After a long break

I'm finally back. The end of summer and the beginning of a new school year has really caught me off guard, so I haven't had a chance to bring the fire and brimstone to the webwaves. However, the Parliamentary and Legislative sessions are back on, so its going to get a lot busier here.

BC Rail emails required

So, the BC Supreme Court has ordered the BC Liberals to hand over emails regarding their sale of BC Rail and the alleged improprieties of the sale. It seems clear now that the courts, at least, think there is something to be gained from a more thorough investigation into the Campbell government, and its improperly deleted emails. We were told during the May election campaign that there was nothing improper done by the BC Liberals in the sale of BC Rail, yet the sitting Justice found there was enough probable cause to ask for these records. So where are they Premier Campbell? Why is it that you and your co-defendants are having such troubles giving the court all the documents that have been asked for?
What we're seeing here is a pattern of events showing Premier Campbell and his BC Liberal allies do not believe they is constrained by the law, and that it should have no bearing upon them being allowed to keep their jobs as public servants. What does it say about a government that only forces its members to resign when they're apprehended for their wrongdoings, instead of resigning prior to the arrest and avoiding conflicts of interest? It tells me that Gordon Campbell and the BC Liberals cannot be trusted on matters of integrity such as the sale of a crown company. If our government doesn’t have belief in their good faith on a sale bid, how can we trust them to follow through for British Columbia’s interests at any other time? How can we trust the BC Liberals if they continue to act in a manner that flaunts the law and the public trust?
The people of British Columbia deserve full disclosure about the BC Rail sale Premier Campbell; you didn't give it to the People when BC New Democrats asked you before, will you do so now that both the NDP and the courts require it?

Policy: Energy

River rights: Independant power projects are an important part of the British Columbia economy, and a moratorium on these vital projects would stagnate our already endangered fiscal position. However; British Columbians gain nothing when their jobs and their natural resources are shipped out of province, which is why I support local businesses being given preference for the rights to IPPs, all other aspects of the bids being equal. Local businesses, with roots in our communities and employing our people to promote our values and economy, can power our way through the recession and into a new bull economy, while protecting the natural resources we hold dear.
Renewable Energy: British Columbians are proud to have such a strong tradition of renewable energy providing for our needs. We proudly say that almost all of our electrical needs are provided by renewable, carbon neutral hydro-electricity. But in order to keep our edge in energy technology, we must expand into new, promising areas of research. The expanding energy needs of our province has begun to make hydro-electricity less efficient, as more rivers must be dammed to provide new energy sources. These rivers can no longer be used for salmon spawning, and entire stocks of pacific salmon die without replenishing their numbers.
If elected, I will work hard to ensure that more is done the ensure that any new hydro dam is built in rivers that will not affect salmon spawning grounds, and to push for renewed interest in geothermal energy to provide where hydro-electricity is not feasible.
Lowering Carbon Emissions: Like most British Columbians, I'm concerned about the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted in the air. I believe the best way, the way that will cost everyday people the least amount of money, is to instigate a cap and trade system on industries as opposed to a straight carbon tax. The carbon tax we have lived with for the past year has done nothing to curb emissions, it has simply strained the pocketbooks of the most vulnerable in society in an already dangerous economic time. Meanwhile, businesses continue to enjoy record profits by passing the costs of the tax onto the consumers.
This is why I support a cap and trade system, whereby businesses and industries will be forced to purchase permits to emit a set amount of greenhouse gas. Under my plan, the allowable amount of permits would decrease by 2.5% of the 1990 levels each year, ensuring that our carbon footprint stays minimal and that new energy sources are used that are pollutant-free.