Daniel Tseghay: New voices have the power to bring about positive change

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      “The most common way people give up their power,” wrote Alice Walker, author of The Color Purple, “is by thinking they don’t have any.” Faced with an extensive catalogue of challenges, British Columbians are told that their options are to stay the course, continue as usual, and ultimately vote into power one of the two parties which has done the most to get us here. But with even a cursory look at our situation, we can agree that the status quo just isn’t good enough.

      British Columbia’s taxes, for one, are the lowest in the country. This isn’t something to feel too good about. “Significant cuts to personal and corporate income taxes, combined with increases to regressive taxes like sales tax and Medical Services Plan (MSP) premiums,” states a recent report by the Centre for Policy Alternatives about B.C.’s tax system, “have produced a tax system that is much less fair. Taxation has been shifted from corporations to families, and from upper-income families to middle- and modest-income ones.”

      We’ve seen unwelcome changes not only in where the money comes from but also in how it’s spent. Stock of affordable housing has diminished dramatically over the past decade. Now, the provincial budget proposes funding cuts for Community Living B.C., the agency supporting citizens with disabilities.

      These changes are creating a fractured, unjust society. Increasingly, we rely on poorly paid temporary foreign workers who are withheld basic legal rights many of us take for granted. Even as 1.3 million Canadians are unemployed, one in 50 jobs in B.C. are occupied by unprotected foreign workers. Our exploitation of these workers parallels the treatment of the rest of British Columbians. It’s not surprising that, according to a report published last year by TD Economics, British Columbia has the highest level of income inequality in Canada, with the top 20 percent of income earners securing 44.8 percent of after-tax income, while the bottom 20 percent receive only 4.5 percent, the smallest share in Canada.

      Amidst the human story is an environmental one. Though coal produces the most greenhouse gases of the many dirty fossil fuels, B.C. remains its largest exporter in Canada—and continues plans to expand, with intentions to build 10 more coal mines, doubling its coal exports. When Enbridge presented the Northern Gateway pipeline to the public, its animation of the region erased 1,000 square kilometres of islands which are on its route—our ecosystems were an inconvenient detail. The B.C. Liberal government’s February 12 speech from the throne assured us of a $100-billion profit from developing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and that over the next 30 years, the taxes and royalties will pay off the provincial debt and fund social services. Due to the volatility of the Asian market we intend to sell our LNG to, however, British Columbians will probably subsidize the industry, rather than profit from it, let alone see this $100-billion windfall.

      Concerning these, and many other pressing issues, the two parties poised to win the most seats maintain lamentably similar policies. Their differences are of degree rather than kind. And that’s the problem. We need new tools and new voices. We need to recognize that we still have the power to bring about positive change. Building a better B.C. depends on it.

      Comments

      4 Comments

      P kelly

      Apr 12, 2013 at 5:06pm

      will a green party government completely outlaw union and corporate donations to political parties? how about outlawing foreign donations? it would seem from your self-promoting youtube video that you are ok with just such international fundraising efforts for your party.

      See this http://bit.ly/ZmiEiQ

      R.

      Apr 21, 2013 at 10:42pm

      P kelly,

      You're getting ahead of yourself here. The Green Party is in a position to weigh in on issues if there's a minority government (which I hope there is - regardless of political leaning, a minority government is always best). This is more about the issues a Green candidate would bring to light in the legislative assembly, rather than what a Green government would do. No party comes from having no or few seats to suddenly occupying a majority. Even the huge come from behind run by the Federal NDP only got them into second place.

      anonymous

      May 5, 2013 at 10:59pm

      Actually, darling Daniel, this election is about pipelines and the ecological future of BC. There is only one party which can help us win on pipelines and that is the NDP. They are clear on opposing any new pipelines. For two reasons: one, the BC economy could not survive a major spill which is almost sure to happen according to a recent study by SFU. Two: it would destroy large parts of the BC coast and make one of the greenest places in the world a toxic waste dump.
      My advice to all Green voters is to follow thetyee's election map and if the NDP is more likely to win in your riding or if Green doesn't really have a chance there, vote NDP. It is one thing to hold your breath and pray for change when you are a child, but with adulthood comes the responsibility to make the best possible decision. And that is the NDP. We can work on them after the election to improve democracy, but if we don't elect them we won't have any democracy.

      Keith

      May 6, 2013 at 2:44pm

      anonymous: "darling Daniel" and "It is one thing to hold your breath and pray for change when you are a child, but with adulthood comes the responsibility to make the best possible decision" make you sound like you're talking down to the candidate. It's not a good look for you. Maybe that's why you call yourself anonymous.