"Yet another assault on Delta and all of B.C," says Guy Gentner, MLA for Delta North, "where multi-national corporation profits take precedence over the needs of British Columbians."

On February 22, just four days before Premier Christy Clark was elected as the Leader of the BC Liberals and Premier of British Columbia, the government put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for the feasibility a B.C. Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) Program that will "reduce/eliminate international barriers to trade, investment, labour mobility and competitiveness."

John Ries from the Sauder School of Economics at UBC has stated that Foreign Trade Zones are simply a race to the bottom. With Foreign Trade Zones, the Liberal government has to provide subsidies to multi-national corporations and loosen environmental and labour standards. It is unclear what the benefits are to British Columbians, but it is clear that Foreign Trade Zones are indicators of a failed economic policy.

Gentner forwarded a letter on March 25 to interested stakeholders where he highlighted that the former VP of Dubai Port World in United Arab Emirates and home of Jbel Ali Port and Free Zone (JAFZA) is leading the proponent's bid for a FTZ in British Columbia. "The JAFZA model incented 100 per cent foreign ownership, 0 per cent corporate tax for 50 years, unrestricted repatriation of capital and profits, 0 per cent import duties and personal income tax, no currency restrictions, no restrictions on hiring foreign employees, and unrestrictive mortgages on leased land" said Gentner.

Gentner stood in the Legislature during question period and estimates to question the Minister of Transportation and Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation whose ministries have both signed off on the RFP. Gentner asked each time what the benefits of FTZs are to British Columbia, and got nothing of substance that would assure British Columbians this is not a race to the bottom as stated by John Reis from Sauder School of Economics at UBC.

"The people of Delta and British Columbia want answers and we are again not getting them from this Liberal government," said Gentner. "We have seen time and again the secrecy within which this government continues to operate. The implementation of the HST, the sale of BC Rail, ramming through legislation without proper debate, are all examples of how the rights of British Columbians are be abrogated in the interests of corporations and profits."

© Copyright (c) Delta Optimist