CAMPBELL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GET STORY STRAIGHT ON IMPACT OF DOWNTURN FOR REVENUES, SAYS NDP
On Monday, Carole James put forward a strong economic plan to help families through the economic downturn that includes a $900 million surplus for each of the next two years. James based her plan on forecasts released by Finance Minister Colin Hansen four weeks ago. Responding to James last night, Hansen claimed that his numbers were no longer accurate, but refused to release updated figures to show the actual state of B.C.’s finances. “The last thing British Columbians need is a finance minister who plays politics with the numbers,” said New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston. “British Columbians deserve better than a finance minister who one day says everything is fine and the next says revenues are dropping like a stone. Hansen has a duty to be upfront with British Columbians about that. “Is Colin Hansen trying to say that revenue forecasts have plummeted by over $900 million since he last provided figures a month ago?” Ralston said the finance minister is likely receiving updated revenue numbers at least weekly in this time of volatility -- and if he’s not, he should be. “Colin Hansen has an obligation to share those updated financial numbers with the public. If he was serious about providing real economic leadership, the minister would agree to come back to the legislature today and account for the current revenue forecasts so that we can get to work on addressing the economic downturn,” said Ralston, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley. “It’s patently ridiculous to say that the government has new numbers that contradict what the minister himself was saying days ago, and then to refuse to share those figures with the public.” Ralston said that members of Campbell’s cabinet aren’t on the same page when it comes to the economy, noting that yesterday while Hansen was suggesting there could be a billion-dollar drop in government revenues his colleague Kevin Krueger was arguing that any talk of downturn was just ‘doom and gloom’. “British Columbians deserve real leadership on the economy, not internal squabbling in cabinet and a finance minister who ducks the hard questions,” said Ralston.
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