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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