News Release - July 27, 2004

Better to Build New BC Ferries Here!

The intended purchase of a half a billion dollars worth of ferries outside of Canada, should open the eyes of everybody to the reality of the way that this provincial government thinks.

As estimated by Michael Smyth (The Province, July 27, 2004), we for one thing will be missing $75 million in taxes.

We will also be subject to another 125 million in import duties on foreign built vessels, of which we will get zero jobs for BC workers.

But the blatant and callous face slap in this situation is the "bottom line only" for themselves. This view by Mark Stefanson, vice-president of communications for B.C. Ferry Services, is that he just doesn't care. He is in this soley for his own bottom line and what is good for BC is irrelevant.

Mr. Stefanson needs to recognize the fact that the BC Ferries existence is one hundred percent due to BC and the people in it.

But isn't that exactly what we could have expected? And isn't that exactly what we have got?

But the worst part of this is that Gordon Campbells BC Liberals, for the most part, think it's great!

They obviously don't care either.

This appears a template for the present and the future under this government.

I think that we can expect more of the same. Lots more.

Erle Martz
Vice President, BC Reform Party
250 962-0147