A popular search engine has a new tool to help voters make a choice in the B.C. general election on May 12.

Google has launched a Canadian version of the “in quotes” feature that allows people to compare what Premier Gordon Campbell, NDP Leader Carole James and Green party Leader Jane Sterk have said on different issues.

By searching for quotes under the topic of “seniors,” Campbell is quoted saying: “We’ve improved the home care, the seniors’ facilities, so there is 6,500 additional of those — 12,000-plus additional beds.”

James says the Liberal government “turned its back on seniors in British Columbia. It’s an atrocious way to treat people.”

There are no quotes yet by Sterk on seniors in the database.

Quotes are taken from broadcast media, daily and weekly newspapers and wire services. The quote service is experimental at the moment, and as such, isn’t without its bugs.

By searching for quotes under the topic of “Bush,” the database brings up an article in which Campbell comments on the U.S. stance on China’s human rights record in August 2008.

“I’ll let Mr. Bush do what Mr. Bush does,” Premier Gordon Campbell said when asked about the president’s remarks. “Mr. [David] Emerson is here to deal with that on behalf of the Government of Canada.”

But the quote from James is from a June 2007 article on forestry: “In terms of salvage operations … we’re hearing lots of concerns about what's left in the Bush. That’s another piece that has to be examined,” James said.

There were no quotes from Sterk on Bush in the database.

To try it yourself, go to labs.google.com/inquotes/index.html and click on “Canada” in the upper right corner.

Click on the “Quotes by” box to select any of the three B.C. leaders or national leaders, and choose a search term, or create your own