British Columbia Federation of Labour

10 point plan offers nothing to most British Columbians

The B.C. Federation of Labour is calling on the Campbell government to come up with a real plan for the economic crisis that threatens the province.

"We are facing the greatest economic crisis of our lifetime and the Campbell government has resorted to their old tactics," says Federation President, Jim Sinclair. "Tax cuts will come as little relief to British Columbians who have seen their savings disappear or who are worried about their jobs. These cuts will reduce government revenues when they are needed most, and in a blind ideological aversion to deficits the Campbell government will once again resort to hacking services upon which people rely."

The Federation is also critical of Campbell's falsely-named "private sector pension" which is little more than a retirement savings account funded entirely by a worker with no matching contribution from their employer. "No one should be under the impression this so-called pension will offer them any economic security in their retirement," added Sinclair. "This is a pension plan in name only, and relinquishes employers from any responsibility."

Extending deposit insurance at credit unions, none of which are at risk, is of little consequence to most British Columbians. "If he can insure the deposits of wealthy British Columbians, the Premier should also protect the pensions of average British Columbians who have seen dramatic drops because of the market crisis," says Sinclair.

"Reversing ferry service cuts and fare increases is a case of the government correcting their own mistakes. A Fall sitting of the legislature should have been called. Calling it to pass this so-called economic plan is little more than political grandstanding.

"There is nothing in the government's economic plan for low and moderate income families," Sinclair added. "When the government starts reducing spending to avoid a deficit, these are the people who will be most affected."

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For more information: Evan Stewart, Director of Communications, (604) 430-1421.