This past week - both Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett and Cariboo-North MLA Coralee Oakes spoke to the updated BC Budget 2013 in the BC Legislature
MLA Oakes always 'warms my heart' when I hear her speak as she speaks with the same passion I share for BC and that of our Cariboo-Chilcotin region and MLA Barnett speaks from the heart when she speaks in defence of Rural BC and the critical need to invest in Rural BC, given she's resided in Rural BC her whole life
Well done, Coralee and Donna :D
Coralee Oakes on Thursday, July 4th:
Donna Barnett on Wed, July 3rd:
It is indeed an honour to be here today, speaking before this great House. I am here to speak in support of our government's budget.
I was thrilled that the people of the Cariboo-Chilcotin chose me as their voice in the provincial Legislature for the second time. I would like to thank my campaign team. Over 200 volunteers stood up in the Cariboo-Chilcotin to make sure that they had a strong voice in Victoria.
As Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for rural development, I will continue to be a voice for rural B.C. As a resident of one of the most beautiful places in British Columbia, the Cariboo-Chilcotin, the interests of rural communities have always been important to me. Rural British Columbians are generous, hard-working people with a pioneer spirit. Whether they're ranchers, miners, teachers, doctors, nurses, tourism operators, retirees, grandmas, parents or citizens, they are independent and proud.
It is the rural parts of British Columbia that give our province its unique character. While many of the MLAs that are in this House represent urban ridings in the Lower Mainland or south Island, it is important to remember the regions that make up the majority of our province. That is why I work to be a voice for rural British Columbians. That is also why I'm here to speak in support of our government's budget.
Rural British Columbians understand the importance of fiscal responsibility and of leaving a legacy for our children. The pioneers who first came to the Cariboo-Chilcotin understood this, and generation after generation they have worked to provide a future for their children. They knew that it would be irresponsible to spend more than they earned from their hard work. They valued fiscal responsibility, and so does this government. That is why I'm pleased to see our Finance Minister present a balanced budget.
By spending responsibly, we can maintain our quality of life not just for our generation but also for those that come after us. This means we can maintain our triple-A credit rating so that when we need to borrow money, we can do so at reasonable rates. It also means making sure that our government is efficient and that taxpayers' money is spent in the best way possible. It also means making wise investments. For rural British Columbians, that means investments in the industries that drive our economy.
Forestry is an important part of our rural economy. It is an industry that has been affected by factors we could not predict, such as the pine beetle epidemic and the housing crash in the United States. However, it is a resilient industry, and with the B.C. jobs plan, forest sector strategy and increasing exports to Asia, forestry will continue to be an important driver of our provincial economy.
There are mines in the Cariboo-Chilcotin that are so important to the economy of British Columbia, and there are new ones on the horizon. We have a vibrant and resilient tourism industry that has suffered since the recession, but it is on the rebound.
Another important industry is ranching and farming. Ranching and farming have a long tradition in my riding of the Cariboo-Chilcotin, with a rich cowboy history. With some wise investments by our government, ranching and farming will continue to thrive. The coloured fuel tax exemption for farmers will allow our farmers and cattlemen to continue providing quality locally grown food to B.C. families. Incentives to buy local will benefit both consumers and farmers.
These are all wise investments in our rural economy, yet the wisest investment of all, Mr. Speaker, is an investment in our children. Making sure our children are better off is the reason our government is bringing in measures like the B.C. childhood tax benefit and the B.C. training and education savings grant.
Through the B.C. childhood tax benefit, thousands of B.C. families will get a refundable tax credit of up to $660 a year per child under the age of six. About 90 percent of families with young children will be eligible, so this is really a great benefit for many families.
Higher education and trades training are also an investment in the future, and it is important that our children have the option of doing this type of training when they finish high school. To help offset the costs, our government is bringing in the B.C. training and education savings grant. All B.C. children who were born from 2007 on are entitled to receive this $1,200 grant to help them save for post-secondary training or education.
All they need to do is have a registered education savings plan in their name set up before they turn seven. This money will help them later on in life. With a small investment of $50 a month, combined with federal grants, a child will have $12,000 waiting for them by the time they turn 18. This is a fantastic investment, and there is nothing more worthwhile than helping the next generation get a strong start.
Thank you for the opportunity to speak today in support of the budget. I am confident that if we continue to move forward with the focus on fiscal responsibility and wise investments, we will accomplish a great deal over the next four years. With a balanced budget, we are off to a great start. I look forward to seeing the end result
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