B.C. business groups applaud Liberal policies

by Cam Fortems
Kamloops Daily News
Thursday, September 23

B.C. business turned out Wednesday in Kamloops to shower the Liberal government with accolades and marvel at what they say is a booming economy.

"Today the B.C. economy is on the rebound and our businesses are feeling confident about the future," Mark von Schellwitz, a director of the B.C. Business Coalition told the committee on finance and government services meeting in Kamloops.

"The boom in business and record surplus are a result of the provincial balanced budget and labour policies."

Kamloops lawyer and developer Frank Quinn said the business community is pleased with the B.C. government's tax and service cuts that, after three years, are turning into balanced budgets and project surpluses.

Quinn, one of two partners in a new housing project in Kamloops, said Liberal policies are producing good times and prosperity.

"It's taken a while to figure it out but, quite frankly, we're in a boom right now."

Quinn's business partner in the Juniper Ridge housing project, Sun Peaks Resort Corp. general manager Darcy Alexander, also applauded Liberal tax cuts and focus on the ski resort industry.

Finance Minister Gary Collins released forecasts this month that say the province is headed for a $1-billion surplus, climbing out of a run of deep deficits since it took office in 2001. He asked the Liberal-dominated committee to seek views of British Columbians whether those surpluses should be used for debt repayment, further tax cuts or increased program spending.

Alexander, representing Nippon Cable Canada, said his message to government "is simple:

"Stay the course. Economic policies instituted by this government are working. We're seeing economic growth in B.C. we've not seen in 10 years. We urge government to not, I repeat, not, increase taxes, and hold the line on spending."

The messages to the committee are in contrast to visits to the city in previous years, when critics of the government turned out to deride its policies and plead for an end to cuts that resulted in the public service being reduced by one-third.

Kamloops-North Thompson NDP executive member Frank Anderson, who was not at the presentations at UCC's Grand Hall, called the committee "a sham."

"When it comes to budget time it seems that those who spoke in favour of axing services and taxes have been listened to while others have been largely ignored. The government seems to follow the same path regardless of public sentiment."

The lone NDP member on the committee, MLA Joy MacPhail, said in an interview the group has heard in meetings in other communities "that surplus came at great expense."

MacPhail also said the surplus budgets are a product of deep spending cuts and record commodity prices for everything from copper to dimension lumber.

"Economic growth is not matching the surplus."

Business interests are telling the committee the province needs economic stimulus.

"People responsible for the social safety net and local politicians are saying care and compassion have to be returned."

MacPhail also pressed a representative of the New Car Dealers Association of B.C. whether dealers here are sharing in the business boom.

"Kamloops is probably flat," replied Mike Schreiner, co-owner of Smith Chevrolet. "I don't think we've seen dramatic declines or increases."

Those urging spending increases in targeted areas from the surplus included Dr. Jill Calder, president of Royal Inland Hospital's medical staff, and University College of the Cariboo president Roger Barnsley.

Calder said despite funding increases aimed at reducing wait lists, complex financial issues remain. They include unfair benchmarks for bed utilization at regional hospitals outside the Lower Mainland, continuing shortage of some specialists and lack of funds for orderly replacement of medical equipment.

Barnsley said per-student funding of about $7,000 a year for post-secondary students needs to be increased to $7,500 or $8,000 a year to recognize escalating costs.