The Former Golden Boy Of Indo-Canadian Politics Says BC Liberals Have Done Little For The South Asian Community!

It is not surprise that I am standing proudly with John Horgan and the BCNDP. John and I have been friends for over 25 years. John has the leadership qualities and the determination to stand up for families who work hard for a living, for small business people that are trying to get ahead, for seniors living on pensions and for youth who simply want to get a good education and a chance to be successful in life. Unlike Christy Clark, he is not working just for those who are at the very top. Too often she has left the people behind and that is more evident than ever as the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class get pushed down and life gets more expensive. Hydro and ICBC rates, Medical Services Premiums, bridge tolls, and college tuition.  Now Clark is talking about bringing in a new tax just like the HST that Gordon Campbell brought in.

By Moe Sihota:

As election day approaches, everyone faces a very important choice. NDP or Liberal. John Horgan or Christy Clark.

It is not surprise that I am standing proudly with John Horgan and the BCNDP. John and I have been friends for over 25 years. John has the leadership qualities and the determination to stand up for families who work hard for a living, for small business people that are trying to get ahead, for seniors living on pensions and for youth who simply want to get a good education and a chance to be successful in life.

Unlike Christy Clark, he is not working just for those who are at the very top. Too often she has left the people behind and that is more evident than ever as the rich get richer, the poor get poorer and the middle class get pushed down and life gets more expensive. Hydro and ICBC rates, Medical Services Premiums, bridge tolls, and college tuition.  Now Clark is talking about bringing in a new tax just like the HST that Gordon Campbell brought in.

For many decades, the NDP has stood shoulder to shoulder with the South Asian community in our struggles for human rights, for social justice, for full opportunity and for economic fairness. I was fortunate enough to serve in NDP governments and I am proud of our record of advocating for our community. Punjabi was introduced in the schools as a second language for our children. Services for seniors were improved. Farm workers received WCB coverage. Post-secondary education was affordable and small businesses, including the taxi and construction industries, were supported. Now, we must stick together, face today's problems and seek new solutions. I am very confident that John Horgan and the BC NDP team will do that.

In communities such as Surrey, Burnaby and Richmond we have seen the Christy Clark government delay or oppose new hospitals and health facilities that are needed. In Surrey, they even sold the land that was to be used to build a new hospital. Last Sunday, just hours after the NDP announced first steps towards that new hospital, the Clark Liberals said 'no'. Surrey gets portables instead of schools. Surrey gets bridge tolls instead of free roads like everybody else in BC. Surrey residents have seen transit delayed by Clark for years. And now she is even saying the replacement of the Patullo Bridge needs more study.

There is a clear pattern here: people in Surrey get ignored or punished. And for the past 16 years, the Liberals have done little for the South Asian Community.

It is time for change. It's time for a Government that is more attentive to Surrey and the South Asian Community. The NDP program announced by John Horgan offers a better deal for families with new schools, an end to the bridge tolls, a new Surrey Hospital, and a fair approach in industries such as taxi and port trucking. A strong Human Rights Commission capable of addressing the turban and other social justice issues. Affordable housing, to be built by all contractors, not just the biggest developers. And above all, a chance for our children and grandchildren to get an affordable post-secondary education.

It is time for a change. The South Asian Community can play a big role in that change on election day, and after the election. We cannot afford four more years of Christy Clark and the BC Liberal policies.

This time lets stick together and elect John Horgan and the BCNDP. Because I know that John Horgan will be a Premier that will work for you, your family and our community.

Moe Sihota is a former NDP Cabinet Minister and made history as the first Sikh-South Asian to be elected to a provincial government in North America.