The Green Party of British Columbia released its platform today in a 75-page publication called British Columbia’s Green Book, 2009-2013.
The platform calls for drastic changes, including the decommissioning of all gas and diesel power stations by 2015 and a halt on all oil and gas mining for energy generation before 2030.
According to the Green Book, the party will invest in infrastructure renewal, improve healthcare and build affordable housing. This transition into the green economy will create new jobs in environmentally friendly industries, producing thousands of “green collar jobs” which will stimulate the provincial economy.
Also presented in the platform is the Green Party’s plan to provide interest-free loans to small and mid-sized businesses to help locally owned companies make the switch to green energy. The platform also calls for tax increases for businesses and individual practices that cause pollution.
Jane Sterk, leader of the B.C. Greens, told The Tyee her party has yet to assign cost projections to the changes in the platform. But she said there are enough funds in the provincial budget to accomplish what is set out.
“We are not going to be attaching budget numbers because we think that we have to look at how everything is done in the government and reallocate funds,” Sterk said.
If the Greens form the B.C. government, money currently invested in the gas, oil industry would go into renewable energy and Gateway project funding would be completely redirected into the reformation of public transit, Sterk said.
Sterk added that the Greens will run a deficit when they make the initial investments towards greener infrastructure.
“For a different kind of life and a different quality of life, we may need to make an up-front investment,” Sterk said.
The Greens also indicated the deficit they build will be left to future generations to worry about.
“While we move through this recession, Greens will spend more money than we take in; however, we are keenly aware that the money we spend today will need to be paid back by our children in the future,” the B.C. Green Book read.
Morgan J. Modjeski is a staff reporter for The Hook.
Wow. Now that's what I call a typo...
Not to be tooooo picky, but it looks like it's actually a 4 year plan, from 2009 - 2013. The title of the document is "British Columbia’s Green Book 2009-2013"
To be sure, page 10 contains an "Energy action timeline" that goes to 2100, but it appears that by no means have the Greens come up with a 94 year plan.
Greenies for Gordo
Green voters will actually make certain none of the "green" platform happens as a vote for a greenie is effectively a vote for one the most anti-environment Neocon parties in Canada Gordo and his gang.
Instead of enticing low information voters, these idiots, if they really want a "green" agenda, could organize the faithful, buy NDP memberships and elect greenies at NDP nomination meetings stacked with their supporters. Harper and his coreligionists took over the Conservative party that way.
I'm sure analysis would show the bulk of green party donations, actually come from Liberal party supporters hoping to ensure Gordo's win.
A vote for the Greens is a vote for Gordon Campbell
Green Parties were a sign of the times. They served their purpose for those of us that wanted a more environmentally aware political process when they first came into being. But now they have been compromised by the right, they are still a protest vote against the nasty Harperites and Gordon Campbell's Liberals. But they will achieve exactly the opposite of what they desire in helping to elect the 'brownist'politicians we have had in years. Gordon Campbell leads the pack as the winner of Best Greenwasher Award of the year.
Certainly it wouldn't be the first time the Greens have taken votes from the NDP for their election campaigns and in doing so supported the political right. It is common knowledge that in upper middle class ridings, the greens tend to do better than the NDP because our upper classes, green as they may want to be, can rarely see themselves voting for anything resembling a socialist.
At its last convention, the B.C. NDP unanimously adopted Sustainable BC as its vision for our province.
Vote Green Party Re-Elect Gordo
Hehe Seth
None of the Greens nor The NDP are support IPP Green power.
"Greenies for Gordo" likely will win when the dust is settled.
The NDP might have a chance if they got on board too. But Nooo its business as usual simply more Gordo Bashing to get elected.
Sad state of politics we've got here in BC.
Gordo's stealing the Green Show with First Nations as partners and eating a little crow along the way.
Good read to understand some upcoming election issues.
http://www.zerocarboncanada.ca/backlash-against-the-green-economy-in-bc
A vote for the Greens is
A vote for the Greens is really a vote for Campbell..
Why is it so many seem to think the Greens are 'left' anyway? Read their platforms provincial and federally and you will see they are 'Red Tories' aka cons with an environment plan.
greenie's for Gordo
Read the platform.
There is little in it would not be acceptable to Carol James' centre left philosophy in fact it is a ripoff of NDP policies. They are running as solely a Neocon supported scheme to siphon off NDP votes.
This neocon tactic was very successful in the last federal and provincial election. Remember how the Neocons's persuaded useful idiot Jim Green to run against Jim Green in the Vancouver election a few years back.
IPP contracts maybe carbon green but they sure as hell are a monster ripoff forcing us to buy their pirated product at 12 cents a kwh and exporting for as low as a half cent. Hence IPP's are shut out in both the NDP's and greenie platform.
I still remember with amusement the two TV debates in the last election where Adrian Carr and Carol James ganged up on Gordo and ripped him a new one. No real differences there.
The Green CON
The Conservative party federally and the SocredConlib party (they call themselves Liberal but are not)Provincially are the greatest beneficiaries of the green party. In several ridings in the last election if the GP vote had gone 60% NDP the NDP candidate would have been elected.
I sometimes wonder if CON supporters are not the main contributors to the GP.
I almost totally agree with seth.
I was very involved with environment and politics many years ago. I've been there--but I have ethics-so I have not done that.
Interesting
It is interesting how the Faithful have so often sworn up and down that the Green Party doesn't siphon votes from the NDP and now they do.
Perhaps the NDP could adjust is policies to be more inclusive of Green voters and actually form a government.
Not likely, though.
Wilf
What is in the Greenie platform referenced above above that Carol James couldn't support. Very little I expect, but a list would be nice.
who cares, it's not as if
who cares,
it's not as if the greens are going to win a seat. and to the average voter, gordo is the greenest premier ever. no contest, the libs have this issue in the bag