REALITY CHECK: British Columbians should expect more broken Liberal promises in 2014

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The B.C. Liberals are gearing up for a 2014 filled with empty promises of a prosperous province while recklessly planning to make uncaring cuts to the public services British Columbians rely on.

A look back at broken Liberal promises from 2013 opens a window into what British Columbians are in for over the coming year:

Christy Clark’s “Families First” agenda is nothing more than rhetoric

  • Premier Clark has been talking about putting families first from the day she re-entered politics, but that’s all it is – talk.
  • The truth is, while families are struggling to make ends meet, Premier Clark and the B.C. Liberals continue to make life less affordable. On Jan. 1, MSP premiums will rise for the fifth consecutive year, and tolls on the Port Mann Bridge will double.
  • 2014 will be a tough year for families in B.C. thanks to a number of other rate increases too. Hydro rates will spike by nine per cent and ferry fares will jump four per cent on April 1. The seniors’ discount will be slashed in half on B.C. Ferries while routes are cut, and ICBC rates already went up on Nov. 1.

B.C. Liberal “jobs plan” an admitted failure

  • After spending millions of taxpayers’ dollars before the election convincing British Columbians the Liberals were going to create jobs, Premier Christy Clark and Finance Minister Mike de Jong finally admitted the Liberals have failed to do so.
  • The truth is, the most recent Statistics Canada numbers show a net loss of 6,700 private sector jobs since September 2011. B.C. has the worst overall jobs record in Canada, losing more than 8,200 jobs overall just in the past month.

B.C. Liberal election promise of “Debt-Free B.C.” hinges on fantasy

  • According to their deceptive 2013 election campaign, the B.C. Liberals are going to “pay off provincial debt, including B.C. Ferries, B.C. Hydro and the Port Mann Bridge” with their fantasy fund from LNG revenues.
  • The truth is, under Premier Christy Clark, B.C.’s debt has risen faster than under any premier in the history of this province, and is set to hit nearly $70 billion by 2016.
  • Instead of a plan to pay down Crown corporation debts, the B.C. Liberals are dramatically increasing rates for the services we rely on.