NDP and ME

BC’s average real GDP per capita was 2.4 per cent higher in 2023 than five years earlier, compared with a 0.6 per cent decline in Canada overall. Photo via Wikimedia, Creative Commons licensed (THE TYEE)

It will not surprise readers of this blog to discover that I have begun to comment on the BC Election for which advance polls opened today. With many others, I have been following with nervous anticipation the US Presidential context; it is time however to focus more locally.

In an online conversation a conservative supporter suggested that the NDP “record of accomplishments is poor.” I didn’t have an immediate response, so I reached out to a Kamloops friend, Bill, a brilliant human rights lawyer, himself both a federal and provincial candidate in previous elections, also on the Board of trustees for the University of British Columbia. His response is below:

The BC NDP has taken action despite huge challenges and is making progress. Despite five wildfire emergency summers, heat dome, flooding and a global pandemic; the BC NDP balanced the budget every year, maintained vital services and had the lowest death rate from covid-19, the highest vaccination rate and emerged with the highest job growth in the country.

In the face of global inflation, they eliminated MSP premiums that cost families up to $1800 a year, reduced car insurance by $500, cut child care fees by more than half (to average of $18 from $53 for children under age 6), and increased the BC Family Benefit to help low and middle income families, and increased the minimum wage to $17.40 (it was $10.80 under the BC Liberals that had frozen it for 8 years).

Under the BC Liberals, thousands of health care workers were fired and housing speculation and costs were spiralling. Let’s not forget rampant money-laundering. David Eby created a public inquiry and brought in strict measures.

The NDP is hiring and training more doctors, nurses, and health care workers than ever before: 800 new family doctors in the last year, 6300 nurses and a new medical school at SFU, that John Rustad had voted against.

Tackling housing costs by taking on speculators and breaking down barriers to construction: speculation tax, a new flipping tax, short-term rental restrictions, a plan experts say will create 300,000 new middle class homes. The pro-business Globe & Mail says it is the boldest housing plan in the country and one that other provinces should copy.

NDP is building one of the strongest economies in Canada and working to bring it to everyone: the best GDP three years consecutive in Canada, among the lowest debt to GDP, fastest wage growth, more training seats for good-paying jobs, and lowered taxes for low and middle income from what the BC Liberals had and raised it on the top 2% – that’s fairer taxes than was the case under the BC Liberals and John Rustad.

Tackling the climate crisis – making big polluters pay, capping emissions and growing a clean economy for the long term. John Rustad denies the impacts of climate crisis and science. He has said he would cancel that and double down on fossil fuels.

The NDP also brought back the Human Rights Commission which the BC Liberals had shut down. This is vital to protect the rights and dignity of each and every person at a time of rising polarization hate and racism.

Now is not the time to make cuts. It would hurt people and our economy. Now is the time to time to make vital investments in health, housing, education and training, building schools, hospitals, and roads people need to build a good life. This year the government is going into deficit to make these investments. BC’s population has increased by nearly a million in less than a decade and we’re adding 10,000 people every 37 days.

Our population is aging. By making these investments, actions being taken today, we’re starting to see the results: more good jobs and investment, more wildfire response, and more doctors, nurses and teachers to balance the books. Mr. Rustad has not costed his promises except to say, he will aim to balance the budget 8 years from now, long after the NDP’s plan.

We can’t afford not to build hospitals, schools and homes for people. Under David Eby, BC’s economy is one of the strongest in the country, since 2017, BC has the fastest-growing economy of any major province. And, we’re building three times the homes per-capita than Ontario our largest province.

Mr. Rustad’s and his candidates are engaging in conspiracy theories, racist statements and anti-science stances. It’s a risk we can’t afford.

Thanks Bill; I will add more, but in a separate blog.