Re-elected MLA Joan McIntyre talked about the economy, the budget, 2010 opportunities and her vision for the next four years at a Chamber of Commerce lunch Tuesday (May 26).
McIntyre called the recent provincial election an exercise in preserving the status quo with the Liberals taking 45.7 per cent of the popular vote. McIntyre said voters didn't want to rock the boat.
"I heard people saying they didn't want to rock the boat in the Sea to Sky Corridor with the Olympics coming and the unstable economic situation," McIntyre said. "And I think for the first time our party stuck to the message about our leader."
That message was that Premier Gordon Campbell's Liberal government was the best choice to lead British Columbians through these challenging times, making economic management the cornerstone of the election campaign.
Voters responded to the premier's argument by rewarding the Liberals with a solid majority government and the first "three-peat" in 26 years.
Although McIntyre is not officially MLA until her swearing in ceremony Monday (June 8), she is already praising the budget. The province tabled a budget with a $495-million deficit in February, which McIntyre said served as the cornerstone to the provincial campaign.
"I think we will be building on the same themes of the previous budget and trying to build stability for the future while going forward to get us through this recession," McIntyre said. "We are already seeing a turn around with housing sales bouncing a little."
The budget which is expected 90-days from the election, was originally expected to have a $495-million deficit compared to last year's budget which called for a $50 million surplus.
"We found ourselves campaigning- saying these are tough times and now the hard work begins. We are going to need the assistance of the people we serve to get through this while we tighten our belt," McIntyre said.
McIntyre wasn't afraid to admit the Sea to Sky Corridor is also facing tough times. She said tourist visitor numbers are very low because of economic challenges in the United States. But McIntyre was quick to point out areas of opportunity such as the 2010 Winter Games.
"We decided on the first deficit we have had in five years after priding ourselves on a balanced budget," McIntyre said. "This budget supports $14 billion in investment which we hope will create economic opportunities and 88,000 jobs."
McIntyre encouraged Sea to Sky residents to look to future opportunities such as the Pacific Gateway Strategy that promises to leverage growing Asian markets as well as re-training initiatives for the unemployed. But McIntyre said the 2010 Olympics is one of the biggest opportunities for the Sea to Sky Corridor.
"I am hoping I can facilitate and take advantage of anything 2010 offers us. We have to figure out how and where you can plug in," McIntyre said.
