Rewriting History from the Right out to lunch

Although you can’t see it in his photograph Mr. Fletcher must wear rose coloured glasses when he reminisces about the exploits and financial competence of his hero Mr. Campbell, I have to wonder where he gets his information, out of mad magazine. 


These are the real facts right out of the 2010 British Columbia Financial and Economic Review and the Campbell governments Budget and Fiscal Plan 2010/11- 2012/13. Both are published by the BC ministry of Finance. 


In 2001 Campbell inherited a $1.2 billion surplus from the NDP, he then passed a law making it illegal to run a deficit but failed to live up to that law 5 out of 10 budgets leaving whoever takes over from him a $1.2 billion deficit. 


Federal equalization payments are the criteria of a " have not province” and the so called liberals received 5 equalization transfers to the tune of $2.4 billion dollars. 
Watching all the financial fiascos all the way from the " NEW ERA", broken contracts, lawsuits that still have not been settled, privatizing hospital laundry, hospital cleaning, BC Ferries which significantly increased costs and decreased efficiency, MSP premiums have gone from $894 million to a whopping $1.741 billion, tuition fees have tripled. 


Lets not forget the $346 million overrun on the convention center, the corruption and squandering of 18 million in the BC rail debacle, it would seem that Mr. Fletcher is one of the half dozen people in this province that would like to believe this sham is just about a couple of ministerial aids. 


Millions on the 5th lane for the Port Mann bridge. Significant increases for everything from nursing homes to drivers licences and new fees such as going to our parks. These are just a few of the huge wastes of public funds this man and government have overseen. 


Not to forget all the important social programs that have been callously cut in the name of restraint. 


Lets be honest, none of these changes were made to save money or increase efficiency or even to improve service and quite simply did not, they were ideological rightwing pipe dreams to privatize, privatize, privatize, cost had nothing to do with the equation, it was and has been privatize, no matter what the cost. 


Is it any surprise that the Fraser institute gives Campbell high marks, he is one of their own, an ultra right wing demagogue. 


In spite of all these facts and even after the treachery of the hated HST where he stole yet another $2 billion dollars out of our pockets, he will still leave a deficit after selling off a good portion of BCs assets. 


Mr Campbell has managed to accumulate a $47.757 billion dollar provincial debt, this means he has added well over a billion dollars a year to our provincial debt. This does not even count the 800 pound gorilla in the room which is $60 billion in unfunded P3s that our illustrious leader has rung up. 


This is hardly the rosy financial legacy Mr. Fletcher would have us believe.

Wayne Clark