ensure that students are never again denied access to the education that your tax dollars pay for, simply because of a labour dispute. Every day that a child is shut out of a classroom is a learning day that is lost to that child forever.When you add up all the students in BC who have been turned away from their schools because of strikes and lockouts, more than four million student days have been lost since 1991. But that’s not the half of it. At a time when parents are forced to raise money for bare essentials, like textbooks, millions of dollars have been wasted on fast ferries, Skytrain overruns and other failed NDP megaprojects. And it’s always our children who pay the biggest price for that mismanagement and those misplaced priorities. We will invest in education and make each education dollar go further. And we will grow the economy, to increase the funding available for students of all ages, and provide the best education in Canada.

A BC Liberal Government will: Restore education as an essential Give local school boards more Eliminate the PST on basic • service under the Labour Code, to • autonomy and control over the • school supplies purchased by ensure that no child’s right to an delivery of education services, Parent Advisory Councils, which education is denied during school subject to provincial curriculum volunteer their time and effort to strikes and lockouts. and testing standards. raise money for public schools. Maintain and increase education Give school boards multi-year Guarantee that parents of students • funding levels by increasing revenues • funding envelopes, to improve • attending schools are entitled to through economic growth. long-term education planning volunteer their services, provided it • Establish specific goals and and budgeting. does not result in the displacement outcomes to measure the success • Work with educators and employers of existing staff services. of educators in public schooling. to expand job training and skills • Put more computers in schools and • Devote more of each education development opportunities. increase resources to improve com- dollar to improving the quality of • Maintain current funding arrange- puter literacy for students of all ages. education, and less to bureaucracy. ments for independent schools. • Ensure that music, arts and physical Support more flexibility and Provide teachers with more education curriculums are fully • choice in public schooling. • technology training. funded in BC’s public schools. • Improve school accreditations.

16 A New Era for

Richard Lee Advanced Education Barry Penner Burnaby North Chilliwack – Kent

“Education is our top priority, because it’s the We must do better key to any healthy, prosperous society.” British Columbia remains approximately 20% below Gordon Campbell • the national average in degree completion success. • There were 2,600 applicants for nursing degrees in BC in 1998/99 but only 949 people could be We need more accepted due to a lack of funding for spaces. high tech BC graduates one doctor for every 32,225 British grads • Columbians – the worst medical grad-to-population Canada Total ratio of any province that has a medical school. USA Total • In 1997/98, BC had the lowest number of students WA graduating with bachelor degrees in science and OR engineering compared with Ontario, Quebec, CA High Tech Degrees per Alberta,Washington State and Oregon. 1,000,000 People BC

(Source: Government Statistics / BCTIA) 0 500 1,000 1,500

A BC Liberal Government will: Double the annual number of Support the current 5% tuition cut Expand training and post- • graduates in computer science, • and tuition freeze and fully fund it • secondary programs to graduate and electrical and computer in the current fiscal year to offset more Care Aides, Licenced engineering, within five years. costs to post-secondary institutes. Practical Nurses and Establish a “Leading Edge Consult with educators, students Registered Nurses. • Endowment Fund,” based on • and administrators on the hidden Provide forgivable student a cost-sharing partnership with costs to students and institutes • loans to BC students attending the private sector, to establish of previous tuition freezes that accredited nursing and medical 20 permanent BC Leadership were not properly funded by schools provided they practice Chairs across the province in the government and that have reduced for five years in underserved fields of medical, social, environ- student access and reduced communities in BC. mental and technological research. course offerings. Increase the number of medical Work with employers, post- Strengthen our network of • school graduates over the next • secondary institutes and the • colleges, institutes and on-line five years. Industry Training and learning throughout the province. Train more social workers to meet Apprenticeship Commission Increase research funding for • the critical skills shortage that has to increase training and • colleges, universities and institutes. developed under the NDP. apprenticeships in trades and technical sectors.

www.bcliberals.com 17 NDPCutstoHealthCare Have Created a Crisis

Patient Care has Suffered Over the last ten years the NDP have made dramatic changes in our health care system that have created huge problems for patients and growing pressures on health care providers. Patients have suffered. The NDP cut over 3,000 much needed hospital beds out of the system. So it’s no wonder we now have hospital bed shortages and longer waiting lists. Similarly, the NDP’s cuts to the number of training positions in BC’s nursing and medical technology schools have created a serious shortage of nurses and medical technologists. And the NDP failed to fund the additional spaces needed to provide even half the doctors we must train annually in BC. While wasting billions of dollars on fast ferries and failed megaprojects, the NDP underfunded necessary equipment budgets by about $50 million a year in the last five years. As a result, hospitals lack the technology and equipment they need to provide proper patient care. The lack of any long term strategic plan has left our health care services in a mess. We must reverse the damage and solve our common health care challenges, before any more damage is done.

80% Increase in Surgical Wait Times (June 1995 – June 2000) Wait Lists have Grown 70% Patients who need surgery are angry and frustrated that the 60% treatment they pay for isn’t there for them when they need it.

(Sources: Ministry of Health Provincial Wait List Trends)(Sources: Ministry 50% The chart on the left shows how surgical waiting times have grown under the NDP. General surgery waits are up by 26.9% 40% since 1995. Neurosurgery wait times have grown by 78.9%. 30% It’s the same story for virtually every other type of surgery. 20% There are now over 81,000 patients in BC waiting for surgery. 10% In addition, others in desperate need of treatment are also

0% waiting for care. In January 2000 there were 700 cancer patients who waited up to three months for radiation therapy. Dental General Cataract Vascular

Urological That’s just not good enough. All British Columbians deserve Orthopaedic Neurosurgery Gynaecological

Opthalmological better from our public health services. Hip Replacement Ear, Nose, Throat Knee Replacement

18 HealthCare is inTrouble

We Don’t Have Enough Nurses or Doctors A major reason why public health care is in trouble in BC is because the NDP haven’t trained or hired enough nurses or doctors. In fact, over the last few years, the number of practicing registered nurses declined all the way down to 1995 levels. From 1993 to 2000, the number of nursing school graduates 28,900 Practicing Registered also plummeted by 27 percent. It’s been the same story for licensed practical nurses 28,700 Nurses in BC 1997-1999 (LPNs). BC lost 1,523 LPNs over the period 1993 to 1999. 28,500 28,974 Moreover, while BC’s population has grown by 50% over the last two decades, the number 28,300 of medical students graduating from UBC has remained the same. That has resulted in BC 28,100 having the lowest number of medical students in relation to population of any province 27,900

that has a medical school. Further, over 300 doctors leave BC or retire each year, making 27,700 28,004 27,911 the physician shortage even worse every year. 27,500 1997 1998 1999 (Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information)

21,500 4,200,000

21,000 4,100,000 Population of British Columbia

20,500 4,000,000

20,000 3,900,000 19,500 3,800,000 We Don’t Have Enough 19,000 3,700,000

18,500 3,600,000 Hospital Beds

18,000 3,500,000 From 1993 to 2000, the number of hospital beds in BC fell by

Number of Hospital Beds 3,334 beds, a 16% decline. Over the same period, however, 17,500 3,400,000 our province’s population grew by half a million people. The 17,000 3,300,000 1993 1995 1997 2000 result is that there are more patients every year, with fewer Beds Population Year (Sources: UBC Health Human Resources Unit, Rollcall, hospital beds today than in 1993. 1995, 1997, 1999 and BC Stats Population Update)

Private Clinics Have 50 Doubled Under The NDP 40

30 Number of Private Clinics 20 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 19 A New Era for

Ida Chong Patient Care Dr. Gulzar Cheema Oak Bay – Gordon Head Surrey – Panorama Ridge

“It’s time to put patient care first.To do that, We must improve emergency care we must renew public Emergency rooms are overflowing in BC.We’ve all seen the pictures. Patients get shuffled from one hospital to the next – if they are lucky enough health care, through to even have a functioning hospital in their community. Patients are also better management, routinely flown to Alberta, because we are unable to care for our own. adequate funding, proper Public health services are failing patients, even in matters of life and death. staffing, and sound We need clear, provincial standards for accessible, reliable health services, strategic planning.” and better acute care services, especially in emergency rooms. Gordon Campbell We must improve community care We know there’s an urgent need for 4,200 additional community care beds right now, and 9,000 beds within 15 years. Meeting this challenge won’t be easy, but it must be a priority. The chart below shows how the number of days of residential and long-term care has gone down under the NDP, as a proportion of our population. Hospitals have been forced to shut down beds because the NDP has ignored the advice of physicians, nurses and other health care professionals. That problem has been compounded by the lack of community care beds, because patients needing that care are now often in badly needed acute care beds.

2,500

2,400

2,300 Residential / Long-Term Care Service Days per 2,200 1,000 Population 1994/95 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98 1998/99 1999/00

(Source: Ministry of Health, Deputy Minister’s Office, January 2001)

20 A New Era for

Colin Hansen Health Care Val Roddick Vancouver – Quilchena Delta South We must renew public health care in BC Talented nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists, health care workers and caregivers across the province work tirelessly on behalf of the people who live here. They have, however, been working under increasing stress over the last decade. Professional burn-out and overwork has resulted in the loss of nurses, doctors and specialists which has, in turn, reduced patient care. BC Liberals are dedicated to establishing a New Era of health care in BC, with a renewed public health care system. We are going to put people’s needs at the centre of health care again. We are going to make BC a place where health care professionals and caregivers know they are valued. We are going to be sure that people have the care they need, when they need it, where they live. It will take time. It will take effort. But we know that by working together with care providers, health professionals, patients and community leaders, we can undo the damage that’s been done by the NDP’s mismanagement over the last decade.

We must solve the rural health care crisis The rural health care crisis is placing a terrible burden on patients in communities throughout British Columbia.The provincial government has an obligation to ensure that all British Columbians get the level and quality of care that they are entitled to under the Canada Health Act. That means all citizens should have a comprehensive, publicly administered health care system that ensures high quality, timely health services are universally available and accessible to all throughout the province.Yet anyone living in rural BC knows that this has not been the case under the NDP, and things have grown worse, not better. The physician and nursing supply shortage is but one of several challenges that must be overcome with a comprehensive long-term strategy to restore rural British Columbians’ confidence in their public health care system.We also need more equipment, better facilities, and above all, real leadership from government to fix the problem.

www.bcliberals.com 21 A New Era of

John Nuraney Health Planning Kevin Falcon Burnaby – Willingdon Surrey – Cloverdale

In 1991, the Seaton Royal Commission laid out a plan for health care in BC.The NDP put it on the shelf. As a result, BC has not had a comprehensive health plan and precious health care resources have not been used to their maximum advantage. The first step to properly managing health care is to establish a sound, strategic plan that identifies our immediate, intermediate and long-term health care priorities, and that lays out a workable blueprint for meeting those needs with the resources necessary. There must be clear standards for the level and quality of health services expected. And there must be true accountability at every level for the results delivered.

A BC Liberal Government will: Work with health care professionals, caregivers, administrators, community leaders, patient groups and the public to develop a comprehensive 10-Year Health Strategy for BC. As part of that plan, we will:

Ensure that BC health care is Develop a 10-year human resource Develop a Medical Machinery • universal, accessible, portable, • plan, that properly provides for the • and Equipment Plan that ensures comprehensive and publicly training, recruitment and retention existing medical diagnostic and administered, consistent with the of physicians, nurses, specialists care equipment is adequately five principles of the Canada and other health care providers staffed, fully utilized and properly Health Act. in every area of the province, and maintained, and that provides for Establish provincial health that addresses critical skills future investments in new • standards that ensure all citizens in shortages and staffing levels in equipment and technologies. every part of the province are under-serviced areas. Develop a comprehensive entitled to equitable, reliable, high Develop a Hospital Facilities Plan, • Technology Plan to assist health quality health services. • that identifies each health region’s care professionals in delivering Develop performance measures key capital requirements and faster, more effective treatment to • that are annually audited and funding priorities. patients through new information publicly reported for each health Develop an Intermediate and technology and telemedicine. standard, to ensure provincial and • Long-Term Care Facilities Plan, Establish a Rural and Remote regional health authorities are that addresses the needs of our • Health Initiative to ensure all accountable for fulfilling their aging population and frees up families get the care they need, duties to provide the prescribed existing acute care beds. where they live, when they need it. levels of patient care.

22 A New Era of

Pat Bell Health Quality Elayne Brenzinger Prince George North Surrey – Whalley

BC Liberals are dedicated to bringing stability The NDP mismanaged health funding back to our health care system with long-term Only two years ago, NDP Health Minister Penny Priddy claimed funding commitments that will build on this year’s that “35% of a provincial budget should be enough to spend on $9.3 billion health budget and increase as revenues health care.” Clearly it wasn’t. grow along with our economy. Now, on the eve of an election, health spending accounts for 40% Today, 40% of every tax dollar British Columbians of the budget, and health care is no better. As Ujjal Dosanjh said last Fall, “It’s a lot of money. But it’s never enough.We could send to government goes to health care.These actually throw another $1 billion at health care and it still wouldn’t dollars are desperately needed, due to chronic meet our needs.” Fact is, we could deliver a great deal more health NDP mismanagement and underfunding that service for your health dollars if we properly manage your public left hospitals and regional health districts in the health care system. lurch, and left patients without the care they need The NDP broke their Mental Health funding commitment and deserve. Two years after the NDP announced their $125 million mental The NDP underfunded hospital equipment by health program, Health Minister Priddy admitted that “While it was almost a quarter billion dollars over the last five announced, it was never in a budget.There wasn’t budget approval.” years. As a result, equipment has become obsolete, under-maintained and under-utilized.The NDP The NDP spent a decade denying the health crisis also cut over 3,000 much needed hospital beds and In February 1999, the Health Minister said, “Is the [health care] underfunded medical training, mental health, home system in crisis? Absolutely not.” Almost two years later, Ujjal Dosanjh pleaded ignorance with his own remarkable confession, care and community care.We must reverse that “I didn’t know the enormity of the problem.” damage through stable, sustainable health funding.

A BC Liberal Government will: Maintain this year’s overall Provide health regions and Replace obsolete hospital equip- • $9.3 billion budget for health. • hospitals with 3-year rolling • ment and ambulance equipment (see 2001/02 Budget Reports, funding commitments (updated and ensure all equipment is fully pg. 139). annually), to enable them to plan utilized and properly maintained. Increase future health care funding and act with certainty. Fulfill BC’s obligations under the • as economic growth increases Fully fund and implement • Canada Health Act to properly government revenues. • the $125 million mental fund and provide access to all Work with front-line health care health initiative. medically necessary services. • professionals to act on their ideas Fund health regions at a level Focus funding on patient care, by for maximizing the value to patients • necessary to meet the needs of the • reducing waste in the system and of every health dollar spent. people who live there, regardless of eliminating administrative dupli- where a service is provided. cation and costs from provincial government mismanagement.

www.bcliberals.com 23 A New Era for

John Wilson Health Professionals Patrick Wong Cariboo North Vancouver – Kensington

To deliver First, we have to train more Fourth, we have to attract and high quality, nurses, doctors, specialists and retain more foreign-trained readily other health care providers. doctors and nurses. Inexplicably, accessible the NDP chose not to use the Second, we have to help those who health care federal-provincial immigration are already in the system to services, we program upgrade their skills and training, need to that Ujjal and improve their quality of life. dramatically Dosanjh improve the supply of skilled Third, we have to attract non- signed two health care providers. practicing nurses and doctors back years ago. into the health care system, The NDP’s cuts to medical and Finally, we through fair nurse training have created a must cut compensation and serious skills shortage that must personal better working be addressed. income taxes, to raise health care conditions that providers’ after-tax income and reduce “burn-out.” keep them here.

A BC Liberal Government will: Expand training programs for care Develop a Rural and Remote Increase the number of medical • aides, licensed practical nurses and • Training Program that provides • school graduates over the next registered nurses, in collaboration forgivable loans to BC students five years. with our universities, colleges and attending accredited nursing and Introduce a Rural and Remote institutions. medical schools who agree to • Training Support program that Provide assistance and practice in a rural or remote provides financial and travel • opportunities to help nurses community in BC. assistance to health care providers develop the specialized skills Establish a “Leading Edge who want to update or upgrade needed in intensive care • Endowment Fund,” cost-shared their skills and training. units, emergency rooms and with the private sector, to establish Increase the number of residency operating rooms. 20 permanent BC Leadership • positions in BC’s hospitals in the Increase training spaces and Chairs in the fields of medical, next five years. • recruitment of foreign-trained social, environmental and technological research. Give ambulance attendants better nurses and physicians. • access to training and better life- Launch a massive recruitment • Increase locum support to relieve support and communications • drive to bring non-practicing RNs pressure and reduce workloads, to equipment needed to capitalize on and LPNs back into our health enhance health care professionals’ those skills. care system. quality of life.

24 A New Era of

Dave Chutter Health Services Katherine Whittred Yale – Lillooet North Vancouver – Lonsdale

A BC Liberal Government will: Ensure that appointees to regional Increase technology funding and Protect current funding and existing • health boards are representative of • digital infrastructure support to • levels of access to abortion services their communities’ needs and facilitate tele-health options that throughout the province, as a accountable for their performance will expedite and improve matter of confidence in government. in meeting provincial health treatments, and reduce travel standards. requirements for Northern and Pressure the federal government rural residents. • to restore all of the health care Develop a rural travel assistance funding • program, to reduce rural patients’ withdrawn transportation and lodging costs to through receive treatment that is not locally budget cuts. available. • Work with • Ensure that patients living at home non-profit in palliative or long term care are • Intensify efforts to promote societies to entitled to the same wellness and preventative care build and pharmaceutical benefits as they through better education, dietary operate an would have if they were in a habits and physical activity. additional 5,000 new intermediate hospital. • Double the Physical Fitness and and long term care beds by 2006. Give all citizens better access to Amateur Sports Fund to $44 Provide expanded home care and • their medical records and million, to promote physical fitness • palliative care services to assist treatment histories, and enhanced and participation in amateur sport. chronically and terminally ill information privacy rights. • Enhance preventative drug and patients with supportive home Support alcohol efforts, such as addiction environments, as an option to • community counselling for new mothers institutional care. services and the reduction of fetal Build a unified, universal, and volunteers alcohol syndrome. • cost-effective health services and repeal Work to minimize interjurisdic- information network that will the NDP • tional overlaps that are adding improve care and reduce legislation confusion and costs to health long-term costs. that allowed care delivery. government Work with doctors, pharmacists to expropriate • and others to find a cost-effective community alternative to reference-based health facilities without pricing. compensation. Provide better home support and • home care services.

www.bcliberals.com 25 A New Era for

Linda Reid Children &Families Bill Bennett Richmond East East Kootenay

Government has an obligation to properly protect and provide for those most vulnerable in our society – especially children at risk We must do better and those in foster care. But all the experts agree that this has not • Today there are almost 3,000 happened. As the Children,Youth and Family Advocate recently more children in care than in put it, “British Columbia has made little progress in ensuring 1995, with less social workers. that… young people’s needs are met. For the most part, it has been all The Children’s Commission talk and no action.” • concluded in 1998 that planning for children in care was Proper child protection is not a partisan issue.Yet the NDP have “inadequate and unacceptable.” consistently refused to accept the BC Liberals’ offer to help The Children’s Advocate has said improve services. • that services to children and youth have not improved since Instead the NDP have ignored the experts’ advice and wasted 1995, because the Ministry was millions of dollars on endless bureaucratic restructuring and in a “severe state of crisis.” costly social engineering that has done nothing to improve There have been six Ministers services for children and families. Families with autistic children • responsible for Children in the have even had to take the government to court. last five years. We must do better. It’s time we put real accountability into the system and devote the resources to the job needed to put the interests of kids first.

A BC Liberal Government will: Stop the endless bureaucratic Increase child care choices for Work with foster parents to help • restructuring that has drained • parents by encouraging the • them improve care and placements resources from children and expansion of safe, affordable child of foster children. family services. care spaces. Enhance training, resources and Increase emphasis on early child- Stop the expansion of gambling • authority for front-line social • hood intervention programs for • that has increased gambling workers to properly protect families with special needs children. addiction and put new strains children at risk and improve • Target child care funding to help on families. services to families. parents who need it most. • Pass a Domestic Violence Preven- • Enhance preventative drug and Focus on early identification of at- tion Act that would allow police to alcohol efforts, such as addiction • risk children, and measures aimed remove violent offenders from the counselling for new mothers at preventing crisis situations home, rather than forcing the and the reduction of fetal before they arise. victims to leave to find safe shelter. alcohol syndrome.

26 A New Era for

Paul Nettleton First Nations Gail Sparrow Prince George – Omineca Vancouver – Mount Pleasant

“It’s time for a New Era BC Liberals are committed to negotiating workable, affordable treaty of reconciliation through settlements that will provide certainty, finality and equality.Treaties are the best way to forge a new relationship with First Nations where aboriginal treaties that reflect our rights and title are clearly defined under the Constitution. common values.” Treaties offer the promise of a New Era of hope, economic opportunity Gordon Campbell and greater self-determination for all aboriginal people. But, for too long, most British Columbians have felt shut out of the process. We want to build on the work that has already been done, to fast-track settlements that reflect the principles you want and expect treaties to reflect.Treaties are for all British Columbians.They will give new definition to First Nations’ constitutionally protected rights and responsibilities and will be binding on us all, aboriginal and non-aboriginal alike. It’s important that all citizens participate in a genuine democratic debate and move forward to a New Era of reconciliation. We can do far more to materially improve the quality of life, education and health care of aboriginal families. The New Era demands that we do what is right today to make a real difference in individuals’ lives, both on and off reserves, while the negotiators do their work at the bargaining table.

A BC Liberal Government will: Give all British Columbians a Offer to negotiate a delegated, Create a permanent First Citizens’ • say on the principles that should • municipal-style of self-government • Forum that will provide aboriginal guide BC’s approach to treaty with any First Nation that wants to citizens living on and off reserves a negotiations, through a one-time, move beyond the failed Indian Act. direct means to communicate with province-wide referendum, within Increase program funding, government about their priorities our first year. • together with the federal and ideas to materially improve • Ask an all-party committee of government, to solve urban their quality of life today. the Legislature to consult with challenges and build capacity. • Devote special attention and British Columbians, including Seek clear direction from the resources to addressing the First Nations, to draft the • Supreme Court of Canada on challenges and needs of aboriginal referendum questions. constitutional questions about women and youth, and to helping Increase efforts to protect and aboriginal self-government. aboriginal families bridge the • “digital divide.” promote aboriginal languages. • Double the First Citizens’ Fund to Fast-track treaty talks, to conclude $72 million to support native • Introduce a legislative framework • fair treaty settlements. friendship centres, student for legally respecting aboriginal bursaries and economic rights protected under the Consti- development programs. tution in the absence of treaties.

www.bcliberals.com 27 Where HasYour Money Gone?

It’s bad enough that the NDP more than doubled the debt “We made announcements accumulated by all other BC governments combined over the about things we weren’t previous 120 years. But where has your money gone? What have even going to do.” we got to show for all that borrowing, except a mountain of debt? Everywhere we look, the quality of services has gone down. Corky Evans, NDP Health Minister Health care waiting lists grow. Students don’t have textbooks. Times-Colonist Parents are told there’s not enough money for even the bare January 17, 2000 essentials for their kids. Children have suffered because front-line workers haven’t had adequate resources to do their jobs. That is the human toll of the NDP’s waste and mismanagement. It is people who have paid the heaviest price, as your money has been squandered on everything but better public services. And it is future taxpayers who will bear the burden of the NDP’s incompetence and reckless borrowing. Don’t let anyone tell you that we can’t improve crucial government services. We will stop the NDP’s legacy of waste and act quickly to better and more effectively manage your tax dollars.

It’s Your Money That’s Been Wasted ◆ $1 billion in business subsidies. ◆ $11.4 million for Hydrogate losses. ◆ $310 million for the NDP’s ◆ $ millions for lost court cases and “fixed wage” policy. legal bills for Glen Clark and others. ◆ $1.2 billion in FRBC spending, ◆ $ millions on government propaganda without a business plan. and political advertising. ◆ $73 million for a Convention Centre ◆ $25 million loan for a private study, again, without a business plan. company that planned to turn $ ◆ $125 million in foregone federal Burns Bog into a theme park. revenue from the Nanoose Bay ◆ $1 million in costs for ICBC’s lease fiasco. opinion polls in 1999 alone. ◆ $1.5 billion in excess costs for a ◆ $65 million on a photo radar ◆ $340 million for the Skeena rapid transit system in the Lower program that has failed miserably. Cellulose bailout. Mainland that will provide half the service for twice the amount that ◆ $ millions on SkyTrain ◆ $ millions in future settlement costs would have been needed for a construction overruns. for the NDP’s Carrier Lumber fiasco. Light Rail Transit system. ◆ $ millions in executive sweetheart deals and severance.

28 The $463 million wasted on the“fast”ferries could have paid for all of this – and more. ◆ 200 teachers’ salaries for one year; ◆ 400 nurses’ salaries for one year; ◆ 200 RCMP officers’ salaries for one year; ◆ Elimination of the cardiac and hip surgery wait list; ◆ Construction of 7 new rural hospitals; “Obviously the fast ◆ 600 kidney and 40 liver transplants; ferry issue was ◆ 250 air ambulance trips from Prince George to Vancouver; mismanaged right ◆ 10 mobile mammography units; from the beginning ◆ Operation of 900 long-term care beds for one year; and I was part of the ◆ Purchase of 6 MRI scanners; Cabinet. I was on ◆ Treasury Board…” Purchase of 12 CT scanners; ◆ A year’s care for 200 foster children; Ujjal Dosanjh, July 5, 2000 ◆ Bought new textbooks for 10,000 high school students.

For the price of the “fast” ferries, we could have paid for all of the above priorities, and still had money left over. The Auditor General has concluded that, “Cost overruns at BC Ferries should have been avoided. The lessons from the Coquihalla Highway experience were there; they just weren’t heeded.” For that alone, every NDP MLA who voted for the fast ferries and failed to protect the taxpayers’ interests should be held accountable. More importantly, future governments must learn from this fiasco, to ensure that nothing like it ever happens again. During the NDP leadership campaign, Ujjal Dosanjh said, “Only through a proper process will our government avoid the mistakes and financial recklessness of megaprojects like fast ferries.” He said, “The public’s right to know is paramount.” Yet as Premier, he has done everything in his power to frustrate the public’s right to know and prevent anyone from being held to account.

A BC Liberal Government will appoint an independent public inquiry into the fast ferry fiasco and the mismanagement of BC Ferries.

29 A New Era of

Roger Harris Public Service Christy Clark Skeena Port Moody – Westwood

BC Liberals will reform how government works from top to “We became the employers bottom, to create the most open, democratic and accountable that we always wanted to government in Canada. legislate against…” British Columbians know that our institutions need to be reformed, Corky Evans to ensure all MLAs are accountable first and foremost to the people NDP Leadership who elected them.You deserve a chance to participate in that January 15, 2000 process of democratic renewal, and that’s what our plan for a New Era of Public Service is all about. Real reform

A BC Liberal Government will: Pass Merit Employment legisla- Ensure that major capital spending Introduce free votes in the • tion, to restore a professional, • decisions and land-use decisions • Legislature, to allow all MLAs non-partisan public service involving the Agricultural Land to vote freely on behalf of their founded strictly on merit – not Reserve, new parks, land claims constituents on all matters not political patronage. and tenure reform are decided by specifically identified as a Establish fixed election dates, to Cabinet in public, and not behind vote of confidence. • require elections to be held on a closed doors. Appoint a Citizens’ Assembly fixed date, every fourth year – Give all government MLAs a • on Electoral Reform to assess and not at the Premier’s political • meaningful new role in policy all possible models for electing prerogative. development and service planning the MLAs, including preferential Establish a fixed date for the through a new system of Cabinet ballots, proportional represen- • tabling of the provincial budget, decision-making. tation, and our current and a set legislative calendar. • Give all MLAs and citizens a better electoral system. Establish workable recall legisla- voice in government through • Give the Citizens’ Assembly a • tion, to make it easier for citizens active legislative committees. mandate to hold public hearings to hold MLAs accountable. Repeal the NDP “gag law” that throughout BC, and if it • recommends changes to the Establish workable initiative restricts third-party advertising • during election campaigns. current electoral system, that legislation, to make it feasible for option will be put to a province- British Columbians to call for a Amend the Election Act to wide referendum. referendum on issues of province- • eliminate loopholes on disclosures wide concern that fall within the of financial contributions to parties • Outlaw donations from charities provincial government’s jurisdiction. and to include donations of labour. to political parties. Hold open Cabinet meetings at • least once a month that are televised and broadcast live on the Internet.

30 A New Era for

Dennis MacKay Public Safety Richard Neufeld Bulkley Valley – Stikine Peace River North

The challenges in crime prevention and law enforce- ment are endless. Government has a fundamental duty Facts: to protect its citizens and maintain law and order. BC has the highest crime • rate in Canada. Public safety is a cornerstone to our quality of life. • BC’s violent crime rate We can do better on every front to enhance public is 40% higher than the safety, if we get our priorities straight in government. national average. The NDP have decimated BC’s auxiliary police force. BC has the highest Geoff Plant Richmond – Steveston • property crime rate in They have taken officers who should be enforcing Canada. traffic safety and stopping crime, and turned them into photographers who sit in photo radar vans.That’s a waste. • In 1997, there were 1,100 auxiliary police officers in We must provide better public safety for your tax dollars. BC. By 2000, there were only 417 officers. From community policing, to the administration of justice, to our RCMP vacancies increased corrections system, the public demands stronger, more determined • by 40% in 1999, and a leadership, with one law for all British Columbians.We all share the vacancy problem persists. same goal: safe streets and safe schools.Together, we can achieve that in every community.

A BC Liberal Government will: Ensure all laws are equally applied Scrap photo radar, to put Fully protect private property • and enforced for all British • police officers back on the street, • rights and resource tenure rights. Columbians. enforcing traffic safety. Vigorously defend the Crown’s Return 75% of all traffic fine Hold the line on court fees, to • ownership of provincial land • revenue to municipalities, to • ensure that everyone has afford- and resources. improve community policing and able access to our justice system. Continue to pressure the federal crime prevention. Fight child prostitution and • government to scrap mandatory Ensure auxiliary police officers are • youth crime with legislation gun registration and put those • properly trained and armed to aimed at providing greater resources into fighting crime. protect their communities. protection to children at risk of Pass a Domestic Violence Pressure the federal government to exploitation and greater parental • Prevention Act that will enhance • fulfill its contractual obligation to responsibility for children who protection and reduce domestic fully fill all RCMP vacancies. commit property crimes. violence, especially for women and children.

www.bcliberals.com 31 A New Era of

Lynn Stephens Equality Lorne Mayencourt Langley Vancouver – Burrard

For too long, British Columbians have not had a fair We must start treating all citizens fairly, equally shake in Confederation, or often, even within our and with respect, regardless of where they live or own province.That must change. who they are. Our province does not get its fair share of federal A BC Liberal Government will be guided by the transfer payments or federal government contracts. principle of equality. Equality for all British We are not equally represented in Parliament, or Columbians, and equality for every region and every in federal institutions. province in a stronger Canada. A Canada that celebrates diversity and discriminates against no one. Similarly, rural British Columbians have not had their fair share of revenues.They have had their Equality of opportunity, responsibility and rights is voices and interests ignored at every turn, and seen what our Constitution guarantees. And all British their communities suffer. Columbians are entitled to no less. The NDP have also treated equality issues as so-called “wedge issues,” using women, aboriginals, Equality of Opportunity seniors, gays and lesbians, multicultural groups and others as political pawns to try to gain Equality of Responsibility partisan advantage. That’s no way to build our future. Equality of Rights

A BC Liberal Government will: Stand up for the equality of all Ensure that our rural communities Invite all Members of the BC • Canadians and all provinces under • have the health and education • Legislature and all BC Members the Canadian Constitution. services they need. of Parliament to hold annual joint Fight for BC’s fair share of federal Insist on equal, non-discriminatory conferences aimed at publicly • tax dollars through a more • voting rights for all Canadians in identifying and overcoming issues equitable distribution of federal respect of the governments that of regional alienation within government transfer payments rule their lives. Canada and BC. and contracts. Work to ensure that all aboriginal • Ensure that all BC laws respect Work with other provinces to • governments have the same legal the equality rights guaranteed to • negotiate a more equitable federal status in BC as they do in every all British Columbians under equalization program that is other province. the Constitution. consistent with the Constitution. Give local governments more • Ensure all British Columbians Push to eliminate interprovincial • control over their affairs through have equal access to legal • trade barriers. a new Community Charter. representation and justice.

32 A New Era of Common Purpose

Gordon Campbell Vancouver – Point Grey Over the last several years, Gordon Campbell has “I’ve worked with brought together the largest coalition in BC history. Gordon and his The BC Liberal Party has well over 100,000 BC Liberal members and is growing stronger every day. Caucus, and I can Former candidates and MLAs from several other tell you, he has parties have joined Gordon Campbell’s team, to shown leadership help elect a BC Liberal Government. in everything he’s done. He has built Former BC Reform MLA, Richard Neufeld, has a strong team joined the BC Liberal Caucus. Former Reform BC that’s effective, united and ready to govern. Leader, Jack Weisgerber and former NDP Cabinet Minister, Jackie Pement are now on our side. If I could turn back the clock I would change the role that I played in the last election. I’m not going to And that’s just a few of the many thousands of make the same mistake again. I’m going to do former members of other parties who have united to everything in my power to help Gordon Campbell’s help elect a BC Liberal Government. BC Liberals form the next government.” If we stand together, united and strong, there is no Jack Weisgerber, limit to what our province can accomplish.We can Former Leader of Reform BC unleash the power of free enterprise, and get rid of the NDP government. It’s time to put aside our small differences of the past and focus on our common goals for the future. Fixing the economy. Job creation.Tax relief. Better public health care and education. Safer streets and schools, and better services for children and families. Those are the priorities that are really important. And all of them transcend partisan politics. In the end, what really matters is that you elect a government that is caring, competent and true to its word. A government that will properly manage your hard-earned tax dollars. After all the scandals of the last decade, it won’t be easy to restore public trust in government. But it’s time for stability. Since 1995 alone, we’ve had four premiers and 109 Cabinet changes. It’s time to put the NDP Era behind us. It’s time to move past all the scandals and fiascos that have shaken your faith in government. If elected, a Gordon Campbell government will serve you and all British Columbians with honour, respect and integrity.We will keep our commitments and our MLAs will always remain accountable to you. We ask for your support, to let a BC Liberal Government earn your respect and confidence over the next four years.

www.bcliberals.com 33 George Abbott Val Anderson (Shuswap) (Vancouver – Langara) The BC Liberal Farmer / College Instructor Clergy

Tony Bhullar Harry Bloy Shirley Bond Jeff Bray Elayne Brenzinger Susan Brice Graham Bruce (Surrey – Newton) (Burquitlam) (Prince George – (Victoria – Beacon Hill) (Surrey – Whalley) (Saanich South) (Cowichan – Ladysmith) RCMP Lawyer Telecommunications Mount Robson) Provincial Government Executive Director Better Business Bureau Small Business Owner Business Owner School Trustee Policy Analyst Charitable Organization Executive Director

Rich Coleman Michael de Jong Kevin Falcon Gary Farrell-Collins Stan Hagen Greg Halsey-Brandt (Fort Langley – Aldergrove) (Abbotsford-Mt. Lehman) (Surrey – Cloverdale) (Vancouver – Fairview) (Comox Valley) (Richmond Centre) Business Lawyer Business Owner Pilot / Flight Instructor Construction Company Manager Mayor / Town Planner

Gordon Hogg Mike Hunter Daniel Jarvis Ken Johnston Brian Kerr Kevin Krueger Daniel Lee (Surrey – White Rock) (Nanaimo) (North Vancouver – Seymour) (Vancouver – Fraserview) (Malahat – Juan de Fuca) (Kamloops – North Thompson) (Vancouver – Hastings) Former Mayor Business Consultant Realtor Business Person Business Manager / Insurance Manager Councillor Chartered Accountant We need your help a BC Gordon Campbell Ted Nebbeling Paul Nettleton (Vancouver – Point Grey) (West Vancouver – Garibaldi) (Prince George – Omineca) Former Mayor / Educator / Business Former Mayor / Small Business Lawyer

Richard Neufeld Rob Nijjar John Nuraney Sheila Orr Barry Penner Geoff Plant Judith Reid (Peace River North) (Vancouver – Kingsway) (Burnaby – Willingdon) (Victoria – Hillside) (Chilliwack – Kent) (Richmond – Steveston) (Nanaimo – Parksville) Small Business / Oil and Gas Public Relations Consultant Small Business Owner Small Business Owner / Park Ranger / Lawyer Lawyer Shellfish Farmer Councillor

Lynn Stephens Ken Stewart Richard Stewart Blair Suffredine Ralph Sultan Rick Thorpe (Langley) (Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows) (Coquitlam – Maillardville) (Nelson – Creston) (West Vancouver – Capilano) (Okanagan – Westside) Small Business / Realtor Farm Manager Government Relations Lawyer / Small Business Person Economist Small Business / CMA Consultant Bill Barisoff Pat Bell Bill Belsey Bill Bennett ( Penticton – Okanagan Valley) (Prince George North) (North Coast) (East Kootenay) Team Small Business / Agriculture Small Business Owner / Logger Metallurgical Technologist Lawyer

Gulzar Cheema Ida Chong Tom Christensen Dave Chutter Christy Clark Walt Cobb Murray Coell (Surrey – Panorama Ridge) (Oak Bay – Gordon Head) (Okanagan – Vernon) (Yale – Lillooet) (Port Moody – Westwood) (Cariboo South) (Saanich North & the Islands) Physician CGA / Former Councillor Lawyer Farmer Public Service Small Business Owner / Former Mayor / Social Worker Former Mayor

Arnie Hamilton Colin Hansen Roger Harris Randy Hawes Sindi Hawkins Dave Hayer (Esquimalt – Metchosin) (Vancouver – Quilchena) (Skeena) (Maple Ridge – Mission) (Kelowna – Mission) (Surrey – Tynehead) Small Business Owner / Small Business Small Business Owner Mayor Former Nurse / Lawyer Assistant Publisher Retired Police Sergeant

Richard Lee Blair Lekstrom John Les Brenda Locke Harold Long Dennis MacKay Karn Manhas (Burnaby North) (Peace River South) (Chilliwack – Sumas) (Surrey – Green Timbers) (Powell River – Sunshine Coast) (Bulkley Valley – Stikine) (Port Coquitlam – Applied Mathematician Mayor Business Person / Small Business Transportation Business Owner Commercial Private Burke Mountain) Former Mayor Executive Director Investigator Small Business Manager

to elect Reni Masi Lorne Mayencourt Wendy McMahon Joyce Murray (Delta North) (Vancouver – Burrard) (Columbia River – Revelstoke) (New Westminster) Teacher / Administrator Small Business Owner Education Administration Reforestation Business Owner Liberal Government!

Linda Reid Claude Richmond Val Roddick Patty Sahota Rod Sanderson Visser Sandy Santori Gail Sparrow (Richmond East) (Kamloops) (Delta South) (Burnaby – Edmonds) (North Island) (West Kootenay – Boundary) (Vancouver – Mount Pleasant) Teacher / Administrator Independent Consultant Small Business Forestry Consultant Small Business Owner / Operator Mayor / Insurance Agent Small Business Owner / Former Band Chief

Gillian Trumper John van Dongen John Weisbeck Katherine Whittred John Wilson Patrick Wong (Alberni – Qualicum) (Abbotsford – Clayburn) (Kelowna – Lake Country) (North Vancouver – Lonsdale) (Cariboo North) (Vancouver – Kensington) Mayor Farmer/Business Dentist Teacher Veterinarian/Rancher Chartered Accountant ANEWERA BRITISHfor COLUMBIA

GORDON CAMPBELL AND THE

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