B.C. Last on the List for Conservative Government Stimulus Funding

OTTAWA and VANCOUVER - Funding announced today for British Columbia by the Harper government comes too late as delays in infrastructure projects continue across the country.

“The Harper government has failed to deliver promised jobs in a timely manner, as Canada tries to recover from the economic crisis,” said Dr. Hedy Fry, Chair of the Official Opposition’s BC Caucus and Member of Parliament for Vancouver Centre.

Ujjal Dosanjh, Member of Parliament for Vancouver South agreed, saying: “BC has been treated as an afterthought. Fewer jobs have been delivered here than anywhere else in the country”.

Studies by media, academics and the Opposition have shown the Conservatives have treated two types of communities differently in BC, like the rest of the country: those represented by Conservatives and everyone else. In old-fashioned political style, those areas have been promised more funds and had their projects approved earlier, despite often having lower unemployment rates.

“It was pressure from the Opposition which forced this late funding announcement,” said Dr. Keith Martin, Member of Parliament for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca. “Unfortunately it will be some time before the work does begin and the jobs are created.”

Previously undisclosed government data shows that, as of September, only three percent of projects promised to B.C. to fight the recession were creating jobs with infrastructure projects. The average national number at that time was 15 percent - itself only one-fifth of what the Conservatives have been claiming.

“As if 15 percent weren’t bad enough, B.C. is getting even less,” said Joyce Murray, Member of Parliament for Vancouver Quadra. “This Conservative Government is not serving British Columbians.”

In order to rise up out of the current state of economic decline, it is essential that these jobs are created. “The Harper Government has been slow to the mark and poorly focused. With the fewest number of projects under way, BC is suffering under this government,” concluded Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Newton-North Delta.

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Office of the Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C.M.P., 604-762-4386
Office of Hon. Ujjal Dosanjh, P.C., M.P., 613-947-3957
Office of Sukh Dhaliwal, 604-506-0735
Office of Dr. Keith Martin, P.C., M.P., 613-996-2625
Office of Joyce Murray, 613-992-2430