Chilliwack-Hope MLA Laurie Throness visited Hope on March 10 to sell the BC Liberals in a breakfast meeting.
With the words “Balanced budget 2017” as the title of his presentation, Throness spoke about how B.C. has achieved five years of balanced budgets, MSP premiums, investment in schools, housing and municipalities.
Throness also talked about the future of British Columbia, including a future economic growth that will hover around two per cent through 2021. Last year, the Ministry of Finance achieved a three per cent growth.
Throness said the one-per-cent drop in forecast could be because Europe and the United States will face a weakening economy and growing demand for energy, minerals and wood could weaken.
Throness also highlighted that Hope recently received funding from the Rural Dividend Fund. According to a B.C. government press release, AdvantageHOPE received $499,948.
On the topic of funding, Fraser Valley Regional District Area B director Dennis Adamson said he did not know about the fund and Throness said he could apply in the next round.
With MSP cuts in their plan, Throness said that they plan to grow the economy to offset the costs of health care.
“And that's why, we've had a big push to get an LNG industry which we've succeeded in getting our first LNG plant in Squamish,” said Throness.
Replying to a question from retiree Dale Kisch as to why B.C. does not have refineries that refine energy resources here, Throness said the government hopes the private sector will do that.
Kisch also pointed to raw copper exports from Penticton, which go to Japan. He said the Japanese get copper and gold as a result. Throness again emphasized the role of the private sector.
Throness said the government cannot take up these projects because they cost billions, such as Petronas' Pacific Northwest $36-billion LNG plant in northwest B.C.
Retiree Iris Kisch, Dale's wife, told Throness that a lot of money goes to helping people affected by substance abuse and asked what is being done.
“Is there anything being done on the judicial front to do more than say to the pushers, “Bad boy, go away,'” she asked. “Are penalties going to increase?”
Throness said they have a gangs-and-guns strategy, but said our justice system is a “revolving door.”
“At any one time, we have 2,500 people in jail in B.C. but about 90 per cent of those spend less than 60 days there,” said Throness. “Judges don't use jail very much anymore, and to my mind, I would rather see heavier penalties.”
Mayor Wilfried Vicktor suggested that judges should be elected. He later asked Throness what happens when the government does not balance the budget.
Throness replied that voters will penalize governments at the ballot box, and that the law states that ministers who do not balance their budgets will see a 10 per cent salary loss.