Pubdate: Thu, 22 Oct 2015
Source: Nanaimo Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2015 Nanaimo Daily News
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1608
Author: Tom Fletcher
Page: 12

B.C. PREMIER CLARK LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING WITH JUSTIN TRUDEAU

Premier Christy Clark is emphasizing co-operation with the new Liberal
government in Ottawa on climate change and infrastructure spending,
while avoiding comment on plans to run deficits and legalize marijuana.

Clark said Tuesday she is looking forward to having Prime Minister
Justin Trudeau accompany premiers to Paris at the end of November for
the next United Nations climate conference. Trudeau said Tuesday he is
looking forward to changing Canada's reputation as a "less than
enthusiastic actor" on climate policy, but he wants provinces to take
the lead.

Clark said B.C. will outline its "Climate 2.0" plan before leaving,
and it will add to the carbon tax on fossil fuels with measures aimed
at the "built environment" and other ways to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.

Trudeau's infrastructure plan is in "complete alignment" with B.C.'s
efforts to grow the economy, with BC Hydro alone spending $2.5 billion
a year over the next decade, Clark said.

She sidestepped a question on Trudeau's deficit plans, noting that a
prime minister has to govern for all provinces and B.C. is "an
outlier" with operating budget surpluses and projected growth.

Clark was even more cautious with Trudeau's plans to legalize and
regulate marijuana, as Vancouver and other cities grapple with
unregulated pot dispensaries.

"If and when they make changes, we'll work with them to make sure that
the changes can be effective in B.C.," she said.

B.C. NDP leader John Horgan shrugged off his federal party's big
setback in the federal election, consoling himself with an increase of
two NDP MPs in B.C. The NDP's Gord Johns won the new riding of
Courtney-Alberni, defeating long-time Conservative MP John Duncan for
an NDP sweep of Vancouver Island, except for Green Party leader
Elizabeth May in Saanich-Gulf Islands.

"I'm also delighted that the country voted for change in massive
numbers," Horgan said. "And that's good news for me as well, because
in 2017 there's going to be a desire for change."
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MAP posted-by: Matt