SURREY (NEWS1130) – With BC’s budget due later this month the New Democrats are reviving criticism of a plan to sell public land. The NDP is calling it a short term fix at the expense of our future.
About a year ago, the province announced a plan to sell some surplus properties; land from a number of ministries and crown corporations.
NDP Finance Critic Bruce Ralston doesn’t think that sends a good message to people worried about the province’s financial situation. ”Any purchaser, who is thinking about buying that land is going to think that that might be a little bit of desperation and the price might go down.”
Today, NDP Leader Adrian Dix and some of his party members stood on a piece of land in Surrey that at one point was targeted for re-development for a new hospital in Surrey.
Ralston went on to say the government’s financial plans rely too much on the sale of public lands. “We are troubled by this program; it looks very much like a short-term fix. It’s designed solely to fill a hole in the budget and not really to take into account the long-term interests of British Columbians.”
This debate is ahead of the BC Budget which will be unveiled on February 19th. The Liberals are promising to balance the books. News1130‘s Jesse Johnston will be in Victoria on Budget Day, we will also have a team of reporters working on the story, bringing you full coverage throughout the day.
Home Improvement Profiles
News1130 Apps
Tell us what you think!
News1130 Business Profile
Funny how the Dix group of mensa club members are always against anything the gov’t does or wants to do. In all of this nonsense by the No Direction Party, I have yet to hear what they would do to fix any problem. The truth is, the only thing they would do is raise taxes, overspend and borrow, fatten up their union friends, and bankrupt this province like they did last time. Employers in Alberta must be hoping Dix gets elected because if he does, lots of folks will be heading there to find work. How credible can these guys be if they NEVER say what they would do and how much it would cost?
Why does the government need to own so much land? What is the point? The NDP budget would be 5 billion in the whole yearly.
Here we go again! BC IS NOT FOR SALE! Lands of BC belong to citizens of BC and should require the consent of said citizens to sell even 1 square foot. No politician has ever sold off an asset of this province that would eventually benefit us. Look at every utility that used to belong to the crown but is now privatized. BC-Tel, BC-Gas, Future expansions for BC Hydro is now privately owned. And the ONLY reason the corporations left run by the province are in financial trouble is because of the over management done by friends of politicians. I realized this when when I found out that there are more administrators in the health care sector than there are hospital beds!!!!!!!
The day has now arrived when they have little left to sell or privatize, yet they will not raise taxes heading into an election. The necessary increase in hydro rates will also be deferred until after the election…
Most likely some of Christy’s friends from China waiting and willing to buy up our land. What did she do on her trip to China? I think we know the answer, HD Mining comes to mind and who else knows what she did to try and sell us out?
Wonder what they could get for the legislature grounds?
They wouldn’t get much: Christy says they’re toxic.