Unfortunately, however, real debates and disagreements regarding important issues are all too often descending into little more than partisan bickering. The two old parties—Liberal and NDP—continue to trade partisan jabs in their struggle to come out on top with the loudest voice.
On the one hand, we have the voice of the status quo (the Liberals) defending their record as the governing party and hoping to scare people in voting for more of the same. On the other hand, we have the voice of criticism (the NDP) complaining that everything is wrong in the world and that the Liberals are to blame for all of it.
But something interesting is happening this time. Another voice is entering the debate.
In the past few weeks, a third voice has been growing louder and has been beginning to make itself heard. A voice that is moving beyond partisan positioning and proposing a middle road between two warring parties. A voice that steers clear of empty promises and offers practical and meaningful solutions.
This voice is the voice of the Green party.
See also
B.C. general election candidate statements for the Georgia Straight
The Green party has set its sights firmly on the prize—a more prosperous B.C. for generations to come. We understand that the economic challenges we face in this province are great, but we also know that the opportunity before us is greater still.
The financial meltdown has led to economic troubles across the globe and we are not immune here in B.C. The Green party also knows that British Columbians are looking for a new kind of politics—a politics dedicated to economic solutions that will make a real difference on the ground.
We see the current instability as a significant business opportunity and a chance to move into a prosperous green economy. Our plan for involves a three-pronged approach—a Green New Deal, a Green Tax Shift, and a Green Business Program.
First, a Green New Deal. We are committed to avoiding structural or long-term budgetary deficits. So, instead of dramatically increasing spending to prop up failing sectors, we will bring in a Green New Deal that includes targeted investments in education, technology, and clean industries. With these short-term investments, we will create long-term “green collar” jobs (e.g. jobs in alternative power generation, increased energy efficiency, the public transit sector, sustainable agriculture, etc.) in order to sustain employment in the province.
Second, a Green Tax Shift. We will lower both income and payroll taxes—and shift them onto pollution—in order to promote savings and job growth within the province. Under the Green Tax Shift, citizens and companies that use energy more efficiently will be rewarded.
The fossil fuel industries producing most of our carbon pollution currently pay very little; the current system actually protects and promotes these dirty energy sources. This is a carbon pollution loophole.
Simply put, ending our reliance on fossil fuels will increase the resilience of our economy and reduce the shocks of boom and bust cycles. But, most importantly, closing the loophole will give a big boost to the clean energy economy and create new jobs.
Third, a Green Business Program. We recognize that small and mid-sized companies are B.C.’s primary job creators. So, we will also introduce a Green Business Program to support entrepreneurs and small businesses. This program includes initiatives like tax incentives for new B.C. businesses and the provision of information to new businesses regarding economic opportunities and resources.
With the comprehensive Green party plan for a better B.C., we can begin projects like local solar energy generation in the Cowichan Valley and Penticton, geothermal in Pemberton and Harrison, wind farms in the Peace and on Haida Gwaii.
With the Green party plan, we can build high-speed rail for the Fraser Valley to tie our communities together without cumbersome and polluting roadways. We can expand river and forest restoration projects and encourage value-added wood and fish industries in Prince George, Prince Rupert, Port Hardy, Port Alberni, and more.
The opportunity for a green economy is before us. If we join together, we can build a B.C. that will flourish for generations to come.
On May 12, help B.C. move forward into a new and prosperous future—vote Green.
Jane Sterk is the leader of the Green Party of B.C.
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Despite todays Globe and Mail poll showing a NDP Liberal tie and no chance for Greenie seats, Jane once again has presented a platform designed to attract progressive voters away from the NDP in an attempt to reelect the BC Liberals, at an enormous cost to the people, the environment and treasure of British Columbia.
The BC Liberal party is not a Liberal party but belongs to a cabal of of Neocon thugs who share the same philosophy as Harper in Ottawa and George Bush in Washington. It is that same philosophy that has given us the 21 century great depression. Right now south of the border, defacto Republican party leader Rush Limbaugh is proposing tax cuts for the rich and a balanced budget. You only have to listen to Gordon Campbell's primary financial adviser his brother Michael Campbell on CKNW Saturday mornings, repeating Limbaugh's talking points to understand where Gordo is planning on taking us right after the election. Paul Willcocks in the Victoria Times has a column on post-election deep cuts repeating plans for massive spending cuts that he is hearing from his contacts in the civil service. While Gordo will not speak of these matters in the election he is well known to us voters as a prolific liar who says anything he thinks we want to hear before the election without any plan to do any of it. The list is endless but BC Rail and BC Hydro privatizations are two that come to mind immediatley. Harper in Ottawa fortunately is restrained by his minority status.
The Neocons have a history of using the Green Party as a tool to gain election. Harper was elected twice because of Green party vote siphoning from the two progressive parties.. Gordo won reelection in 2005 courtesy of the Green party. Imagine how different the world would be now if Green Party leader Ralph Nader hadn't taken 5% of the vote from Al Gore in the 2000 election. Green party leaders whether its Adrian Carr, Elizabeth May, Jane Sterk or Ralph never apologize or feel any remorse for the enormous cost in human lives, environmental damage, and treasure that their irresponsible candidacies cause.
Sterk here is given to repeating the nonsense that she attracts just as many votes from Liberal supporters as NDP although she is well aware that statement applies to federal Liberals and the federal NDP not BC's Neocons somehow bearing the same name. If you look at the policies in the Green platform what part of legalizing drugs, replacing the RCMP with some kind of mall cop "service", closing fish farms, shutting down IPP's, reducing oil and gas revenues, and moving us all to a living wage etc etc do you think the typical conservative voter would run too. If needs be they have the BC Conservatives to register their protest vote.
One of the BC's few peer reviewed published active working environmentalists Alexandre Morton recently stated
"I personally don't think the salmon are going to survive another Liberal term"
In addition to fish farms, the Gordo has plans to drill the Hecate strait, add a bunch of oil tankers, sell off our agricultural land and tree farms to developer friends, to tear up as many as 200 rivers, use lakes on the rivers in place of dams, and tear up the forest to built transmission corridors, all so BCHydro can buy power from Gordo's buds to sell at a 80 billion dollar loss to California every summer for the next 40 years.
Vote STV please and give Greens a chance in the next election. But If Green progressives.let their relatively small disagreements with those in the NDP, reelect Gordo to do all this damage to Gaia, the bad Karma will not be paid back for generations. We will never be forgiven the destruction of the salmon.
seth
What hogwash! As leader of the BC Green Party, Jane Sterk is doing what any leader of a political party is supposed to do - promote her own party's policies, as supported by Green Party members. She is no more trying to "attract progressive voters away from the NDP ... to reelect the BC Liberals" than the NDP is trying to attract Green voters to the Liberals.
Second, the NDP has no right or claim to progressive, or any other voters. Votes must be earned. NO party has an entitlement to them.
The Green Party is looking very strong in about 5 ridings and might even win seats this time, and with a BC-STV win, BC politics will change forever.
Vote for the party which most represents what you want!
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