Clark set to break promises to families with status quo budget

VICTORIA –Families who were counting on Christy Clark to bring real change by taking action on poverty will be let down if the premier-designate refuses to bring in a new budget, say the New Democrats.

“Christy Clark’s first commitment when she was elected leader was to take action on poverty. But if she’s serious about real change, she will need to scrap the B.C. Liberals’ current budget and bring in a new plan that takes real action,” said Bruce Ralston, New Democrat finance critic.

When tabling the provincial budget in February, Finance Minister Colin Hansen called it “status quo” and said that the new premier may “want to table a new budget or to substantially revise this budget.”

However, in comments made to reporters Monday afternoon, premier-designate Christy Clark said she would be following the status-quo budget presented by the B.C. Liberals earlier this year, which included further cuts to front-line services, student aid, and B.C. Parks.

“At the very time we should be investing in the next generation, the current budget cuts student aid. And when we should be protecting the ability of community groups to provide front-line services, the current budget doesn’t make up for the B.C. Liberals’ post-election cuts to gaming grants,” said Ralston.

“Christy Clark’s promises of change are ringing hollow. It looks like all she’s going to bring to the premier’s office is just more of the same, tired B.C. Liberal approach.”

Ralston noted that on Monday Christy Clark also refused calls to call an independent investigation into the $6 million plea deal for former B.C. Liberal political insiders convicted in the B.C. Rail corruption scandal, something she had pushed for last fall.

“By telling British Columbians they’re stuck with the same old budget, Christy Clark is breaking her word,” said Ralston. “I suspect more broken promises are on the way. Whether it’s B.C. Rail or helping families make ends meet, Christy Clark is showing that she just can’t be trusted to bring the type of change that British Columbians are clamouring for.”

B.C.’s New Democrats are offering real change British Columbians can trust, with compassionate, fair and pragmatic solutions to address B.C.’s social, economic and environmental challenges.