Carole James, leader of the BC New Democratic Party, talked about Sustainable BC in a speech on September 13, 2008. Here is what she had to say:

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The NDP's commitment to environmental stewardship goes back decades.

When Gordon Campbell was fighting the Kyoto Accord, New Democrats were leading the way.

And we will continue to break new ground building a sustainable future.

At our last convention, the party adopted Sustainable BC, an exciting new vision to guide our province.

It's our response to the urgent issues of our time - from environmental degradation to the widening income gap between rich and poor, to the future of our planet threatened by global warming.

It's a vision that supports healthy communities and citizens.

That supports a healthy environment and a diversified economy.

Sustainable BC is the result of many years of effort and activism by party members. And I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to bring this vision forward.

But no one person and no one party has all the answers.

New Democrats have always helped bring about progressive change by reaching out and working with British Columbians from all walks of life.

That's one of the principles behind Sustainable BC:

To raise awareness, to educate and to learn from British Columbians.

Today, I'm very pleased to announce the launch of a Sustainable BC interactive web-site.

And I invite all British Columbians to visit buildingsustainablebc.ca to participate in a dialogue about how we bring about serious and lasting change that turns that vision into concrete action.

About how we build a healthy, prosperous and sustainable province for all our citizens, not just a few.

That's been a guiding principle of our party since it's founding - for the many not the few.

New Democrats will always work to live up to the promise of that ideal.

We'll restore quality care for seniors, and establish an independent seniors' advocate.

We'll act when forest communities are in crisis with a plan to save jobs and halts the export of raw logs.

We'll ensure that BC's lowest paid workers get their first raise in seven years.

We'll bring back tough environmental protections and help save our planet with a climate action plan that targets big polluters.

We'll stop the privatization of our rivers and give BC Hydro the mandate to produce new clean energy.

And we will protect the moratorium on off-shore oil and gas.

We'll open up doors to education and build an affordable child care system for all.

And New Democrats will fight everyday to keep health care a public service, for every British Columbian.

Friends, that's the clear difference.

That's the clear choice in the next election.

It's a choice between an arrogant government that's lost touch with the people it serves and an NDP that will stand on the side of ordinary people.

With nine months to go, BC families are counting on us.

And I know that we have the energy the enthusiasm and the organization to get the job done - to stand together and win the next election.