Premier Christy Clark brushed away criticism that her government is short on plans during the opening of the spring session of the legislature after the BC Liberals delivered a throne speech without any major initiatives.
The Clark government intends to focus on reducing red tape and other housekeeping legislation while low oil prices create uncertainty in the global economy.
Clark said her government was staying the course, trying to encourage liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies to invest in the province, encourage the forestry and mining sectors, begin construction on the Site C dam, develop new markets for BC agriculture and foster better relationships with First Nations.
Both the opposition NDP and the provincial Greens jumped at the chance to suggest that Clark’s government was short on new ideas and lacked leadership.
Hamish Telford is head of the department of political science at University of Fraser Valley and a political commentator.
“It’s perhaps the thinnest throne speech I’ve ever seen,” said Telford in an interview with the Peak. In addition to the lack of new initiatives there was no mention of health care, the government’s largest financial obligation, he added.
“The throne speech last year was pretty thin, but then I don’t think they were really expecting to win the election, but you would have thought that by this point in time they would have the opportunity to consider what they want to do,” Telford said. “It would seem they are just in a holding pattern while they wait for LNG to materialize.”
One thing that may be of interest to readers on the coast was the renewing of the Softwood Lumber Accord with the United States, Telford said.
“Maybe more will come out in the budget,” he added. “Throne speeches are more about pomp and ceremony. The budget has always been a more substantial document and maybe we’ll get a better sense of how things are going forward when that is released.”
Finance minister Michael De Jong stated his intent to introduce a balanced budget again this year. The budget was announced Tuesday, February 17, after Peak deadline.
Kevin Sigouin, liberal riding president for Powell River-Sunshine Coast and BC Liberal Party secretary, echoed Telford’s comment about the upcoming budget’s importance.
The plan is staying the course, keeping expenses in check and maintaining the province’s triple-A credit rating, said Sigouin who added that a downgraded rating could mean millions more spent out of the budget on debt servicing.
During these uncertain economic times with low oil prices undercutting some provincial and federal balance sheets, the finance minister is planning on releasing the province’s third consecutive balanced budget, Sigouin added. “And you have to understand that this does not include any of the possible LNG options that are out there,” he said. “The budget is being balanced without LNG. If an opportunity did come up it could significantly tip the scales.”
