The Hope
Standard Office: 604.869.2421 www.hopestandard.com
THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013
news@hopestandard.com
DROP-IN CENTRE OFFICIALLY OPENS The H.O.P.E. Project connects people with community resources
4 FUNDRAISER FOR TILLICUM CENTRE Hot dog barbecue at Rona benefits local programming
11
YOUTH PROGRAM HAS 30 PARTICIPANTS
KERRIE-ANN SCHOENIT / THE STANDARD
BC Conservative Party candidate for Chilliwack-Hope, Michael Henshall, listens as independent candidate Ryan McKinnon answers a question at Monday’s all-candidates meeting in Hope.
Steve Nash basketball workshop focuses on developmental learning
18
INSIDE Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Community . . . . . 11 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Classifieds . . . . . 20 $
1(PLUS GST)
Local candidates in the hot seat
Kerrie-Ann Schoenit Hope Standard
The four contenders for the Chilliwack-Hope riding faced off in a debate on Monday night, hosted by the Hope & District Chamber of Commerce. Among the issues discussed were debt reduction, poverty and environmental protection. BC Conservative Party candidate Michael Henshall addressed the audience first holding up a ball and chain with $57 billion written on it representing the provincial government’s debt. “You can’t tax and spend people into prosperity. Look at Greece as
a recent example – you end up bankrupt and this is the direction that B.C. is heading right now and we have a plan to turn it around,” said Henshall, pointing out that thousands of people have been leaving the province in the last few years to work in Alberta and Saskatchewan. “When we raise our taxes too high, it makes our products uncompetitive with jurisdictions around us. We need to reduce our taxes, actually get business going and bring back good paying jobs to British Columbia.” Henshall said legislative reform is needed and his party would have committees scrutinize gov-
Mother’s Day is May 12 LOOK FOR LOCAL FLOWER & DINING SPECIALS ON PAGES 12 & 13.
ernment expenditures annually during the fall sitting. Laurie Throness, who is running for the BC Liberals, asked voters to be fair and objective when looking at the government’s record. He acknowledged that his party has made mistakes, but said the Liberals have apologized and paid for them in many ways. “Look at the big picture,” said Throness. “We have balanced our budget, we have a triple-A credit rating, personal and corporate taxes are among the lowest in Canada, we have relatively low debt load proportionate to the federal government and we have a plan to pay off our debt.”
Independent candidate Ryan McKinnon pointed out that there’s inefficiencies and unnecessary spending in government, particularly in the Ministry of Children and Family Development. As a major champion for child protection reform, he said some of that money could be better spent on economic stimulus, and services for mothers and fathers that are losing their children. “Money is going to the wrong areas,” said McKinnon. “There’s too much fat that needs to be trimmed.” Continued on 3
Attention All Moms
Enter to win a luxurious 7 piece Bed & Bag plus sheet set. ($300 value) COURTESY OF:
Calder-Stroyan Interiors E-800 Third Ave. Hope, BC 604-860-4568 See entry form in the classified section of today’s paper.