News Release

For Immediate Release
March 20, 2007

SURREY -- Surrey - Whalley New Democrat MLA Bruce Ralston today applauded the Surrey Board of Trade’s decision to join the fight against high gas prices.

Ralston was commenting on the Surrey Board of Trade’s endorsement of the Vancouver radio station CKNW’s campaign to fight high gas prices, which is being led by the CKNW World Today host John McComb. Ralston said his constituency office is also carrying copies of CKNW’s petition to reduce gas prices and is inviting residents of Surrey to drop in and sign it.

“I have closely followed the important role CKNW has played in highlighting the problem of exorbitant gas prices – an issue that has wide ranging impact on us all,” said Ralston. “I appreciate its efforts to use its reach - and help make a difference in people’s lives impacted by high gas prices.”

NDP Energy Critic John Horgan has tabled a private member’s bill in the B.C. Legislature, the Retail Petroleum Consumer Protection Act, which would protect consumers from wildly fluctuating gasoline prices.

Earlier this month, Ralston was invited as a guest on CKNW’s World Today as part of a live broadcast in Surrey highlighting this issue. Ralston has encouraged Surrey residents to support this campaign.

“I support John Horgan’s private member’s bill, which is a reflection of our commitment on this important issue.

“By carrying CKNW’s petition in my office, I hope to promote awareness about it - as well as allow more people in Surrey to get to know NDP’s stance on the issue of gas prices,” said Ralston.

A recent Ipsos Reid survey shows that a majority of Canadians believe the recent spike in gas prices is the result of gouging, not a disruption in production and want the government to deal with high pump prices.

Ralston encouraged Surrey residents to drop in to his office and support the campaign.

“Clearly, the issue of high gas prices is gaining momentum throughout the province - and I am pleased to work with the citizens as we fight back,” said Ralston.

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Contact: Neera Ritcey, 604-317-4450

After a concerted campaign that ran for years and received solid support from BC NDP Leader Carole James and former NDP critic for Agriculture and Surrey - Whalley NDP MLA Bruce Ralston, the Agriculture Land Commission ruled last month that the Barnston Island will stay in BC’s Agriculture Land Reserve.

On Saturday, August 19th, several well known BC agricultural and environmental activists along with Barnston island farmers and residents held a celebration and honoured MLA Ralston for being a tireless campaigner to protect Barnston Island and other farmland in the province.

MLA Bruce Ralston is joined (L to R) by Barnston Island farmers Doug Devitt and Sylvia Devitt, Barnston Island Conservation Society Chair John Russell and GVRD’s Agriculture Committee Chair Councillor Harold Steves in a cake cutting ceremony as part of the celebration.

Donna Passmore of the Fraser Valley Conservation Society and John Russell, Chair of the Barnston Island Conservation Society present a plaque to Surrey Whalley MLA Bruce Ralston in appreciation of his hard work fighting to keep Barnston Island in BC’s Agriculture Land Reserve in his role as the former NDP Agriculture critic.

The 2007 provincial budget represents a missed opportunity. At a time of large surpluses due to high commodity prices, government should be investing in programs for working people. But this year's budget misses the mark and it raises questions about the current government's ability to govern in the interests of ordinary British Columbians.

Last month, the speech from the throne unveiled a rhetorically ambitious plan to tackle climate change. In the words of the Premier: "The science is clear. It leaves no room for procrastination." But despite the sense of urgency in those words, the government has chosen not to make climate change a priority in the budget.

It's a case of all talk and no action. In the next three years, the government has allocated a mere $4 million to tackle climate change. There's a substantial cut in alternative energy programs in the ministry of energy and mines. And there's still no plan for short term targets for green house gas emissions.

For Immediate Release

February 22, 2007

VICTORIA –New Democrat Energy Critic John Horgan announced today that he will introduce a Private Member’s Bill in the B.C. Legislature to regulate gasoline prices in B.C., where motorists are forced to pay prices higher than other Canadians.

Horgan, the MLA for Malahat – Juan de Fuca, said the NDP is also calling for a full public inquiry into the matter of why gasoline prices are significantly higher in British Columbia than in other provinces such as Ontario and Alberta.

“We have been hearing the message loud and clear from our constituents that they are tired of being robbed at the gas pump with prices that are significantly higher than in other parts of Canada,” said Horgan.

“It’s time for the B.C. government to step up to the plate, set in motion an inquiry and explain to British Columbians why they are being gouged for gasoline,” Horgan said.

“At a time when large oil companies are making record profits while working British Columbians are struggling to make ends meet, we need to regulate gasoline prices as we do other forms of energy,” he said.

“It doesn’t make sense for British Columbians to pay such high gasoline prices, particularly when world prices are falling,” Horgan said. “I call on the B.C. Liberals to put the people of B.C. ahead of their corporate backers and support my Private Member’s Bill to regulate gas prices.”

In 2006, motorists in Greater Vancouver paid an average of 103.7 cents for a litre of regular gas, the highest for any metropolitan area outside of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. Gasoline prices are not regulated in B.C., but are regulated in some other provinces.

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Contact: Tim Renneberg
250 356 0592 (office)
250 361 6314 (mobile)

For Immediate Release

Feb. 20, 2007

VICTORIA—The B.C. Liberal government’s budget offers little support for B.C.’s working families, New Democrat Finance critic Bruce Ralston said today.

“In last week’s Throne Speech, the Premier promised B.C. would be a leader in climate change,” said Ralston, the MLA for Surrey-Whalley. “But the budget failed to follow through on his green promises. Instead, the Campbell government has delivered a budget that does nothing to address global warming and does little to address the challenges facing working families today.”

Ralston added that the budget does not adequately address the B.C.’s growing health care crisis. “Under the Campbell government’s watch, hospitals are pushed to the limit, ERs are gridlocked, and private care has flourished, prompting the Premier’s own hand-picked appointees to resign in protest.

“The Finance Minister claims that health care funding is adequate. But her budget does nothing to meet the long-term needs of our health care system,” said Ralston.

Ralston said he was disappointed by the government’s housing announcement. “Rather than making a long-term investment in housing for the homeless, this government’s solution is to create more shelter beds – temporary beds that do not provide the homeless with a place to call their own,” said Ralston.

“And by converting existing social housing to supportive housing units, this government threatens to cut the number of existing affordable housing for low-income families even further.”

Ralston noted that the Campbell government has offered little in the way of support for middle income families. “Today’s budget provided no support for British Columbians seeking relief for the growing costs of a post-secondary education, and it provided no support for families seeking quality childcare.

“The Campbell government has a responsibility to ensure that all British Columbians share in our province’s prosperity,” said Ralston. “When will the Premier come to that realization, and begin governing for all British Columbians?”

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Contact: Jaime Matten 250-882-8770