iCan the social ists run a peanut stand? asecond opinion THE late W.A.C. Bennett was fond of saying that British Columbia’s socialists couldn’t run a peanut stand. The latest bud- get brouhaha in Victoria seems to prove him once again correct. But it’s also clear to me that, in this latest controversy _ over the missing balanced budget, many British Columbians are misdirecting their frustration and anger. Let me explain why. It now looks like last year’s balanced budget wasn’t balanced after all. Instead of a modest surplus, we’ ve ended up $235 million in the red. Why? : No one seems to know for certain, but it appears that _ government forecasts of forestry | revenues were unduly optimistic. » Js this a crisis? No. Government forecasts are . sarely accurate. In fact, the deficit amounts to not much ‘more than 1% of the provin- cial government’s $20 billion budget. And we all know how easy it is to be off on our own business or personal budgets by such a slim margin. - Of course, we ail wish that Victoria had been more pru- dent and conservative in its fiscal projections but, on the face of it, the world is not coming to an ‘end just yet. ' For the sake of compari- ‘son, let’ s look at our neigh- boring province of Alberta. There, the Conservative administration of Ralph Klein was predicting a deficit of $500 million: instead. it recently reported a staggering budgetary surplus of $1.1 bil- lion. Astounding! What's the reason for this huge surprise? According to the Alberta government, it's just the opposite of what we've experienced: natural resource revenues — oil und gus in this case — have sup- posedly been much higher than expected. But can that possibly explain a swing of more than $1.6 billion, almost 15% of Alberta's total budget? When a government is so wildly off the mark as Alberta, it suggests that the people of our next-door province have either been grossly overtaxed, have had education and health care ser- vices unnecessarily slashed in recent years, or their province is completely out of touch with fiscal reality. Yet, no one is complaining. And that’s the difference between our two provinces. Alberta’s budget surprise is on the right side of the ledger: they’ve got a massive surplus. We, on the other hand, have surprise deficit. But both provincial governments seem irresponsible. - The fact that the NDP gov- emment’s so-called balanced budget has proved to be phony might encourage some to vent their spleen, but there’s a much more impor- tant issue at stake here. And it centres on the question of whether or not the NDP gov- ermment was re-elected under false pretenses. - Did the New. Democrats know the budget wasn’t bai- anced prior to the recent elec- tion? During the election cam- paign, while they were singing about it from the rooftops, did the NDP know the balanced budget was a lie? The answers to these ques- tions can prove onty dishoa- esty or incompetence. Either ICBC New monthly payment plan. Are you buying short term policies? LET AUTOPLAN 12 SAVE YOU MONEY...... 1705 Marine Drive North Vancouver 290-0808 way, why should we cust the provincial government's fore- cast for the current fiscal year? It was to be the NDP's second consecutive balanced budget — and they haven't delivered a first one yet. Voters may now become even more cynical and niore distrusttul of all politicians and their promises. Nevertheless, tne NDP remains secure to govern with its slim majority until the next century. And. ironically, this tempest may actually help them in the long run. It may force them to try harder, to become better fiscal man- agers. It may finally provide the discipline the NDP needs to set more realistic targets, and then meet them come hell or high water. So, if you don’t have enough to be angry about already, imagine this: the bal- anced budget fiasco of 1996 might provide enough of a scare for the NDP, prompting them to change their ways so that they can have a chance of being reelected once again in the year 2000. The socialists will now be more determined than ever to prove they can in fact run that big peanut stand in Victoria. Check out the hottest 's snouboasding on water # great way to practise your moves NORTHSHORE SKi AND BOARD 1625 Lonsdale Ave., N. Van. 987-7245 BEFORE YOU VENTURE ABRGAD EXPLORE THE MEWS g have just moved into a new and bigger store inside Capilano Mall ibetwaen Sears &Tip Top Tailors) f To Celebrate We're Having our BIGGEST SALE OF THE : YEAR a Come i in today and take advantage of the E EXTRA SAVINGS 2 pairs of premium quality Soft Clear Baily Wear Contacts regular (2 pairs) $198 SALE PRICE (2 pairs)” *409 ts 2 pairs) $318 ~ SALE PRICE (2 pairs) *199 30% off all brand name unglasses over $4 BONUS: FREE PAIR with purchase of 2 pairs of extended wear A*‘35 VALUE ER, CENTRE MALL oowioin “iBy" Baltum -Bpdks} ROSSROADS SHOPPING’ CENTRE: