James promises NDP will scrap carbon tax if elected

British Columbia NDP Leader Carole James says her party would scrap the carbon tax, restrict raw log exports and bring BC Ferries back under closer government control if it wins the upcoming provincial election.

James made the promises as she released her party's election platform at a campaign kickoff on Thursday morning in Vancouver for the election on May 12.

"[Premier Gordon] Campbell's gas tax is unfair, it doesn't work, and it comes at the worst possible time for B.C.'s economy. Eliminating the gas tax makes it easier to balance the family chequebook and provides B.C. with a needed economic stimulus," said James.

B.C.'s controversial carbon tax, or gas tax as James call it, taxes fossil fuels as part of a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The NDP platform, called Take Back Your B.C., had few surprises and many familiar NDP policies, including a halt to what James called the privatization of BC Hydro through the purchasing of power from independent producers.

"In a good economy British Columbians couldn’t count on Gordon Campbell, and now they rightly worry that he will use the recession to slash and burn vital public services," said James. 

"Eight years of the Campbell government's neglect has resulted in overcrowded emergency rooms, larger class sizes, less transit, and growing concerns about crime and community safety," said James.

"This election is about who British Columbians can trust to look after their fundamental priorities."

Other promises rolled out by James included:

• Increasing the minimum wage to $10 an hour.
• Reducing class sizes in schools and adding more resources for the classroom.
• Freezing tuition fees and increasing funding for colleges and universities.
• Increasing the number of health-care jobs and long-term-care beds. 
• Cutting wait times for hospital procedures.
• Freezing BC Ferries fares.
• A one-year small business tax holiday.
• Enhancing environmental protection for species at risk, and rivers and streams.
• Increasing investment in transit and reducing transit fares.
• Increasing the number of police and prosecutors and expanding court and victim services.