BC CONSERVATIVES REACT TO CAROL TAYLOR’S BUDGET SPEECH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 20, 2007

Cranbrook: BC Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni says he has mixed feelings about the Liberal Budget. He commended the Liberals on their 10% tax cut for individuals as well as their measures to provide social housing and an increase in the rate of social assistance.

However, he said he was disappointed that the Government failed to make any effort to reduce the Provincial debt, now at $40 Billion. He pointed out that, when the NDP was in power, the Liberals said that the Provincial debt -- then pegged at approximately $30 billion -- was out of control. But now that the Liberals are responsible for a $40 billion debt that they call “manageable”.

Hanni said he would have liked to see some other measures in the budget, including;

1. a legislated debt retirement plan that would mandate annual debt reduction equivalent to 3% of provincial revenue, Alberta Conservatives introduced a legislated debt plan and now has no debt;
2. expand the purview of the Auditor General's office, to include municipal governments and regional districts;
3. introduce legislative changes to allow greater competition in the provision of auto insurance;
4. make health care more accessible to British Columbians by rescinding section 45 of The Medicare Protection Act, that prohibits the purchase of private medical insurance, so the taxpayers can indulge in a true debate on the sustainability, and patient choice, in delivering timely health care to all British Columbians
5. completely eliminate the "Property Transfer Tax" not just for first time home buyers, thereby providing long-term sustainability across the whole real-estate and housing sector, the corporate sector, and help provide assistance to Farmers who are either exiting or entering the Agriculture sector.
6. implement a zero deductible cost of production based BC Crop Insurance program for all "open market" agricultural commodity groups. Provide $ 403 Million to protect and support BC Farmers. Agriculture funding in BC is ranked "10 tenth lowest," last in Canada.
7. replace the current "Graduated Income Tax" with a "Single Rate of Personal Income Tax" by 2010.
8. match EcoTrust funding announced by Stephen Harper’s Federal Conservatives in combating greenhouse gas emissions, smog and air pollution as part of a 2007 BC Budget.
   

Hanni concluded, "Since Gordon Campbell will not implement these changes, the BC Conservatives will, as soon as we form the Government of British Columbia!”

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BC CONSERVATIVES CALL FOR TAXCUTS & DEBT CONTROL MEASURES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 12, 2007

Cranbrook: On the eve of Gordon Campbell's throne speech, BC Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni calls on the Campbell Liberals to deliver some very overdue tax relief and debt reduction to all British Columbians. "After another year of billion dollar surpluses and a 2006 Budget that focused on public sector compensation exceeding $6 Billion, social spending programs and the skyrocketing cost overruns of the 2010 Olympics, it's finally time to pay the piper" Mr. Campbell," stated Hanni.

The BC Conservatives challenge the BC Liberals to get serious about taking control of the Province's sky-rocketing debt, introducing meaning tax relief, and reform for all British Columbians -- as well as start the process of moving British Columbia forward in achieving a
sustainable healthcare system. BC Conservatives call on the Gordon Campbell Liberals in
delivering their 2007 Budget to implement the following legislative and budgetary measures:

1. a legislated debt retirement plan that would mandate annual debt reduction equivalent to 3% of provincial revenue, Alberta Conservatives introduced a legislated debt plan and now has no debt;
2. provide all budgetary increases to the Auditor General, and Information and Privacy Commissioner so they can fulfill their mandates;
3. enact a "2010 Olympic Transparency Plan" to track all related infrastructure and trademark spending, including all previously committed capital spending to date, for public review;
4. expand the purview of the Auditor General's office, to include municipal governments and regional districts;
5. introduce legislative changes to allow greater competition in the provision of auto insurance;
6. open up public debate on the "conversation on health care" by rescinding section 45 of The Medicare Protection Act, that prohibits the purchase of private medical insurance, so the taxpayers can indulge in a true debate on the sustainability, and patient choice, in delivering timely health care to all British Columbians;
7. raise the basic personal income tax exemption to $15,500.00, which would put an extra $400.00 in every taxpayer’s pocket, and remove approximately 230,000 low income earners from BC's tax rolls, instead of increasing welfare payments.
8. eliminate the "Property Transfer Tax" in Budget 2007, providing long-term sustainability across the whole real-estate and housing sector, the corporate sector, and help provide assistance to Farmers who are either exiting or entering the Agriculture sector.
9. implement a zero deductible cost of production based BC Crop Insurance program for all "open market" agricultural commodity groups. Provide $ 403 Million to protect and support BC Farmers. Agriculture funding in BC is ranked "10 tenth lowest," last in Canada.
10. replace the current "Graduated Income Tax" with a "Single Rate of Personal Income Tax" by 2010.
11. match EcoTrust funding announced by Stephen Harper’s Federal Conservatives in combating greenhouse gas emissions, smog and air pollution as part of a 2007 BC Budget.
    

Hanni concluded, "If Gordon Campbell does not implement these changes, The BC Conservatives will, as soon as we form the Government of British Columbia.”

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BC CONSERVATIVE PARTY UNVEILS ENVIRONMENT POLICIES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2007

Cranbrook: BC Conservative Party Leader Wilf Hanni unveiled his Party’s Environment policies today. “We are proud to announce the formation of a number of policy initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the province of British Columbia,” said Hanni. “Under the watchful eyes of the Carol James NDP Party, and the ruling Gordon Campbell Liberal Party, greenhouse gas emissions have soared out of control. Between 1990 and 2004, Greenhouse Gas Emissions have risen 30 per cent under the NDP and Liberal watchdogs”.

“Approximately 40 per cent of all B.C. Greenhouse Gas Emissions come from transportation, including private cars,” said Hanni.

As the first part of the BC Conservatives "Go Green Energy Policy" the BC Conservative Party is announcing the following Automobile Emission targets aimed at reducing green house gases, smog and air pollution.

A BC Conservative government would pass legislation calling for automobile emissions to be reduced to 1990 levels by 2025, meaning an overall emissions reduction of about 30 per cent. A BC Conservative government would mandate automobile manufactures to reduce car emissions on new cars to be sold in British Columbia, as early as 2010.

“If, by 2050 we can reduce automobile emissions by 50 percent, we as a society will really have accomplished something “stated Hanni. “It's time to act. The NDP and Liberals have had 14 years to get it done. The BC Conservatives Stand for Action on Climate Change and Protecting the Environment.

Another major thrust of the BC Conservative’s environmental policy is the establishment of incentives for Industry to develop non polluting renewable resources such as tidal power, wind power and hydrogen.

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BILL BENNETT'S RESIGNATION WELCOMED BY BC CONSERVATIVES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 7, 2007

Cranbrook: BC Conservative Leader Wilf Hanni,welcomed the resignation of East Kootenay MLA Bill Bennett as Minister of State for Mining.

MLA Bill Bennett was supporting a proposal to take wildlife allocations away from resident hunters and give them to non-resident hunters who rely on Guide/Outfitters to allow them to hunt in British Columbia .

At least one member of the committee that came up with the proposal, which has been endorsed by Bill Bennett, is a guest of a local Guide/Outfitter, whenever she visits the Kootenays. In addition, Bill Bennett was once a part owner of a Guide/Outfitter company.

The current Wildlife Allocation Proposal would see as much as 50% of all hunting in British Columbia.

Reserved for Guide/Outfitters and their non-resident customers at the expense of resident hunters, who live and work in British Columbia and contribute far more to the economy of this province than any non-resident hunter.

Hanni charged that the Liberal Government is intent on selling off the back country to non-residents and do not care one bit about the interests of the resident hunters who don’t have to hire Guide/Outfitters in order to hunt in their own backyard. “This is a terrible display of arrogance,” stated Hanni, “and although Bill Bennett resigned because of his lack of judgment in referring to a constituent as 'an American spy', and using foul language in a written communication, he should have been forced to resign over his support of the current wildlife allocation proposal. The resident hunters are being shafted in an attempt to provide more money to Guide/Outfitters and to the Government of British Columbia.”

Hanni stated that he fully supports the resident hunters’ efforts to get a moratorium on the wildlife allocation proposal. “Some things are more important than money,” stated Hanni, “like preserving a way of life.”

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