Editor:
The economic engine of our province is free enterprise.
Our provincial Liberal government is pro investment and free enterprise. Yes, pro business.
This is the only place wealth is generated and where real tax dollars come from to support everything we have become used to expect from government.
History shows us that when the NDP is in power, it drives business and investment from the province.
When Barrett was in power from 1972 to 1975 they squandered millions of dollars on losing business.
When they took over B.C. had a reserve of money to cover downturns in the economy.
The NDP bought at least two losing businesses for millions of dollars, Panko Poultry and Ocean Falls Pulp and Paper.
These businesses continued on their downward spiral and went broke, anyway.
Gone was the money that was saved for any downturn of the economy.
B.C. left the NDP in power for the four years.
Investment in B.C. evaporated and we just escaped narrowly from being on federal welfare (equalization payments).
Social Credit free enterprise government from 1975 to 1991 brought our economy back to life and the province prospered. Investment came back to the business friendly environment.
Then along came the NDP again under Mike Harcourt and Glen Clark whose policies again discouraged investment in the province.
This time under the NDP we left them governing long enough to ruin the economy and we did end up on federal welfare (equalization payments).
Between 1991 and 2013 we have had business- and investment-friendly government. We dug ourselves out and got off federal welfare.
B.C. is prosperous again. Let’s keep it that way. Think hard and long when you vote.
We don’t want to go back to being a have not province under the NDP. Their track record is not so good.
You know where I stand. Inform yourself on all the parties before you vote.
No matter which party you believe in, be sure you get out and vote.
Hugh Barrett
Horsefly