OSOYOOS TIMES-September 9, 2009
It’s interesting to note the reactions of various organizations to the B.C. government’s Sept. 1 budget update.
Immediately following the budget session in the Legislature, the editorial inbox here at the Osoyoos Times began filling up with emails from unions, lobby groups, institutes, associations, chambers and coalitions.
Depending on what end of the spectrum a particular organization is from, many of the headlines or titles of these emails contained phrases noting this group or that’s optimism or support for the budget or this group or that’s position that the budget will fail the kids or the environment or the arts.
Groups such as the British Columbia chapter of the Retail Council of Canada, the BC Chamber of Commerce, British Columbia’s Certified General Accountants and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business voiced approval for the budget.
Words such as “optimistic,” “benefit” and “welcome” appeared in the budget reactions from these groups.
On the other hand, organizations such as the Canadian Office and Professional Employees Union, the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation, the BC Health Coalition and the Sierra Club of British Columbia responded to the budget by saying that families, the environment, health care and education will suffer in the months ahead.
Words such as “cuts,” “more debt” and “smoke and mirrors” appeared in the budget reactions from these groups.
Not surprisingly, this divide arises any time there’s a budget announcement or throne speech.
What you never see, however, are the commerce/business/retail-focused groups that are looked after more in a situation like this— and rightly so considering the current economic climate— reaching out to the community/cultural/environmental-focused groups that more-often-than-not get the shaft in a situation like this.
Wouldn’t it be great to read something like this in a press release from the Grand Order of Business Owners/Retailers and Accountants (not a real organization by the way):
“Hey, Coalition of Arts Councils/Environmental Stewards/Teachers and Nurses (again, not a real organization), once the tax cuts, harmonization of taxes and infrastructure spending efforts kick in and we get back on our feet, then we’ll help you get back on yours.”
Because as important as business, both large and small, and industry is, people won’t come to spend money or set up shop in a province— or community— where the education system is in the tank, health care services are pathetic, culture is non-existent and the natural environment has been exploited or neglected.
