Close X
Sunday, December 15, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. Ministers Rich Coleman Say Throne Speech Comments Weren't Meant To Insult Alberta

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Feb, 2016 10:59 AM
    VICTORIA — A day after British Columbia suggested Alberta hasn't done a good job of managing its oil revenue, a B.C. cabinet minister blamed it for adding to his province's homeless population.
     
    Housing Minister Rich Coleman said Wednesday he agrees with statements in his government's throne speech that Alberta failed to diversify its economy and lost control of spending.
     
    "I don't think it's a shot at anybody," said Coleman, who is also B.C.'s deputy premier and natural gas development minister. "It's a reality."
     
    Tuesday's throne speech called B.C.'s top-performing economy an island of prosperity, but asked British Columbians to consider Alberta where "they expected their resource boom never to end, failed to diversify their economy and lost control of government spending."
     
    Coleman said he's discovering first hand the results of Alberta's economic malaise in the form of increased numbers of homeless people coming to B.C.
     
    "Certainly, I've had this winter more of a pressure on the upside on the homeless file, particularly shelters, than in the last seven years," he said. "We track it and a lot of it is in-migration of people coming from other jurisdictions, particularly Alberta where their economy is down, unemployment is way up."
     
    Alberta's economic development minister said he interprets the throne-speech comments as an attack on that province's previous Conservative governments, not the current New Democrats.
     
    "They failed to diversify the economy, that is a fact," said Deron Bilous. "And because of it Alberta is paying the price for it. "We have rolled out a number of initiatives and we will continue to roll out initiatives in order to diversify the economy."
     
    B.C. Energy Minister Bill Bennett said there wasn't any intention to snub the neighbouring province and that he's been negotiating with his counterparts to connect the province's hydro power to Alberta.
     
    "I don't think that's disrespectful," said Bennett, whose Kootenay East riding is on the provincial boundary.
     
    "There is this healthy competition and for a long, long time there was some of that (Alberta) stuff coming across the Rockies our way, and, you know, I guess there's a little bit going back the other way, and I think it's harmless."
     
    Bennett said he recalled when former Alberta premier Ralph Klein bought one-way bus tickets to Vancouver for homeless and unemployed people to take advantage of B.C.'s welfare payments.
     
    "It's healthy competition between two different jurisdictions and healthy competition probably between two different political ideologies," said Bennett.
     
    Political squabbles between the two provinces aren't new. Premier Christy Clark and former Alberta premier Alison Redford feuded over B.C.'s conditions on the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Plan For Better B.C. Ambulance Service Seeks Shorter Dispatch, Turn-Around Times

    Plan For Better B.C. Ambulance Service Seeks Shorter Dispatch, Turn-Around Times
    VANCOUVER — The agency that oversees British Columbia's paramedics and ambulance system has created a plan it hopes will better serve the province's growing — and aging — population.

    Plan For Better B.C. Ambulance Service Seeks Shorter Dispatch, Turn-Around Times

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Donates His Sketch To Museum Fundraiser

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Donates His Sketch To Museum Fundraiser
    Trudeau drew the image of the Canadian Museum For Human Rights after visiting the Winnipeg building last spring.

    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Donates His Sketch To Museum Fundraiser

    Make it a Fun and Adventurous Family Day!

    Make it a Fun and Adventurous Family Day!

    There’s lots going around this Family Day. From special offers to exciting events, here&rsq...

    Make it a Fun and Adventurous Family Day!

    Christy Clark Meets Justin Trudeau, Says B.C.'s Economic Engine Needs Cash From Ottawa

    Christy Clark Meets Justin Trudeau, Says B.C.'s Economic Engine Needs Cash From Ottawa
    Clark says Ottawa should also put cash into the George Massey tunnel replacement project on the southern edge of Vancouver because the route moves billions of dollars of goods across Canada and into overseas markets

    Christy Clark Meets Justin Trudeau, Says B.C.'s Economic Engine Needs Cash From Ottawa

    Convicted Animal Killer From New Westminster Granted Unescorted Leave From Halfway House

    Convicted Animal Killer From New Westminster Granted Unescorted Leave From Halfway House
    She must wear a GPS tracking device and have permission from her parole officer.

    Convicted Animal Killer From New Westminster Granted Unescorted Leave From Halfway House

    Quebec Man Mathieu Roy Gets 57-month Sentence For Sexually Assaulting Teen Girls

    Quebec Man Mathieu Roy Gets 57-month Sentence For Sexually Assaulting Teen Girls
    Mathieu Roy had initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea today and was sentenced by Quebec court Judge Guylaine Tremblay

    Quebec Man Mathieu Roy Gets 57-month Sentence For Sexually Assaulting Teen Girls