As your MLA, I wanted to write to you about leadership and progress -- issues important for British Columbia in this election.
Politics was not my first career. However, it has become my most important because of what’s at stake. I was born and raised in a family of ten in East Vancouver. After graduating from UBC in engineering, I married a young nurse from my neighbourhood. We worked for a couple of years in Toronto and then took what little money we had saved and headed to Boston. I attended Harvard and earned additional degrees, including a PhD in Economics. For a decade I was a professor at the Harvard Business School. It was during those times that we started our family of four, and they have now given me four grandchildren.
The Royal Bank of Canada in Montreal hired me as Chief Economist. Then we headed west and I ran their global oil and gas group out of Calgary. Some years later I went into business as a principal in mining, financial institution and technology ventures.
In 2001 I agreed to become a politician, for several reasons:
• I had personally experienced the havoc which misguided government could cause.
• I wanted to restore British Columbia to the province I had known as a wonderful place where young people could build careers rather than drift away.
• My wife had suddenly passed away. That personal tragedy made available the full time and attention which excellence in public service demands.
Those reasons still apply.
When first elected four years ago, I was not quite sure what to expect.
What I found in Victoria was a government demoralized by NDP deficits and NDP ideology -- a vast enterprise that had managed to break down the confidence of investors and the hopes of a generation. This had been a government that could not plan, could not manage, and could not live within a budget.
I also found in Victoria a newly elected government determined to balance the books, cut red tape, restore the economy, and improve the management of key services such as health care and education.
Under strong leadership, the new government accomplished all of that to a degree which journalists have called miraculous. The economy is booming and optimism has been restored. People are moving back to B.C. Over 200,000 new jobs have been created - high paying, full-time jobs. With a repayment of $1.7 billion, we have begun to whittle away at the mountain of debt created by the previous government.
Despite withering opposition from special interests, we ended the cycle of over taxation and overspending that threatened our future. Tax cuts have worked. Now we have the means to restore hope and a more prosperous future for all.
Health care budgets have been increased by a third. Education spending has climbed significantly. The disabled have seen their pensions increased by the largest dollar amount in history. New parks have been created. The portion of BC’s vast land base reserved in parks and protected areas has been increased.
This government has demonstrated its heart by helping those less advantaged.
• Tax cuts have been focused on those with lower incomes
• Pharmacare benefits have been increased for those with lower incomes
• MSP premiums have been reduced for those with lower incomes.
And what have I personally accomplished? I have:
• Been a strong advocate for our North Shore schools
• Worked hard to improve our North Shore health services
• Led the Mining Task Force which helped restore this important jobs generator
• Helped maintain a favourable tax climate for film
• Advocated for tourism on the North Shore
• Been immersed in biotech
• Aided our engineering industry
• Advised on financial and securities legislation
• Worked to sort out congestion and dangers on our local highways
• Organized the Steelhead Futures Caucus, so this magnificent fish can survive
• Stopped the shooting of bear cubs wandering our neighbourhoods.
I’ve tried hard to serve every constituent wishing to consult or asking for help, and doing so has enriched my life. I’m grateful for that.
Ralph Sultan, MLA
West Vancouver-Capilano