How much are Premier Campbell's promises going to cost me? Thousands of homeowners must be asking themselves that question as they learn details of what the Premier asked Lieutenant-Governor Steven Point to read in the 7,400 word Throne Speech. First Nations have suffered enough. Making BC's first aboriginal Lieutenant-Governor read for almost an hour was cruel and unusual punishment, both for him and for his listeners. The government's news release, which summarized the Speech, contained 112 bullets.

One of the promises is that "BC Hydro has been instructed to install Power Smart meters in every home in British Columbia by 2012 that will give families new information and control over their power consumption." Do you think BC Hydro is going to pay for that, or you? How much will it cost for an electrician to rip the old electric meter off your house and install a new one? Of course, the promise is scheduled for implementation by 2012, a year after Gordon Campbell is expected to retire.

Each of the 112 bullets deserves an article, as well as the dozens of issues that didn't make it in the Speech. The Opposition was quick to point out that the Campbell government left forest communities, seniors and the homeless behind. No doubt the Opposition will find plenty of additional material to dig its teeth into over the 46 sitting days that remain in the spring session of the BC Legislature. One interesting item in the Speech said that Legislated targets for greenhouse gas reduction for 2012 and 2016 will be put in place by December 31st. If that promise is kept, it could mean a fall sitting for the Legislature, something most pundits have discounted.

For a flavour of the credibility of Campbell's promises consider what the Speech said about Medicare: "Amendments will define and enshrine those five principles of the Canada Health Act under the Medicare Protection Act. A sixth principle of sustainability will be added to ensure our health care system will be there for our children, our grandchildren and their families." BC's Medicare Protection Act already includes a preamble which includes by reference the five principles of the Canada Health Act. Does Campbell intend to give those terms a different meaning in BC than they have in the Canada Health Act, or is he playing to those who haven't a clue what he's talking about? The third point in the preamble to the Medicare Protection Act states: "the people and government of British Columbia recognize a responsibility for the judicious use of medical services in order to maintain a fiscally sustainable health care system for future generations". What are Campbell's real plans? Time will tell, but time is running out until the May 12th, 2009 election, just 15 months away; many of the promises in the 2008 Speech from the Throne may take decades to fulfill. Cynics will use 2001's broken promise of delivering 5,000 long-term-care beds as a reference point.

The Speech said: "Many members of this legislature will not be alive in 2050. But most have or will have children and grandchildren who will be. It is for them, and all who follow in our footsteps, that today's decision makers must act." It is certainly true that we must reverse climate change for the benefit of those who will be alive in 2050, but some politicians may consider a timeframe like that and think that they can say or do anything because the grim reaper will catch up with them before the voters do.