Lower Island NEWS An independent democratic socialist newspaper serving the Lower Vancouver Island area for 29 years Volume 30 Issue #2 April, 2013 Victoria, BC BC General Sketches of a new view: Election called NDP will transform BC government Carole James, MLA, describes how her party will fight: for May 14 * To restore fairness The NDP candidates nominated in eight Lower Island ridings are: * To support and expand the Middle Class * To promote equality of opportunity * To improve quality of life for all British Columbians. Rob Fleming, By Jonathan Lee A tax will be imposed on “large financial sustainable “green” initiatives. No longer Victoria-Swan institutions” to fund the grant process. will the BC carbon tax simply be dumped Lake With broad and clear brushstrokes, James notes that it is very much in the into the general revenue pot. A more Carole James, Victoria-Beacon Hill MLA, interest of business to assist in encouraging careful allocation of carbon tax funds today painted a picture of governmental and funding the education of future workers. will be administered, directed toward renewal of purpose and direction that Here’s a policy to achieve that purpose. environmentally positive purposes. the NDP will bring to British Columbians, Further, James says that an NDP There will be an increase in the should the party win a majority of seats in government will work to restore apprentice corporate contribution to carbon tax Carole James, the upcoming provincial election. and training programs, reiterating that an revenues, again explicitly directed to pay Victoria- Just prior to the opening of her NDP government believes in inclusive for “green” initiatives, for example in “transit Beacon Hill downtown Victoria campaign office, discussion with all interested representative and retrofit projects”. It seems that the cost James, co-chair of the province-wide 2013 entities – business, labour, education, etc. of corporate environmental impacts and NDP Platform Development Process, No longer will labour interests be excluded pollutions will now be measured and paid agreed to foreshadow leader Adrian Dix’s from policy planning, as has happened in for, increasingly, from corporate revenues. official election platform announcements. Liberal years. “Good Government” appears in James has never been one to hide her James takes the opportunity to stress James’ list for early NDP attention. Adrian passions and she’s not about to change that NDP policies are intended to be “fully Dix will quickly seek to ban the use of public her style this time around, either. costed and funded”. That changes will be funds and tax dollars for partisan campaign Gary Holman, Without pre-empting her party leader financially achievable and practical. advertising. His government will begin to Saanich North she outlined the vision that the NDP has Nationwide, provincial NDP look closely at the impact of corporate and and the Islands for the future of British Columbia. governments have enacted economic union donations in the electoral process. She insists that British Columbians are policies that are more sustainable, fairer Returning to the theme of poverty ready for a change in the direction of their and more balanced than other partisan reduction James points to the government . political alternatives. A BC NDP government disproportionate impact that these “tough “Change for the better. One practical intends to follow that prudent record of economic times” has had on First Nation step at a time.” fiscal responsibility. communities. John Horgan, This is the election message that NDP policy rejects unfettered “tax and She expresses deep concern with the Juan de Fuca Adrian Dix and the NDP will be delivering spend” initiatives and insists that program disproportionate numbers of aboriginal throughout their campaign. And the term spending is properly targeted and carefully children in provincial care. This needs rapid “practical” was very much a theme of funded. correction and NDP government poverty James’ message. To further demonstrate the NDP reduction programs will target low income James’ party are taking nothing purpose in supporting business, both small families so that scarce tax dollars will be for granted. They expect a tight and and large, James explains the example directed to maximum effect. She cites aggressive race despite polling numbers of “buy local” pilot schemes that will the proposed education grants as being Maurine that place the NDP many points ahead. encourage the marketing of local product. especially valuable in beginning to improve Karagianis, Carole James is clear that NDP voters “Locally grown apples, for example, are just the lot of low income and First Nations Esquimalt-Royal will need to make a determined trip to the as tasty as Washington apples – providing communities. Roads polling station if Dix’s NDP message is to local employment opportunity as well as It is the objective of an NDP government become reality. After more than a decade many other cost effective savings!” to urgently enhance First Nations economic of Liberal government in BC a critical Next on her checklist is the issue of development programs, including policies choice must be made to eliminate Liberal social “Inequality”. James is derisive of to provide affordable housing and renewed decline and begin to make the changes Liberal policies that for eight years have infrastructures. necessary to again restore quality of life for marked BC as having the highest rate James noted that she was raised in the Lana Popham, Saanich South growing numbers of British Columbians. of child poverty in Canada. The NDP will James Bay district of Victoria at a time when James highlighted the key elements of instigate measurement of province-wide co-op housing programs were in place. policy upon which her party are focussed. poverty rates, and will introduce plans, with James believes that the co-op housing She began with “Jobs and the clear targets, to significantly reduce poverty model was important and successful in Economy”. She insisted that NDP votes in BC. changing the lives of families, and can will enable more effective investment James says that the NDP supports and be again. “It’s a model that is proven and in the province’s most valuable asset – intends to strengthen the middle class. successful,” she says. “people”. Under the present government “Support of a strong middle class is good Carole James is clear that there is Bill Routley, the population has become “divided” and for the economy and is the right thing to much to be done in the wake of so many Cowichan Valley opportunity wasted. do.” years of Liberal government to restore the When asked for examples of specific BC economy and society. investment policy, without unwrapping the “Environment and Climate change”. It will not be possible to make these entire platform package, she did note that James is crystal clear. The NDP changes overnight. One practical step at a a new NDP government will “bring back government will immediately serve notice time sends the most accurate and honest non-refundable student grants in BC”. upon the federal government, upon taking message to voters. Students with low income will be able office, that British Columbia will not accept It’s a message of respect and clarity. Jessica to apply for grants meeting the full cost of the advancement of the Enbridge project in Carole James sincerely believes that the Van der Veen, annual tuition. The policy will restore some BC. She says that the party has established New Democratic Party, led by Adrian Dix, Oak Bay- equality of opportunity for many of the most legal and social arguments that will support has listened carefully and respectfully to Gordon Head academically worthy but economically and sustain this position. BC’s electorate. Increasingly the economic disadvantaged students in BC. The NDP is committed to real and (Turn to NDP will transform, on page 2) Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #40008124 Return to: Inside this issue Lower Island News Is there a poverty reduction plan? 2 Africa’s last colony 14 Box 311-2750 Quadra Street Primary care centres 3 Saanich -Gulf Islands AGM 15 Victoria, BC V8T 4E8 Editorial and opt/ed 4 MJ and hemp distinguished 16 Letters to the editor 5 Drug policy reform 17 Media manipulation 6 Mrs. T. remembered 18 Time to reform taxes 7 Politics and music 19 Federal news 8-9 Carbon neutrality 20 Building safer communities 10 Books of interes t 21-22 Mayor’s mid- term update 11 Coming events calendar 23 21st Century learning 12-13 Directory 24 Page 2 April 2013 Lower Island NEWS NDP will transform BC government, from page 1 and social policies of the governing Liberal is public accountability in the creation and James can’t end her discourse without in BC will make its concerns clear to the party are diminishing the quality of life administration of P3 contracts. reference to health care policy. She sees federal government, upon election. for too many British Columbians and the It’s time for a thorough review of many opportunities for greater financial “This is a most critical election” message from voters reflects that concern. what has happened with BC Ferries efficiency combined with more effective according to Carole James. It will decide For James it is not an option to continue administration, says James. An NDP and humane treatment protocols. the direction of British Columbia for a long with policies that result in such wasted government will enable this process. She would look to see the time to come. potential, poverty and environmental James is equally clear that the authority encouragement of greater engagement of The broad message from the NDP destruction. of the BC Utilities Authority be quickly nurse practitioners, thus using MD services is that increasing societal poverty and Carole James’ list of concerns is much restored.