Based on their budget tabled in February, the B.C. Liberal platform unveiled Monday doesn't contain much in the way of surprises, which works fine for one local candidate.
"We made it clear that we were going to concentrate on balancing our budget," said Prince George-Valemount incumbent MLA Shirley Bond. "So our platform is based on the budget that we tabled and we would certainly reintroduce that budget."
The Liberals' 94-page platform book - Strong Economy. Secure Tomorrow - outlines a plan for a British Columbia that is eventually debt-free. The platform is available on the B.C. Liberals website.
Bond said the most significant commitments are the plans to freeze the carbon tax rate and all personal income tax increases for five years.
"And that's going to take continued fiscal discipline. And from my perspective, we have demonstrated we can do that for the past decade and we can continue that same kind of focus on the reduction of debt, making sure we're making life more affordable," Bond said.
A large component of the platform, which includes a page where the plan is costed out, is the development of liquified natural gas (LNG). The focus on the resources coming from the northern and rural areas of the province is a reason to be encouraged, Bond added.
"I can tell you this, that as a lifelong northerner one of the things we hear most often is we generate the revenue that is sent to Victoria and we don't receive enough of the benefit back in our rural and northern communities," she said. "So I think this is the recognition of a long-held northern view that more of that share needs to come back."
Revenue sharing from resource development was an issue Prince George Coun. Cameron Stolz brought to the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention last September. A recent official response from the provincial finance ministry had said the government wasn't considering any new revenue-sharing programs.
Bond said the shift has come from "strong northern voices."
"So that discussion, for many people's minds is long overdue, but I think it's an important commitment and part of our platform to have that discussion in light of the increased economic potential that we are hoping to capitalize on," she added.
But opponents say actions speak louder than words.
"The Liberal platform doesn't address the problems Liberals have created," said Conservative Prince George-Mackenzie candidate Terry Rysz. "Chaos follows this government everywhere and the platform doesn't show any end in sight."
Sherry Ogasawara, NDP candidate for Prince George-Valemount agreed, harkening back to the platform released in advance of the 2009 election which made no mention of a $495 million deficit or the harmonized sales tax.
"It's the same tired policies British Columbians have seen before," she said, adding that Monday's document is "based in fiction."
According to Rysz, the Liberals are "gambling our children's future by relying on LNG revenues to balance the budget and pay down the debt." But he also said the NDP are equally committed to raising taxes and running deficits.
"So you can't tell the difference between B.C. Liberals and the NDP and this platform just reinforces it," he said.
But the Liberals are attempting to contrast themselves with the NDP by highlighting statements NDP representatives have made in the media about various aspects of their platform.
"We're simply including the facts to allow British Columbians to make those choices themselves," said Bond, who added she wasn't interested in being confrontational or engaging in mudslinging. "British Columbians don't have the ability to compare right now because there is no plan from the NDP."
Ogasawara said there won't be any surprises when her party's full platform is released and that for a pre-election period, they've released a lot more information than others have previously. On Monday, party leader Adrian Dix was in Prince George to outline their forestry plan. Their fiscal plan was released last week.
