On Sunday, Feb. 17, Joe Trasolini was acclaimed the NDP candidate for Port Moody-Coquitlam for the upcoming provincial election.

I am relieved that we will have an intelligent, hard working MLA to critique the budget introduced by the current government, reveal its serious flaws, and hopefully convince the Liberals to make changes prior to adoption.

I am very concerned that the province intends to sell off assets to balance the budget.

It is short-sighted and will inevitably lead to future deficits and create a drain on our social fabric.

Public facilities and lands are essential for growing communities. We cannot turf them for short term gain, especially when British Columbia continues to grow.

Public land allows us to provide the recreational and social facilities that promote healthy communities.

The current government's approach is similar to the farmer overspending on an unnecessary glass roof for the hay barn and then selling off the back forty to pay off debts, leaving his children without an inheritance to maintain the family farm.

British Columbians should speak out against this faulty method of budget balancing.