Vancouver-False Creek Liberal MLA Mary McNeil was thrust into the spotlight for the first time since getting elected as she defended  B.C. Hydro's  $264,000 on a luxury box at GM Place for the Olympics.

NDP Leader Carole James led off question period by asking McNeil, the rookie  minister of state for the Olympics, why the Crown corporation spent this money and then six months later, the government  cut programs to promote public health and active living.

"Why is B.C. Hydro spending taxpayer dollars on Olympic luxury tickets, and why is this government making the choice to pay for a few to watch hockey when it's also cutting dollars for kids to actually play hockey?" James said, according to Hansard's draft transcript.

McNeil replied that there is a reason why "most leading economists in Canada say B.C. is going to lead Canada in growth in 2010, and it is because of these Olympic Games".

"These games will be the single largest economic generator our province will undertake this coming year," she added. "In addition, these games are expected to generate $4 billion in economic benefits at the very time we need it the most, so that we can afford to support health care and education."

James accused the government of spending $264,000 "for a very few people to be able to watch one of the most expensive events at the Olympics and cutting support for kids who actually want to play hockey in British Columbia all year round".

She also noted that  B.C. Healthy Communities, which promotes healthy living in rural communities, experienced  a $556,000 cut. And Janes claimed that another program, Active communities B.C., had  $1.5 million in cuts.

"Why is it acceptable to spend hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on luxury boxes at GM Place when British Columbia is losing vital programs for kids and to keep our population healthy?" James demanded.

McNeil replied that B.C. Hydro is an official sponsor of the Olympics, and  the  ticket will be used to promote energy conservation.  

That drew the following retort from James: "I've never heard such an explanation. Using the money for conservation to send a few people to a luxury box during the Olympics? Perhaps the minister and government could tell B.C. Hydro to actually conserve the money to address climate change. That might actually be something positive to use the dollars for."

McNeil responded that the NDP voted against cap-and-trade, voted against the carbon tax, and voted against green-energy projects.    

According to the  Victoria Times-Colonist, the  B.C. government has disclosed that three Crown corporations—B.C. Hydro, ICBC, and the B.C. Lottery Corporation—spent more than $1.4 million on Olympic tickets.