By Dominic Abassi

‘Thin’ throne speech sign of ‘tired’ government: Nanaimo MLA

Feb 14, 2017 | 4:54 PM

NANAIMO — It’s not uncommon for an Opposition politician to hammer a government’s throne speech, but Nanaimo’s MLA said Tuesday’s presentation in the B.C. legislature was “astonishingly” thin.

New Democrat MLA Leonard Krog said Premier Christy Clark’s plan was little more than a recital of everything the government is taking credit for, most of which was “accomplished by the private sector.”

“We expect the budget next week will contain a number of goodies because it is election year and the Liberals are trying to buy the next election with our money,” Krog tells NanaimoNewsNOW.

The Liberals are expected to present a balanced budget, their fifth in a row, Feb. 21. A $2.2 billion surplus was predicted by the government for the 2016-17 fiscal year.

“After years of sacrifice by all of us in British Columbia through challenging times, working together with a plan, your government is now in a position to pay you back, to relieve some financial burdens, and to invest in your household,” the speech said.

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“These are four months now of campaign promises,” Krog said. “You can argue that getting the goodies is one thing, but all you’re really getting is the promise…the goodies won’t necessarily be delivered and whether or not the budget turns out to be accurate or not is another question.”

The speech promised the upcoming budget would offer “financial relief to taxpayers, while continuing to make investments in the services people rely on.”

Krog said he would have liked to have seen some mention of support for Nanaimo, for things like a fast ferry, good jobs and the E&N rail line to bolster tourism.

“When a throne speech is this light and in the last legislative session we only passed 27 bills…it tells you that the government is tired, they have run out of ideas. That’s a cliche that politicians use a lot, but the truth is the facts support it…the Liberals are showing their age,” he said.

The NDP has already made a number of firm commitments, Krog said. Those include committing to the eventual elimination of MSP premiums, a $15 minimum wage, work with environmental regulation and “ensuring Crown corporations aren’t bled dry trying to support governments fiscal promises.”

British Columbians will go to the polls May 9. The Liberals are aiming for a fifth straight win.

“We always say it’s (throne speech) thin, that’s just what Opposition members say. But this one, wow,” Krog said.

-with files from the Canadian Press

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi