BC NDP leader James Horgan and Finance Critic Carole James visited Prince George Monday, hosting a public roundtable discussion at the Coast Inn of the North.
With the release of the provincial budget about a month ago, the pair were focusing on the issue of affordability and the local economy; but with an election 14 months away Horgan says they are starting to form their platform and gather ideas with events like these.
“I think we are going to learn from what the federal NDP offered up and how the public responded to that. I think that looking too much into the federal results will be a bit deceptive; I think that the overwhelming desire to change the government really put policy questions to one side.”
The lack of affordable child care spots in Prince George was a hot topic at the roundtable, something Horgan noted he hopes to work with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on implementing, saying Trudeau is still enjoying a long honeymoon phase.
“The issues that he committed to have not yet become a problem for him, so I think we need to find out where the federal government is going; we need a federal partner to make child care work effectively in BC. We also need to make sure that the public fully understands this is an economic issue, not a social policy question.”
Both Horgan and James said they will work hard in the 2017 election to tout the benefits of affordable child care; that a parent which is able to return to work is able to contribute to the economy.
Site C Project
The Site C Dam was another item of contention, brought up by an out of work tradesmen in attendance. Horgan pointed to the huge turn outs at the projects jobs fairs as indications of a poorly run economy.
“5000 people showing up for a very much less than that number of jobs is a problem. Until we see a rebound in the oil sector, we are going to see more and more people coming back home from Alberta looking for work in Northern BC.”
He says institutions like UNBC will provide the key to allowing Northern BC communities to diversify its economy outside the resource sector. Health care and education “provides the critical mass” attracting other professionals to the community.
There was also talk of the need to diversify forestry sector itself, and get complete use of a tree while reducing raw log exports.
Horgan and James will be making stops in Quesnel and Williams Lake Tuesday.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
