To the Editor,
Re: MLA disappointed in Liberal budget, News, Feb. 24.
Once again another amazing NDP supporter fighting the last election. Scott Fraser seems to forget that the Socreds were forced from power in the August 1972 election, paving the way for a provincial NDP government under Dave Barrett.
Back then, the large provincial surplus soon became a deficit.
The NDP lasted one term before the taxpayers said enough is enough, and voted back in a coalition government.
Scott also seems to forget that Glen Clark won his government election by a three-seat majority.
The present BC Liberal government is on the right track regarding the management of B.C. taxpayer dollars.
Elected government in 2001, the BC Liberals inherited a “have not” province from the former NDP government. In 2002, after being government for a year, the BC Liberals once again made B.C. a “have” province.
Both Manitoba and Nova Scotia have NDP provincial governments, and in the fiscal year 2011-2012, the Ottawa federal government will give Manitoba $1.6 billion dollars and Nova Scotia $1.1 billion dollars for being “have not” provinces. These payments are called equalization payments.
As B.C. is a “have” province, B.C. receives zero payments from the federal government.
Why ever think of changing the guard when B.C. is well managed?
Scott is saying that it is time to once again elect an NDP government. Well, if that is true, then an NDP government will be only in for one term, put B.C. back into a have not status, and after one term, the B.C. taxpayers would vote in a coalition government once again to clean up the mess.
Scott’s advice is like taking back a former spouse from a previous divorce.
Joe Sawchuk,
Duncan
