Finance Minister Colin Hansen rallied the troops at a meet and greet for B.C. Liberal Party members Friday evening in Kelowna. His rallying cry: The Olympics will save us from our economic problems but there is no way we can let Carole James be premier during the Games.
Hansen was in town on official duties. He spoke at a chamber of commerce lunch in the afternoon and was scheduled to attend an Olympic torch event Saturday morning. Since the Kelowna-Mission riding association was holding an event to allow party members to chat up candidates vying for the Liberal nomination, Hansen dropped by to press the flesh and get the partisan blood pumping.
In his five-minute speech, he painted a picture of B.C. as a place, that because of the Liberals’ careful management, is uniquely situated to ride out the current economic storm.
“Even though we have some challenges in the economy in the last few months, British Columbia is weathering through this challenge better than just about any other jurisdiction,” he said. “The economists are telling us that we can expect zero economic growth this year, in 2009 (though the budget he delivered Tuesday predicts B.C.’s economy will contract 0.9 per cent this year), and they are also forecasting that come 2010, British Columbia’s going to be the province that in fact leads Canada in economic growth next year.”
He went on to say economists provide two reasons for this rosy outlook. The first is “the solid base foundation we’ve built for the economy.” The second is the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“And they actually look at the fact that those games are going to generate about $10 billion worth of economic activity in British Columbia,” Hansen said. “They will generate thousands of jobs.”
But the biggest benefit of the Games, he said, is the fact 10,000 to 12,000 journalists will be in B.C. sending reports back to their home countries.
“We have the opportunity to showcase what a great province British Columbia is and what we can offer as a tourist destination, as a place to do business, as a place to live, as a place to invest, and that’s what's going to help catapult British Columbia into the economic growth of the next decade to come.”
Then Hansen painted a stark picture for the crowd.
“I want you to think about one thing,” he said. “Think about the opening ceremonies of the Games next Feb. 12th. There will be lots of government officials. I expect the prime minister will be there. I expect the mayor of Vancouver will be there. I expect the premier of British Columbia will be there. Visualize those opening ceremonies with Premier Carole James.”
His comments were greeted with groans that quickly gave way to disbelieving laughter.
“Now visualize those opening ceremonies with Premier Gordon Campbell,” said Hansen, before asking the assembled Liberals to make sure that picture becomes reality.
Hook contributor Adrian Nieoczym is a reporter with the Kelowna Capital News.
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Vortigern1
3 years ago
So, Hansen's trying to tell
So, Hansen's trying to tell us that Gordo's only real interest is in being Premier for the Olympics? Nice to know that he's so concerned about all the other issues facing this province.
HawkEyes
3 years ago
...crooks only?
What a cheap shot.
What a surprise.
Not.
I find it hilarious the current premier still imagines he will tarnish the opening ceremonies. It is time for change, of both the Olympics and our premier.
Premier Carole James? Sounds better already.
I like the idea of a woman with integrity at the opening ceremonies-it's the only good Olympic idea BC has been offered so far.
DPL
3 years ago
Hansen the money man is full
Hansen the money man is full of baloney. Did he happen to mention the skills shown by the present government in slightly misguiding us all on the security cost by a factor of five? A year to go and nobody really knows the overall costs of the two week event. He forget the times Gordo told us how there would be no recession in BC and hansen was standing next to him at the time. Good money managers? I doubt it.
Skywalker
3 years ago
Horrors!
Could she do any worse than this bunch? Not bloody likely.
morechatter
3 years ago
Its Already is A Horror
As the province is swarming with gangsters and bed bugs and the homeless with costs going sky hight all thanks to the Liberals. And talk about costs well thats going to be the topic for the next upteen years as Campbell takes it to the Limits and BC is Bust. I don't imagine it can get any worse than that do you? However something tells me in the next to months there is a lot more to come, Horrors that is as heard another child died but of course no ones writing about that.
morechatter
3 years ago
Just Put Another CEO in Charge
That will do it? Thats what Campbell and the Business community think all it takes is a CEO with a motive for profit to bring home the bacon thats why Campbell's in his seat. Well its not working because the problems with CEO's is they work it so they are the ones holding the bundles along with their cohorts while tax payers pick up the tabs. Where are all the Billions and Billions Hansern that you guys took in? And another thing about CEO they don't have the mind set to protect the tax payer from business and its dealing with people. Its like giving the crooks the numbers to the vault and now you are going to have to pay the price. And its No Big Secret its All a Secret as everything is done behind closed doors. So Hansen needs to put up or zip up because there is nothing coming out of his mouth that closely resembles the new EERIE. So lets see we have epidemics of gangsters, drugs, shooting, killings, bed bugs, disease,homelessness, suicide, poverty,malnourished children,sexually abused children,untreated children etc.
And in the new Erie of Liberal Horrors its going to cost money to put on the Olympics is more like it as there is no doubt there is money to be made but so far its looks like a whole lot more needs to be spent.
dorothy
3 years ago
Are you sure
You didn't misunderstand? I mean, maybe it was the other way around that Colin H. meant it? I mean, a woman who may not be bristling with charisma, but at least has some dignity and integrity on the one hand, and on the other, a drunk-driver, who wailed like a baby in front of his public, when he realized his dumb decision had caught up with him. He is lucky that the populace in this province loves a repeat repentant sinner more than a person with backbone, but not everyone who comes to the Olympic will be a subscriber to those same religious views.
I don't doubt we'll be better of with Carole J. being the face of our enterprise, AND I would prevail on Mr. Hansen to explain in great painstaking detail, just exactly what he means by his diatribe. We should not let people get away with innuendo!
sunshine coast girl
3 years ago
Is he serious??
He thinks the worst of our problems would be having Carole James as Premier during the Olympics? OMG. That is so arrogant and so sick on so many different levels.
Gustav
3 years ago
Boo Hoo!
It must be galling for Gordo and his minions to imagine Carole James presiding over the Olympics--just as it must have come as a terrible blow last year for Sam Sullivan to realize he'd be taking a back seat to Gregor Robertson at the opening ceremonies. Boo-hoo!
Oh well, the rest of us won't mind. We've got bigger things to worry about, including the cost of this 2-week party for the rich and famous.
DJT
3 years ago
Well ain't that just peachy.....
“We have the opportunity to showcase what a great province British Columbia is and what we can offer as a tourist destination, as a place to do business, as a place to live, as a place to invest, and that’s what's going to help catapult British Columbia into the economic growth of the next decade to come.”
Well isn't that just peachy? We need more people here like we need a hole in the head. Overpopulation is the root of most of our problems to begin with. If you don't build it they won't come, that's what I say. Of course, the likes of Hansen and Campbell will be laying on the beach sucking back Mai Tai's having "got theirs", so I don't suppose they give a **** anyway. Sad.
quarry bay
3 years ago
I can imagine.....
A vicious,proven liar and lawbreaker,that has zero compassion.Oh indeed,I can imagine Campbell kicking woman and children out of the life-raft,I can imagine Campbell not sharing the water in the dessert,I can imagine,..........
I can imagine childhood dreams will once again return to this province,I can imagine,I can hope,I can pray,I can wish for the return of tears of happiness rather than these tears of sorrow......
I can imagine the biggest party I have ever celebrated in my life,oh yes,I can imgine,join me in BCs biggest party ever...May 13 /2009
Quarry bay
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/terracestandard/opinion/letteres/39676954.html
quarry bay
3 years ago
Please read this letter
Another person born to write
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/terracestandard/opinion/letters/39676954.html