Throne Speech Gets Government off the Pot liberals Paint Rosy Picture of BC's Future Brandon Ferguson, News Editor ith only 14 weeks left until the \ \ ; May 17 provincial election, the Liberals pushed their vision for the future of BC in the final throne speech squeezed out before we head to the polls. Taking a page from their Republican counterparts down south, the BC Liberals have slashed and burned through every public sector imaginable only to return with pre-election promises to freeze tuition increases, expand trade, improve health, and increase job opportu- nities. They even came up with a corny name for their vision: Five Great Goals for a Golden Decade. The throne speech, delivered by Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagnolo, would see BC take on Canada, the conti- nent, and the world, in five key sectors. Firstly, BC will lead Canada by strengthen- ing our support systems for seniors, children at risk, and those with disabilities and special needs. We will also lead Canada in job development. Once Canada is conquered, we will become the North American leader in education and literacy, health and physical fitness—a province of Dickens-reading Frisbee throwers. Finally, BC will lead the world in sustainable envi- ronmental management. Next, the universe? After gouging post-secondary stu- dents into a $2-billion surplus, the Liberals have announced that tuition will no longer rise exponentially; rather, it will increase at the same rate as inflation. “We've heard from British Columbians they’re concerned about the rapid rise in tuitions,’ Premier Gordon Campbell said 4 | www.theotherpress.ca after the speech. “We didn’t want to say we were going to impose a decision, but we did want to say there will be a cap. I think everyone deserves to have some predictability here.” Although this is good news, I have no less than three problems with it. Massive protests, marches through the downtown core, burning effigies, defaced stop signs, advertising campaigns, benefit concerts, lengthy petitions, and I peed on your White Rock lawn—~/his is hearing from concerned British Columbians? Gordo makes it sound like he received a phone message or was talking to a little old lady in the lineup at Wal-Mart when he first heard that there was any problem with triple-digit increases in tuition. Secondly, if the Liberals consider an increase directly linked to inflation a solu- tion to the financial raping of students, then couldn’t a token inflationary increase in the wages of the BCGEU workers have smoothed this whole strike bullshit over promptly and right proper? Which leads to my third beef: pre- dictability. What the fuck is that? I have no idea when any of my due dates are this semester; with the number of strike days we’ve had, if I continue to skip my maxi- mum allowable number of classes, I’ll be attending roughly four days of school this semester; and I didn’t know until Friday night that I could take my girlfriend out on the actual Valentine’s Day, rather than whatever romantic Romanian or druidic holiday we would have been celebrating on Sunday. Yes, Gordo, I too think every- one deserves to have some predictability here. Ah, I feel much better right now. That was my own relieving visit to the throne. Onward and upward, the Liberals plan to put $120 million into improving our drinking water, give $132 million to col- leges and universities, $100 million to the Michael Smith Foundation for genome research, and hire 215 new police officers and 50 park rangers. The Premier also plans to link BC to the Asia-Pacific region in both trade and disease control. New councils will be cre- ated locally while trade and cultural centres will be built internationally to pro- mote BC products. BC will also build tourist attractions that cater to the Chinese market. The BC Centre for Disease Control will now operate more closely with the Pacific Rim to identify and treat infectious diseases that could be easily transferred with the added travel between BC and the Pacific rim. All in all, the speech offered a rosy outlook on the future of BC after a bleak present of union strife, lost jobs, huge tax cuts to the wealthy, and oppressive laws against the filthy (think of the poor squeegee kids who face fines every time they blink). The Liberal government has taken heavily and is now throwing us a bone. Set your faces to stun. “T think fool’s gold is a better term than golden decade,’ NDP leader Carole James said. “That’s obviously their elec- tion campaign, but I think fool’s gold is a better description of what this govern- ment is trying to convince British Columbians of.” The choice is mostly simple if you can cut through the crap of both the Liberal platform and my analysis: vote for the Liberals if you feel that the stretching of individuals is needed for the health of the province; vote for the NDP if you feel that a province’s health is only achieved through the fair treatment of individuals. But in the end, it’s all just politics and pooh. Don't let excellence pass you by Award. flewelld@douglas.bc.ca). Excellence abounds at Douglas College. And here’s your chance to acknowledge those exceptional people by nominating them for a Douglas College Educational Excellence “We really hope that people make the effort to recognize the people who make a difference by nominating them for an award,” says Janice Penner, EASL instructor and former Educational Excellence committee member. The four categories for the awards are: Student, Faculty, Staff and Administrative Excellence. Nomination forms outlining the criteria are available in the Library and department offices on both campuses (or contact Debra Flewelling at 604-527-5190 or One nomination form listing three nominators, along with a letter from each nominator addressing the award criteria, must be completed and sent to Debra Flewelling, Library (New Westminster or David Lam). Other supporting documents, such as reference letters, evaluations and other relevant material is also welcome. The deadline for nominations is May 13, 2005. FEBRUARY 16/2005