FORSETH – Maybe we could ‘repace’ Eby’s govt to the Opposition benches

THE FOLLOWING is the opening to an email I received this morning from the BC NDP:

“In tough economic times, our government is making a clear choice: protect the services your family depends on and grow our economy to make life more affordable for people. We refuse to make cuts to the vital services we all need.”

I find that rather ironic given that pretty much anyone can punch holes through that statement.

Yes times are certainly tough as the over 40,000 people who lost their jobs, between February and March, are likely finding themselves in a severe economic squeeze. I find it hard to believe any of them would congratulate Eby’s NDP government for making life more affordable for them.

Protecting services? On a weekly basis Health Authorities are announcing ER closures leaving residents without vital medical services. Hospitals are announcing that maternity services for expectant mothers are unavailable. And now one of several announced cancer centres has been cancelled.

As for cuts to vital services?

I would call cancelling projects that residents across the provinces have been expecting will be built — after much fanfare and the razzle dazzle of photo ops showcasing BC NDP cabinet ministers — a definite cut to vital services.

Confirmed contracts to build long-term care homes for BC seniors in Delta, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Kelowna and Fort St. John have all been, as Infrastructure Minister Bowinn Ma called it, “deferred“, “rescheduled“, and “re-paced”.

According to a CBC news story, “Project stakeholders say they feel misled, and the official Opposition is calling for more transparency about when – or if – these projects will be completed.”

Let’s call it what it is — CANCELLED.

And let’s not forget Burnaby where phase two of a redevelopment project to build a new ICU, cardiac telemetry, a cancer centre, along with additional beds has now been … CANCELLED with no new estimated start date.

According to Delta South BC Conservative MLA Ian Paton:

“The company that’s actually got the contract that’s working on it, that’s already spent $15 million preparing the site for our new extended care ward, have been told pack up your tools, your excavators, and you’re done“

Hmmmmm … protecting vital services … so says the BC NDP.

I feel fairly certain the people of Burnaby would strongly disagree.

When something is ‘deferred’, it means it has been delayed until a later specified time. WHAT is the later ‘specified’ time Bowinn?

There is a universal understanding that when something is “Rescheduled” it means something (ie: infrastructure projects) has been changed to a new date. WHAT is the ‘new date’, Bowinn?

And as for ‘Repaced’?

In reality, according to AI Overview it actually means to pace again, retrace steps, or walk over an area again in the opposite direction. The NDP government of Premier David Eby, however, has repurposed the word, to suit them, by wordsmithing it to now mean to pause or delay what had previously been confirmed projects vital to the well-being of British Columbians.

I know you’re not supposed to call people liars but really, what should it be called when promises made are revoked outright?

This government has wreaked havoc on our resource industry … has racked up billions and billions in new debt … and the reality is, we have nothing to show for it.

I have an idea … can we go back to October 19^th, 2024, and ‘repace’ Eby’s government on to the Opposition benches?

Alan Forseth is a Kamloops resident. For 40+ years he has been active, in a number of capacities, in local, provincial and federal politics, including running as a candidate for the BC Reform Party in the 1996 provincial election, and as a four-time provincial campaign manager.