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BC NDP Newswire -- June 9, 2003

BC RAIL SELL-OFF WILL DEAL ANOTHER BLOW TO NORTHERN ECONOMY - MACPHAIL
Analysis reveals sale would cost North 1200 jobs and $65 million per year.

The BC Liberal government's move to sell-off BC Rail will deal a serious blow to the northern economy, New Democrat Opposition Leader Joy MacPhail said today.

MacPhail made her comments following a meeting with BC Rail employees. The NDP Leader is on a two-day swing through Prince George to meet with community representatives.

"BC Rail is a key part of the North's future," said MacPhail. "But the BC Liberals are sacrificing that future to pay for a massive and reckless tax giveaway to the wealthiest one per cent. This economic disarray is a direct threat to working families and businesses in the North and Interior."

MacPhail pointed to secret BC Rail briefing documents obtained by the Opposition that show a CN takeover of BC Rail will result in big job losses for the Prince George area.

According to those documents, a CN takeover of BC Rail means 88 per cent of management and 60 per cent of union jobs will be eliminated. For Prince George that will mean approximately 50 management jobs and 350 union jobs will be eliminated. Using a conservative economic multiplier, $65 million per year will be lost in economic activity in Northern communities and there will be a net loss of 1200 jobs.

"Since the Liberals took power, the unemployment rate in Prince George has skyrocketed to 15 per cent," said MacPhail. "Selling BC Rail will deal another severe blow to the fragile Northern economy already suffering as a result of failed Liberal economic policies."

MacPhail said that throughout the North and Interior, there is growing outrage at the way residents are being treated by the Campbell Liberals. She said that Gordon Campbell knows he's got a problem in the North, but is too stubborn to do anything about it other than to rename the region the "heartlands".

"Whether it's selling off BC Rail or privatizing the Coquihalla highway, Gordon Campbell is showing that he is out of touch and that he doesn't care about the needs of Northern and Interior communities like Prince George," said MacPhail. "If he doesn't start to listen soon, Liberals MLAs like Shirley Bond and Pat Bell could have very short-lived political careers."

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