tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post1317267794725153285..comments2024-03-28T04:04:03.006-07:00Comments on Paying attention: Taylor's big surplus cost the public servicesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-10866208867344306842007-07-19T12:08:00.000-07:002007-07-19T12:08:00.000-07:008:01 AM & 8:02 AM, Anonymous wrote: "Seriously you...8:01 AM & 8:02 AM, Anonymous wrote: <I>"Seriously you article implies that none of these things occurred and all the money went to pay down the debt."</I><BR/><BR/>Perhaps you should have taken the time to read WP's article - he basically stated ("<I>That's a major tweak to reality.</I>") that the Minister of Finance is perpetuating a fraud on the people of BC.<BR/><BR/>"<I>By the time the surplus is revealed, the only option <B>legally</B> left is to plunk it down on the debt.<BR/><BR/>The whole $4.1 billion is going to pay down debt.</I>"<BR/><BR/>For more of Taylor's pranking the public you should read: 'P3s just put the bill in another pocket' - Craig McInnes, Vancouver Sun, Thursday, July 19, 2007.<BR/><A HREF="http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=be4c05c2-444b-4624-afbb-fb98ac8b799e" REL="nofollow">http://www.canada.com/components/print.aspx?id=be4c05c2-444b-4624-afbb-fb98ac8b799e</A>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-19724125820588406042007-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:002007-07-19T08:02:00.000-07:00I know it’s the summer and all, but seriously this...I know it’s the summer and all, but seriously this article contains basically no research, no real facts, and as such does a disservice to taxpayers, here are a just a few things that come to mind.<BR/><BR/>Welfare rates were increased. Home owner’s grants for seniors were also increased. The new rental assistance program is new money that does help families on lower incomes. Do some research and check the amount of surgeries being done in BC; more are being performed.<BR/><BR/>Improved home care for seniors? Many colleges were given funding to offer residential care aide program for students because there is a shortage of care aides. Seriously you article implies that none of these things occurred and all the money went to pay down the debt. This is patently untrue and I am deeply disappointed as a columnist you clearly spent so little time on this article.<BR/><BR/>If you need a summer vacation, take one, but don’t put out poorly researched articles simply to collect a pay cheque. Your readers demand better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-42385929818812869932007-07-19T08:01:00.000-07:002007-07-19T08:01:00.000-07:00I know it’s the summer and all, but seriously this...I know it’s the summer and all, but seriously this article contains basically no research, no real facts, and as such does a disservice to taxpayers, here are a just a few things that come to mind.<BR/><BR/>Welfare rates were increased. Home owner’s grants for seniors were also increased. The new rental assistance program is new money that does help families on lower incomes. Do some research and check the amount of surgeries being done in BC; more are being performed.<BR/><BR/>Improved home care for seniors? Many colleges were given funding to offer residential care aide program for students because there is a shortage of care aides. Seriously you article implies that none of these things occurred and all the money went to pay down the debt. This is patently untrue and I am deeply disappointed as a columnist you clearly spent so little time on this article.<BR/><BR/>If you need a summer vacation, take one, but don’t put out poorly researched articles simply to collect a pay cheque. Your readers demand better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-63860632382731180842007-07-19T06:32:00.000-07:002007-07-19T06:32:00.000-07:00Surpluses prudent, wisely used: ministerTimes Colo...<B>Surpluses prudent, wisely used: minister</B><BR/>Times Colonist, Thursday, July 19, 2007<BR/><BR/>Your editorial (Massive surpluses show bad planning - Times Colonist, Friday, July 13, 2007) gives the impression that a surplus is not used to fund the budget priorities of British Columbians. In fact, the budget consultations and budget identified the need to invest in our hospitals, schools and roads.<BR/><BR/>The surplus last year was used to fund a record $3.4-billion investment in infrastructure and reduce B.C.'s debt by $1 billion. We are building health-care facilities, upgrading our transportation networks and expanding post-secondary spaces for our youth.<BR/><BR/>A prudent approach to budgeting gives us protection from the vagaries of the world. If revenues come in higher than predicted, we are able to put the surplus dollars toward building the future for our children.<BR/><BR/>Carole Taylor, Minister of Finance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-47948178729184151382007-07-18T16:46:00.000-07:002007-07-18T16:46:00.000-07:00You know, the Liberals have filled their coffers o...You know, the Liberals have filled their coffers on the backs and blood of the poor. They couldn't manage their way out of wet paper bags. When cutting welfare & disqualifying thousands wasn't enough, they started going after those on disability income assistance. Hmm, numbers down. <BR/>Ooops, a few thousand more homeless around the province, mothers having to engage in survival sex while their kids starve, but I bet Claude Richmond got his performance bonus. <BR/><BR/>Community Living BC's up & running, thousands of developmentally disabled children, youth & families on the waitlist for ANY type of services. Regions that have spent their entire budgets & have another 8 months before they get any more funding. I guess none of those Liberal MLA's have to provide around the clock care for non-verbal, violent adult children in diapers with no respite, or help. Oh well, more $$$ in government coffers so Gordie & his minions can vote themselve tasty raises while kids who've been raped & sodomized are out of luck for sexual abuse counselling. <BR/><BR/>Or how about the thousands of public service jobs sit empty, while workers crash & burn. Little pots of money that look like surplus. These fools are spending thousands on recruiting & retaining staff, since no-one in their right mind wants to work for the BC government anymore, they can't even hire people from other provinces. Unless they're one of those managers that gets to use the government credit card to shop for donuts & massages. <BR/><BR/>No food, no housing, no safety, no respect, no dignity and no human rights. That is what the BC Liberals have given a large majority of citizens in BC. <BR/>I hope that surplus is worth it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-43050347119976189612007-07-18T15:41:00.000-07:002007-07-18T15:41:00.000-07:00"When the legislature finance committee consulted ..."<I>When the legislature finance committee consulted British Columbians on the budget, they said improving services should be the priority.</I>"<BR/><BR/>What services were cut on March 31, 2007<B>?</B>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-75011669368981160712007-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:002007-07-18T14:01:00.000-07:00A truly excellent column. Too bad the first three...A truly excellent column. Too bad the first three commenters appear not to have understood it, but merely used it as the springboard to write their own agenda driven remarks.<BR/><BR/>Speaking of agenda driven comments, it is a shame that I have not seen such a clear analysis as that by Willcoks in the MSM.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-9503899198494668312007-07-17T19:32:00.000-07:002007-07-17T19:32:00.000-07:00Alberta Debt Free? Then someone please explain ho...Alberta Debt Free? Then someone please explain how Alberta Government guaranteed 'debt' for borrowed money by cities, towns and villages can possibly mean they are debt free? Creative BS by whom?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-91023284968926978312007-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:002007-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:00Gosh, I'm so thrilled to know that with all the cu...Gosh, I'm so thrilled to know that with all the cuts to services in hospital's including staff shortages that I can sit here in pain for at least another year before seeing a surgeon for a follow up vist. <BR/><BR/>The minister likes to brag about money being spent in the medical service yet a lot of things don't seem to be getting any better. Mind you I'm the one hurting not the minister nor anyone who takes out their crdit card to pay for services supposedly covered by the medical public system. anyone can draw up a budget by lowballing it then alors we have more money. surpirse surprise, big drum roll. What a groupf of liars..dlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1400574.post-59855156008122919782007-07-17T15:51:00.000-07:002007-07-17T15:51:00.000-07:00How much of that surplus came from the province's ...How much of that surplus came from the province's contingency fund? The budget could've looked different if BC had experienced a spate of floods or forest fires. I also disagree with your notion that the money should've been spent on services instead - services are notoriously difficult to cut when revenues go down, and seem to do best when provided with a stable level of funding. If we're to spend surpluses instead of paying down debt, far better to invest it in neglected infrastructure than fund modest increases to services for a single year.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com