Carole James wants to spend more and tax less - where would the money come from?

How does Carole James plan to pay for all the spending she is planning? Her party platform is expected to cut many sources of government income and taxes, yet her platform promises significantly more spending. She is kidding herself to think she could manage a provincial budget with that kind of thinking.

As Vancouver Sun political columnist Vaughn Palmer points out:

“There's much less discretionary money in the budget, at a time when James wants to spend more and tax less… if you put together all the places where she would second-guess the government plan -- a deeper decline in the economy, less revenues, more tax cuts, more spending -- it points to bigger deficits than the $750 million over two years projected by the Liberals.”

We’ve been saying for weeks now that letting the NDP have a say in BC’s economy is inviting a return to the bad old days of the 1990s when the NDP ran huge deficits. And now the Sun agrees:

“…that may recall the record from their last time in government, when they produced eight deficits in 10 years and doubled the provincial debt. Not the most welcome point of comparison when opinion polls already suggest that voters think the Liberals are the best choice to manage in tough economic times.”

What revenues will James cut? For starters, she’s made it clear she’d get rid of the carbon tax, losing $2.3 billion in projected revenues over the next three years, but would keep the tax breaks brought in by the Liberals to offset the carbon tax. As we’ve pointed out before, the carbon tax hasn’t been a hardship for British Columbians and is doing what it set out to do, so getting rid of it can hardly be seen as prudent fiscal management.

There have been NDP calls for lower ferry fares and lower Hydro rates (even though are hydro costs are among the lowest in North America) and condemnations of liquor taxes. How much revenue would that all take out of the province?

And how much more does she plan to spend? She keeps criticizing the Government for not spending enough on everything from children at risk to forestry to health care. But if she started spending more, where would she get the money from?

Granted, deficits are expected for a couple years, but if Carole James gets her hands on our budget, she is ready to drag us back to the 1990s with huge debts and long-term deficits. British Columbians can’t afford to let Carole James determine spending and taxation for our province. Small family owned businesses will pay the price if this inexperienced leader is ever in charge.

Wrong leader. Wrong Party. Wrong Time.

NDP blowing smoke

After last week’s provincial budget, one of the first things out of Carole James’ mouth was disappointment that the carbon tax hadn’t been axed. The NDP, self-professed home of environmentalists, continues to claim that the BC carbon tax is bad for taxpayers and bad for the climate. But the facts keep proving them wrong.

As pointed out last Thursday in the Victoria Times Colonist by Les Leyne, the tax is actually doing what it’s supposed to do. And the new budget contained a report card on the carbon tax that proves it.

“The carbon tax ogre is an essential part of the New Democrat election campaign. They need the impression that it's a punitive assault on pickup truck-driving rural B.C. to hold as much sway as possible for the next three months. So they'll likely just keep talking about it, regardless of the facts.”

Over the last eight months, gas consumption declined (although high prices at the pump probably helped that). But the structure of the tax has now created a net benefit for BC taxpayers.

The government’s report card on the tax showed that the 2.4 cents a litre more we've been paying at the pumps and similar hikes in heating fuels have been offset by the low income tax credit, the corporate and small business income tax cuts, and the reduction in personal income tax. The tax brought in $300 million in revenue, and the corresponding tax cuts have cost $338 million, leaving BC taxpayers $38 million ahead.

As Leyne wrote:

“…the vast majority of people came out slightly to the good in the first winter under the tax.”

"Are the NDP really sacrificing environmental good sense just to win rural voters driving seven gas guzzling pickups and blasting the home heating with all the doors and windows open? Because those nine people are the only ones coming out on the wrong end of the carbon tax."

Wrong party, wrong leader, wrong time.
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