VANCOUVER, B.C.: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) today launched a 30-community, two-week tour of its B.C. Debt Clock at a news conference in Stanley Park. The CTF wants to draw public attention to B.C.’s growing debt load. (Photo: As a Liberal leadership candidate, Premier Christy Clark attended the Vancouver launch of the CTF's 2011 cross country Debt Clock tour)
“B.C.’s provincial debt will grow by a billion dollars every single quarter over the next three years – even with so-called balanced budgets,” said Jordan Bateman, the CTF’s British Columbia Director. “By 2016, today’s $57 billion debt will top $69.4 billion. We need to stop this clock.”
B.C.’s debt grows by:
“Debt is a killer for future generations,” said Bateman. “It’s like putting our children and grandchildren a mile behind a marathon’s starting line.”
Bateman noted that Premier Christy Clark has long supported balanced budgets and even ran on a “debt-free B.C.” platform in the May provincial election.
“The Premier has talked the talk on debt reduction, but now it’s time to walk the walk,” said Bateman. “She needs to stand up against special interest groups looking for more tax money. Based on the election results, there’s clearly an appetite in B.C. for the Premier to make good on her campaign promise of a debt-free B.C.”
The iconic Debt Clock, adapted for B.C.’s provincial debt numbers, is 12 feet long and 5’6 feet high. It is housed in a custom-designed trailer that has crisscrossed the country over the past two years.
Planned B.C. Debt Clock 2013 tour stops include:
June 14 (preview at CTF fundraiser) – Langley
June 21 (preview at Rotary Club event) – Chilliwack, Abbotsford
June 26 – Vancouver and north Fraser communities
June 27 (B.C. Budget Day) – south Fraser communities
July 2 – West Kelowna, Peachland, Summerland, Penticton, Keremeos
July 3 – Salmon Arm, Sicamous, Vernon, Lake Country
July 4 – Kelowna
July 8 – Merritt, Kamloops, Barriere
July 9 - 100 Mile House, Lac La Hache, Williams Lake, Quesnel
July 10 – Prince George
Bateman and the CTF will be posting stories, photos and videos from the road on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/taxpayerdotcom), Twitter feed (@jordanbateman), and blog (www.taxpayer.com/blog/).
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