Harry Bains's News
February 21, 2013
VICTORIA– In Question Period on Thursday, New Democrats focused on B.C.'s future with questions about raw log exports, forest health, cuts to post-secondary education and the lack of investment in skills training.
Forest critic Norm Macdonald kicked off question period by challenging the Liberals to explain why they have overruled their own raw log export committee more than 100 times. Macdonald said the resignation of a prominent member of the Timber Export Advisory Committee...
December 20, 2012
SURREY – British Columbians deserve to know if import duties will mean the foreign-built replacement for the Seabus will end up costing more than if a B.C. shipyard was awarded the contract, say the New Democrats.
“There is generally a 25-per-cent tariff on ships less than 129 metres in length, and that could mean more than $6 million in additional costs for this vessel,” said New Democrat transportation critic Harry Bains. “We already know that this decision to buy...
September 13, 2012
VANCOUVER – The B.C. Liberals still plan to impose punishing tolls on commuters living south of the Fraser River, but revealed their plan to lower the tolls temporarily in a move that can only be meant to salvage votes in the coming provincial election, say the New Democrats.
“The Liberal plan to lower tolls is pure electioneering in a desperate attempt to win votes leading into a tough election in May. We've seen them try to pull this trick before, and we know the price of...
May 18, 2012
VICTORIA – New Democrats took the Liberal government to task on the decision by TransLink to cut the TaxiSaver program in Metro Vancouver which will affect seniors and people with disabilities who rely on the service for essential transportation needs. The TaxiSaver program allows registered HandyDART users to obtain coupons which provide them a 50% discount on taxis.
New Democrat transportation critic Harry Bains raised the issue in the B.C. legislature this week in response...
April 2, 2012
VANCOUVER– Monday’s New Pacific Gateway Strategy announcement lacks clarity in spending details, re-announces previously committed private-sector funding and appears to contain no new provincial funding, say New Democrats.
The Gateway announcement re-affirms private-sector investment, which is positive. However, the bulk of the plan consists of a previously announced liquefied natural gas strategy.
The only provincial funding in today’s re-announcement was $700 million...
March 15, 2012
VICTORIA– While today’s announcement of an independent review panel for B.C. Transit is a step in the right direction, the transportation needs of the Lower Mainland are still being ignored, say New Democrats.
“Today’s announcement has been a long time coming and will help address transit concerns in communities across B.C.,” said Harry Bains, New Democrat critic for transportation.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t address the growing concerns of the...
February 15, 2012
VICTORIA— New Democrats are calling on the Liberal government to put its money where its mouth is and start building the new schools the premier promised the Surrey School District last fall.
“It has been almost four months since the premier came to Surrey and promised new schools,” said Harry Bains, MLA for Surrey-Newton. “More than 7000 students are in portables, hoping for a real classroom while the school district waits on the Liberal government to get...
