Professional Documents
Culture Documents
This document lays out the foundation for decision making and the key policies I would introduce as
premier of British Columbia. It is the product of listening and consultation across our province, as well
as my experience as Deputy Premier of B.C.
Just as families are anchored by a set of moral values and a sense of history, my policies as premier
will be based on core principles that will guide the decisions my government makes to take B.C.’s
families forward.
My Families First agenda is built on a four part platform – the four corners of Families First. They are:
These policies are designed to strengthen B.C. families and they were designed in consultation with
British Columbians across the province. Together, we can bring change to our province and it all starts
with you on February 26th. I hope I can count on your vote.
Best regards,
FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY
British Columbian families are counting on government to live within its means. We must get back to
sustainable, balanced budgets as soon as possible.
Once we have achieved a balanced budget, we will have the flexibility to further reduce taxes and to reduce
our debt. We must have a balanced budget before sweeping tax cuts or spending increases can occur.
Sunset Clauses
Our government will:
• Increase the use of sunset clauses for regulations and legislation.
• Mandate the Select Standing Committee on Finance to develop a comprehensive plan to review
laws and regulations on a consistent basis.
Providing high quality health care is the single most important job of any Canadian provincial government.
Health care spending will continue to rise, but it must not be allowed to compromise every other service.
The ultimate goal of the energy policy is to make sure families have a clean, safe and secure energy future.
Our policy decisions must ensure that our children have a more secure economy and environment in the
decades ahead.
We do not pretend to have all the answers. The economic challenges facing rural B.C. are complex and
require an approach where communities are empowered, people are listened to and government responds.
We recognize that government decisions, no matter how small, can have a big impact in rural British
Columbia.
Our approach to open government means the voice of rural British Columbians will be heard:
• Cabinet accountability sessions in rural regions.
• Implement examples of productive consultation, such as the Ranching Task Force, where MLAs
and industry worked together to identify solutions, across other industries.
Engaging community interests regarding potential projects is important, as is the legal requirement to consult
with First Nations. Economic certainty is also important so that industry can operate in British Columbia with
some predictability and consistency.
Our government will:
• Make it a priority to facilitate industry development without compromising community engagement
processes, obligations to First Nations or environmental concerns.
• Create a B.C. Investment Board, comprised of experienced and respected business people from
across the province, to measure how successfully major projects are moving through the multiple
regulatory and environmental processes from all levels of government.
• Make the Prosperity Mine a top priority and work to facilitate solutions to the outstanding issues
with all of the parties.
• Push for increased harmonization of federal and provincial environmental approval processes.
It is important the industry is listened to and involved in implementing a long-range marketing plan. We need
to have an unbiased strategy to promote tourism that is not imposed by government and is fair to all. We
must recognize and build upon the successes that commercial operators have achieved in creating jobs and
expanding the industry in British Columbia. We need to listen to the industry. The way to promote B.C. is by
doing it together.
Our government will bring together successful commercial players, non-profit and community-based tourist
organizations to set up a new market-driven regime that will implement a B.C. Tourism Strategy, which will be
supported by government and have predictable funding.
Our government will work actively with industry players to promote our province as a destination for both
holiday travelers and convention-goers from around the world:
• We will work with Ottawa in the areas of open skies and improved border services for visitors.
• Eliminate fees in provincial parks to encourage families to explore B.C. parks.
• Vigorously champion emerging areas in the industry like eco-tourism and aboriginal tourism.
Tourism is a growth industry for British Columbia and we need to take advantage of the tremendous expertise
that resides here. The Olympics gave us some great momentum – now we need work together to build on
that momentum.
HST
Our government will proceed with a June referendum on the HST.
• On this issue, people for and against the HST prefer a public vote to deal with the tax.
• The date for a referendum should be June 24.
• We will provide equal funding to both sides during the referendum period, as was done in
the electoral reform referendum.
• The referendum will be conducted in the same manner as a provincial election.
Our government will introduce specific initiatives to help empower families out of poverty:
• Eliminate the training wage.
• Complete the government’s consultation with business and increase the minimum wage.
• Phase in an increase to the Working Income Tax Benefit to match the similar federal government
initiative announced last year.
OPEN GOVERNMENT
We will enact a series of proposals designed to rebuild public trust and reconnect people with government.
ONLINE VOTING
When only half of registered voters in the province participate in the democratic process something is
fundamentally wrong and it’s time to look at new solutions. Canadians have repeatedly identified online
voting as an option that could increase their participation.
Online Transparency
Taxpayers need to know how their money is being spent and if their elected officials are meeting their prom-
ises. As a first step to improving transparency in government, we will provide the following online within our
first year in government:
• Frequently updated business plans for all key ministries, along with the updated status of
key objectives.
• Key government spending figures, including travel costs and expenses for all MLAs, ministers and
senior bureaucrats.
We can help raise the work these groups are doing to the next level. We can engage non-profits and British
Columbians and find a way to build non-profit and public partnerships that strengthen communities.
Our government will introduce specific initiatives to modernize our approach to healthy families. We will:
• Strengthen the role of non-profit organizations through the creation of Non-Profit Public Partner
ships so they can play a larger role in delivering services.
• Boost the B.C. Caregiver Tax Credit, once we balance the budget, to ease the burden on family
members who must care for a loved one at home.
• Focus on the growing challenge of dementia and other similar illnesses that attack the brain.
• Follow through with a family tax credit for involving children in sports and the arts, first proposed
seven years ago by MLA Christy Clark.
Our government will establish a strategic plan for policing that sets out goals, targets and performance
standards. This plan will be developed outside Victoria by police, community leaders and members of the
social service sector. It will include:
• Goals and performance standards for the next three, five and 10 years.
• Police oversight and the independent investigation of alleged instances of police misconduct.
• Ways to strengthen the tools of the Integrated Gang Task Force so their presence is felt in all
communities targeted by organized crime.
• The development of a comprehensive response to gangs and guns activity throughout the
province. We will establish a task force led by government that includes:
o Police officials from the RCMP and municipal police forces.
o The Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit.
o The Civil Forfeiture Office.
o The Criminal Justice Branch.
o The Public Prosecution Service.
• Set targets and measures based on factors such as our families’ income and health;
impacts on taxation; impacts on business investment and job creation; impacts on future
generations in terms of debt servicing; impacts on families in rural areas, aboriginal
communities, and new Canadian families; and impacts on social and educational
opportunities, so that families have an opportunity to get ahead in life.
• Incorporate these targets and measures into each Ministry’s annual service plan.
• Require each minister to affirm in their cabinet submissions that they are consistent with
meeting Families First targets.