Quotes
for the Week!

What They're Saying This Week

On Gordon Campbell's fuel tax

Does global warming affect spit buckets?

"The government's own figures show that this is not going to do a warm bucket of spit for climate change ... This carbon tax is all about Gordon Campbell getting good headlines back east. And it's all about Carole Taylor burnishing her credentials for her next job. It has nothing to do with global warming."
- Norman Spector (Bill Good Show -- CKNW), April 28, 2008

Normie, Normie, you are definitely an equal opportunity spinner, maybe you're just like a yoyo string that has to be unwound from time to time to remove the previous spin caused knots. Don't be surprised if we get back to you quite soon here at the House!

But...but...but Ah-Nuld approves!

"As presently designed, B.C.'s carbon tax will further impoverish the poor, destroy productive industries, imperil public finances, erode the province's competitive position and ignite inflation -- and it won't make an iota of difference to greenhouse gas emissions."
- Harvey Enchin (Vancouver Sun), May 2, 2008

This is significant too, because I've been reading Mr. Enchin in the Vancouver Stun lately and I've come to realize that he really does know everything, has (the only) access to the real and genuine facts and anybody who differs with him, well, they may as well save their breath or ink.

He could also make B.C.'s biggest polluters pay up

"If Premier Gordon Campbell is serious about saving the world, he could do better than to slap British Columbians with a carbon tax.
"He could pick up the phone to Ed Stelmach and tell the Alberta premier to get his head out of the oil sands."
- Alan Ferguson (the Province), May 1, 2008

So, does this mean that it was Mr. Stelmach's proctologist that originally discovered the Tar Sands?

On one reality-challenged MLA's defence of coalbed methane drilling in the sacred headwaters

The (ahem) interesting claim

"We heard the member talk about people turning on their taps and that you could light the gas coming out of their taps. That's happening in Telkwa today because there's a big coalfield there. There are lots of homes built on top of that, and some of the water that is coming up out of the seam into the homes in which these people live has got methane gas in it. You can actually light it today."
- Bulkley Valley-Stikine Liberal MLA Dennis MacKay (Hansard), April 14, 2008


Reaction from a person who knows

"It borders on fear mongering, saying something like that unless you can substantiate it. I have never heard of anyone ever having a problem with burning tap water or exploding showers or toilets due to methane gas."
- Telkwa Fire Chief Harold "Stoney" Stoltenberg (CBC Radio), April 29, 2008

Reaction from a person who found out

"Kelly Stokes, who lives atop the coalfield, told the CBC she has knocked on every door in the area, 'and there is not one person who can light their tap water on fire.'"
- (CBC Radio), April 29, 2008

I'll admit, this one is beyond my abilities to even comment. I do wonder if I should get a pilot light for my taps though, and make sure it doesn't go out.

On the government's choice to give playground funding to rich private schools

Millionaires deserve playgrounds too

"I don't begrudge the boys their luxuries. Heck, if I was a millionaire I'd want the best for my kids, too.
"But I do resent the Gordon Campbell government giving this wealthy private school $20,000 for playground equipment while impoverished, inner-city public schools get nothing."
- Mike Smyth (the Province), April 29, 2008

Haven't we been on this swing before?

"And there is an ideological aspect to the decision to deprive poor kids of playgrounds, as if they just aren't worthy of them.
"But mostly, this looks like a blend of insensitivity and incompetence. That could be even more worrying. Especially because the government has been through this once already."
- Paul Willcocks (Nelson Daily News), May 1, 2008

I really don't think that poor children need equipped playgrounds! After all, they don't have time because they need to be collecting recyclables and holding down part time jobs to help keep a roof over their families' heads. This is the same constructive reason that video games are priced beyond the reach of poor children, they have more important things to do with their time.

On the bungled B.C. Place roof replacement

How far is it from B.C. Place to the convention centre?

"It didn't have to be this way. They were warned two years ago the roof should be replaced. They ignored that. Then the roof fell down last January. You think that would have been a clue that they need a new roof. Now they're up against the clock, backs to the wall and they're paralyzed into doing nothing! Phillip this is what you call bad management! Thanks a lot Gordon Campbell!"
- Mike Smyth (CKNW), May 1, 2008

The Libs know, but they ain't saying

"New Democrats have been asking for this report in the legislature this week. Of course they'd like to see the report. The government's reply -- 'Well we released it under freedom of information.' Like heck they did.
"15 page report. 14 pages blanked out."
- Vaughn Palmer (View from Victoria -- CKNW), April 30, 2008

On the government's plan to create new universities without new funding

Maybe the Liberals should go back to school to learn new tricks

"Meanwhile, there's the old joke about what the boss offers when he can't provide a raise: a new title.
"So if there are any institutions out there still hoping to become a university, I gather the premier has some openings in his calendar later this spring."
- Vaughn Palmer (Vancouver Sun), April 30, 2008

When Lap Dog Vaughn starts calling you down, maybe you should give your head a shake!

Coming soon: Yahk University

"Just So You Know: There's no telling where this will end. By the time (the premier and advanced education minister) get to the towns of Yale and Princeton, we could have our own Ivy League."
- Les Leyne (Times Colonist), April 30, 2008

Just something to think about the next time the government crows about the economy

"... real income for many British Columbians continued to fall from 2000 to 2005 at a time when as a province we were getting back on our feet with strong economic growth
"Despite the fact that jobs were being created in record numbers and unemployment reached historic lows, the median income for full-time workers declined by 3.4 per cent.
"British Columbians will rightly be disappointed and concerned by this result. For many, it will be a betrayal on a personal level by the Liberal government..."
- Vancouver Sun Editorial, May 2, 2008

Not to mention that BC led the country in decline of median income (over 11%) since 1980, during a period when the economy itself grew over 50% - it just didn't go to regular folks.


Ferry fare hikes are a strategy to promote home appreciation

"B.C. Ferries may be approaching a watershed moment with the people it serves. If it continues to routinely hike ticket prices, we Island residents may increasingly just stay home."
- Keith Baldrey (Richmond Times), April 29, 2008

Look at the savings in Law Enforcement and other services with everybody sitting at home.

This government sees no such thing

"Log exports to the U.S. are not a fix for what ails us. The government must see that people make companies, not the other way around."
- Brent Browning (letter to the Times Colonist), April 30, 2008

A train between Vancouver and Prince George? What ever happened to that, anyway?

A fitting last quote for this week, here at the House where we really miss our old RailRoad!

"It may not be the Lower Mainlanders who travel, but it will be people from other parts of the world. With the Olympics being paraded as the opportunity for every possible advantage for B.C., passenger train service between Vancouver and Prince George should be a high priority."
- Ann Rose Sims (Letter to the Vancouver Sun)