| Ben's Newspaper Columns
Moving Quickly on Metal Theft You may have noticed a news item over the weekend. Some $10,000 worth of copper power cable was stolen from a business near the Kelowna airport. Who Do Elected Officials Work For? For many people, the New Year is a time to reflect on what did and did not go well in the year that was, and with New Year’s resolutions comes the chance to start anew. Home Sweet Home After three months of legislative session in Victoria, there’s no denying it’s good to be back home to work and meet with my constituents in West Kelowna. Open Season For Open Government Sometimes, the most effective and beneficial changes governments can make are actually quite simple. Our commitment to opening up government fits into that category. Growing Global One of most rewarding parts about being an MLA is the opportunity to recognize and help celebrate local success stories. Studying For The Future The BC Jobs Plan, announced in stages last week by Premier Christy Clark, is quite comprehensive. A Race to Get Behind Last weekend, I had the privilege of handing out awards at the Pushor-Mitchell Apple Triathlon. On The Road Again One of the questions I'm often asked is "what do politicians do in the summertime?" The Final Countdown At 4:30 pm on Friday, August 5th, Elections BC will stop accepting HST ballots. Are you still sitting on your voting package, unsure of what to do? Has it been tossed aside and forgotten, amidst the business of summer? The Road Ahead For Westside Road One of the questions I'm most often asked is "what do you like most about being an MLA?" Well, how long do you have? It's a great job. It's an honour and a privilege to serve the people of Westside-Kelowna. 'No' Means 10; 'Yes' Means 12 Hopefully next week – pending a resolution of the Canada Post labour dispute – the majority of British Columbians will start to receive their HST referendum ballots. Even FightHST Concedes PST 'Not The Best Tax' By now, hopefully you've received the HST Voters' Guide in the mail. It contains the "No" position in favour of the HST, a statement from the "Yes" side opposing the HST, and rebuttals from either side. Stick Man Vs. Straw Man Next month, British Columbians have a decision to make – a crucial one. It's not hyperbole to say the HST referendum is the most important voting decision they will perhaps ever make. Dix Knows How to Hurt Small Business Would you like to discourage entrepreneurs from starting up new businesses and creating jobs in British Columbia? I hope your answer is no. Additional Funding For Fire Mitigation April 7th brought very good news when my colleague, Minister Steve Thomson, announced the provincial government is committing $25 million over two years to further protect B.C. families and communities from the threat of wildfires.
A New Direction For B.C. Monday saw Christy Clark sworn in as British Columbia's 35th premier – and only the second woman to hold the province's top job. LETTER TO THE EDITOR Re: Campbell leaves with mixed record – David Bond, February 22, 2011. The Backbone of Any Community There is a special type of person who is the backbone of any community. Trade and Growth Top Agriculture Ministers Agenda Today's annual conference of Canadian agriculture ministers was my first meeting with provincial and federal counterparts to discuss the future of agriculture in B.C. and across Canada. Growing in Strength On January 28th, I had the honour of speaking to the B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA) at their convention in Penticton.
Quite a Year It was great to spend time with family over the holidays and to reflect on the year that has just passed. A Great Time to Lend a Hand As the holidays approach and the weather gets colder, it is the perfect time to think of those less fortunate and to lend a hand. This is something that was brought home to me and my staff one morning just last week.
Union of BC Municipalities: Building a Stronger Future for BC’s Communities Affordable Housing Thinking Ahead What the HST Means for Seniors and their Families Making the Young a Priority Reflecting On Budget 2010 Billions more for health isn’t a cut Green Technology for a Strong Economy Improving Access to Information Protecting Public Health and Well-Being Keeping Our Communities Strong Building Towards The Future Addressing Supportive Housing Turning the Corner to Economic Recovery Year in Review | |
| © 2007 Government Caucus of British Columbia. All Rights Reserved. |