B.C. Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell
Gordon Campbell takes aim at NDP in B.C. campaign
Canadian Press
COLWOOD, B.C.  Premier Gordon Campbell took aim at the New Democratic Party on Saturday at a Victoria area campaign stop, reminding supporters the May 17 election is 10 days away.
About 200 people chanted "B.C.'s back" at a boisterous stop to support five southern Vancouver Island Liberal incumbents, including three cabinet ministers.
Vancouver Island is expected elect several New Democrats on May 17.
"As much as they'd like to be able to run away from their record, run away from their past, run away from the damage that they've done to the province of British Columbia, we will not let them run away," Campbell said.
The two terms of NDP government during the 1990s dropped British Columbia from the top economy in Canada to the worst, he said.
The 1990s were a decade of lost opportunities for British Columbia and voters must be reminded of the hole the province was in before the Liberals took power in 2001, Campbell said.
"British Columbians are going to ask this question: who is really best to lead B.C. forward and keep our economy going strong? It's the B.C. Liberal team," he said.
Campbell said the difference between the Liberal and NDP campaigns is the Liberals are running to be elected government, while the NDP is running from its past record.
He attacked the NDP's plan to allow teachers the right to strike.
The Liberals designated education an essential service and limited the right to strike by teachers.
"The NDP has decided that actually strikes come before students," said Campbell.
The Liberals will ensure education remains an essential service, he said.
Meantime, B.C. New Democrat Leader Carole James wants to roll back the Liberal government's increased park fees.
James vowed that if the NDP elected on May 17 she would reduce camping and hiking fees.
She also promised on Saturday to remove parking metres in provincial parks and lashed out at Campbell's fitness agenda.
"He increased camping, fishing and hunting license fees and he put parking meters in provincial parks. For Mr. Campbell's Liberals, fitness and recreation means paying more and getting less."
James made the comments at a campaign stop in Golden Ears Provincial Park where day use parking fees were introduced by the Liberals in 2003.
An additional $7 million in park, fish and wildlife recreation will also be part of an NDP government policy, said James.
The Liberal party issued a press release shortly after the announcement arguing the NDP wasn't looking at the whole picture when it comes to B.C. parks.
The release said the Liberals will invest $20 million dollars in parks infrastructure over the next three years.
It also said the NDP doubled the number of parks in the 1990s but cut funding to the parks system, leaving it starved of staff and cash.
The Liberals have created 37 new Class-A parks and one new ecological reserve, the party added.
'''May 10, 2005''' 
__NOTOC__

With a less than an impressive outcome from the Leadership Debate, the ruling British Columbia Liberal Party came out with a very aggressive strategy over the weekend, stalking the campaign of rival New Democratic Party of British Columbia (NDP).

In a clear shift of tactics away from promoting their economic record as deserving a second term in office, the Gordon Campbell campaign told voters in Mission that an NDP government would be a return to the days of premier Glen Clark, who led the province during an economic downturn. "Do you really want the old Glen Clark gang back in the cabinet room?" Campbell asked a crowd of supporters.

A radio debate had all three candidates before the voters again, but without the open debate format which seemed to give Campbell difficulty in the televised debate. Working to support Green leader Adrienne Carr's attacks on NDP leader Carole James, Campbell's strategy was likely to split the more liberal voters.

James and the NDP have responded that the Liberals must be feeling nervous, or frustrated, since they've abandoned campaigning on their record in favour of a negative campaign. "I think we've struck a chord. He's trying to fight the 2001 election. I'm making sure that the voters have an opportunity to look at his record."

=== Background ===

The province of British Columbia will hold general elections May 17, 2005.

The ruling Liberal party swept into office in 2001, winning 77 of 79 legislative ridings and forming their first government since 1953. In the process they reduced the former ruling party to 2 seats, primarily on a series of leadership scandals and the FastCat Fiasco.