Christy Clark Liberals “tired,” but government says LNG jobs coming
BC NDP says Christy Clark and her Jobs Plan has failed
BC Premier Christy Clark is on the political ropes as poll numbers continue to show her in second place well behind the NDP.
The BC NDP says the Liberal government’s jobs plan has failed because provincial job numbers are stagnant and there have been significant losses in the private sector.
The Liberal jobs plan was introduced in September 2011.
“Taxpayers are paying $15 million for Liberal government ads that tell you the jobs plan is working great,” said New Democrat finance critic Bruce Ralston. “The ads you’re paying for say because of the Liberal jobs plan, we’re leading the country in job creation. That is, and always has been, factually incorrect.”
“No matter how you look at it, overall jobs numbers have been underwhelming since the plan was announced,” said Ralston. “And private sector jobs in BC have seen a massive drop.
Statistics Canada’s Labour Force Survey released Friday show job numbers in B.C. have been stagnant since the plan was announced on Sept. 19, 2011, and the province lost nearly 16,000 jobs over the previous month. The statistics also show that 37,000 jobs have been lost in the private sector since the jobs plan began.
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B.C. under Christy Clark is now second worst of all the provinces for job growth, according to the NDP.
“The only major initiative the Liberals have undertaken since Premier Clark became leader has been the jobs plan, which has turned out to be nothing more than an excuse to waste $15 million of taxpayers’ money trying to convince British Columbians that the Liberals are doing a good job.
BC Energy Minister Rich Coleman says the Christy Clark government hopes to create a significant number of jobs as a result of recent investment in the province’s liquified natural gas industry.
“The market potential is clear, and demand for LNG is growing. Our LNG Strategy has attracted the interest of the world, and the progress made to date is proof that we are destined to be a global supplier of natural gas,” Coleman said in a release.
Five large LNG projects are planned for BC, according to Coleman, while only two facilities were planned before the implementation of the government’s LNG Strategy last year. The government expects $6 billion to be spent to “prepare and accelerate the province’s growth prospects,” while another $1 billion will be invested in actual LNG projects.
Coleman claims “tens of thousands of jobs” will be created from LNG construction and operation. The Christy Clark government is designing a workforce strategy and action plan with the guidance of industry and training authorities.
“LNG is an unprecedented opportunity to build economic wealth for our province and to build a lasting legacy for British Columbians,” Coleman said.
The Official Opposition isn’t buying the Liberals’ pre-election claims of job creation just around the corner.
“This is a tired government that has run out of steam. They have no new ideas, and aren’t up to the challenge of following through on the policies they’ve already put on the table,” said Ralston. “It isn’t surprising that British Columbians want change.”
Category: British Columbia
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Once more the liberal party continues to waste out tax dollars and deceive the people of British Columbia. I can not wait Neil May when we can vote Christy Clark out and hopefully never have to see her on tv again. Good bye and good riddens.