VICTORIA—NDP Finance critic Bruce Ralston is asking B.C.’s Merit Commissioner to investigate a government contract awarded to a B.C. Liberal friend and insider.

“This is about whether public agencies will be stacked with B.C. Liberal friends and insiders, or whether they will serve the public interest with appointments based on merit instead of political connections,” said Ralston, the NDP MLA for Surrey-Whalley.

VICTORIA—The B.C. Liberal government needs to tell British Columbians where they stand on the future of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), given comments made against it by B.C. Liberal MLA and agriculture committee member Al Horning.

SURREY—Carole James and the New Democrats are standing up for farmland in B.C., and are calling for the protection of the Agricultural Land Reserve in the interests of all British Columbians.

Speaking at an NDP news conference on Barnston Island, James said there is growing public concern about the integrity of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) under the B.C. Liberal government.

VICTORIA — Yet another complaint about conditions at Surrey Memorial Hospital this week has prompted New Democrat MLA's in Surrey to say enough is enough, and are calling on the Campbell Liberals to improve the hospital once and for all.

Following the first Session of the new Parliament, Agriculture and Lands Critic Bruce Ralston released his first sessional update highlighting successes and key issues.

VICTORIA — The Minister of Health must release the Fraser Health Authority's fast-tracked report on the challenges and future of Surrey Memorial Hospital to the public, Bruce Ralston, MLA for Surrey-Whalley said today.

SURREY — During debate in the Legislature last week, Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains questioned the Minister of Advanced Education about the transition of Kwantlen College to an institution with university status.

"Throughout BC, there has been a recent push to transition colleges into universities," said Bains. "Before moving forward with such changes, there are important issues that government and colleges must address to meet the needs of students and communities."

SURREY — The government's new budget update completely ignored the challenges and ongoing crisis at Surrey Memorial Hospital, Surrey-Newton MLA Harry Bains said today.

"Two weeks ago, the NDP challenged the government to put money on the table to help relieve the stress at Surrey Memorial," said Bains. "However, the government failed to come up with any new funding for Surrey Memorial and failed to meet the needs of Surrey residents once again.

Surrey — The lack of representation from Surrey and Delta in the new Campbell cabinet calls into question the BC Liberal government's campaign commitments to pay attention to the region and fix the health care crisis, the newly-elected Surrey-Delta NDP team said today.

Yesterday, Gordon Campbell appointed a new twenty-three member cabinet with only one member from Surrey and Delta, one of BC's largest and fastest growing regions.