Former Prince George Valemount MLA and Political Analyst Shirley Bond says yesterday’s throne speech wasn’t a typical throne speech, but these aren’t typical times.
“The throne speech literally laid our the reaction to the Trump agenda, and the throne speech characterized the situation with the United States as an unprecedented and unjustified threat,” she said.
“The basis for the throne speech was really the Government of British Columbia’s plan to deal with the situation that we’re facing, including references to the 51st state and repeatedly talking about a firm response and responding forcefully.”
Bond added she felt there were a lack of details in the speech.
“Many people have been sounding the alarm bells long before President Trump was elected for the second time,” she said.
“In order to continue to build confidence in British Columbia, we need to be looking at growing the economy, attracting investment to the province, looking at dealing with the issues of credentialling of international health graduates for example.”
While the throne speech mentioned expediting major projects, Bond said talking about it is still just talking about it, not getting it done.
“Every day, British Columbians are facing challenges when it comes to affordability, to a health care crisis, concerns about mental health and addictions, and the throne speech literally provided no new initiatives in terms of how to deal with that,” Bond said.
“We continue to see the same messaging repeated, what we need to see is action, and as I’ve said, the alarm bells regarding our economy and dealing with the issues that British Columbians are concerned about, we’ve been hearing those alarm bells long before President Trump was elected for the second time.”
As mentioned in the speech, the province’s strategy moving forward has three components: strengthening and growing our economy, diversifying our trading relationships, and responding firmly and forcefully if required.
“When you think about what you need to do to ensure that our province has a prosperous future, and what we need to do to make sure we keep the best and brightest in British Columbia, of course we need to focus on growing the economy, on diversifying our trading partners, on attracting investment, on training skilled workers,” Bond said.
“That’s essential, and it’s essential in an even more significant way when we’re facing the kind of threats we’re facing the kind of threats we’re facing as a result of a potential economic trade war. Those are the basics in terms of growing the economy and making sure that British Columbia continues to be a leader on the economic front.”
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