B.C. parties lean into ideology as Greens release tax-heavy election platform
British Columbia's three major parties leaned into their ideological divides Tuesday, with the Green Party the first to release a full platform ahead of this month's provincial election.
Green Leader Sonia Furstenau announced the platform in Victoria with a heavy focus on taxing the wealthy in order to support the "well-being" of B.C. residents, ranging from mental health to environment and government accountability.
The 72-page platform includes proposals to double existing property tax rates for homes valued at over $3 million and an 18 per cent proposed tax on corporate profits over $1 billion.
The taxes would "help address housing challenges and fund infrastructure investments," as well as support "climate action and renewable energy investments," respectively, the Greens say.
"I want to be clear: An economy is meant to serve people," Furstenau said. "It's meant to serve our society.
"When our economy is producing the kinds of outcomes we're seeing: A growing gap between rich and poor, a growing number of people who don't have enough to just get by, and a growing number of people who have so much wealth that they're not even sure what to do with it, … we need governments to step in and play the role that they're meant to play."
A key part of the Green platform is the establishment of "well-being frameworks" that measure how B.C. is performing in terms of natural environment, support for residents and accountability for government institutions.
"We need to ensure that governments aren't measuring only GDP, aren't measuring only how much money they're spending, but measure how that money is actually accomplishing the outcomes that government should be striving for," Furstenau said.
The platform also includes a number of investments: $650 million annually in municipal infrastructure to support new housing, $250 million to expand child care, $100 million every year for wildfire prevention and management, and $20 million in annual training in the renewable energy sector.
On the energy front, the B.C. Conservatives announced on Tuesday a plan to make the province self sufficient for electricity, by building any "energy infrastructure needed to meet" the province's demand — which may include nuclear power.
"We want to make sure that we have a lot of conversation about nuclear power in this province," said Conservative Leader John Rustad on a feasibility study on nuclear power promised by his party.
"Can this be done affordably? Can it be done reliably? Can it be done safely? We need to make sure we answer all these questions," Rustad told reporters in Brackendale, B.C.
He also criticized provincial policies by the New Democrat government to put more zero-emission vehicles on the road and push for heat pumps to replace fossil fuel furnaces, calling them "pie-in-the-sky" initiatives that are "pushing B.C.'s energy system to the brink."
"We do not have the electrical generation to be able to do this," he said, promising a Conservative government would reverse course on those mandates if elected.
"We need to make sure that we have the energy that we need, and that we have policies in place that are going to build out that energy to meet our growing demands."
Rustad also said his party will support alternative energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal, but only when the projects "make practical, economic sense."
NDP Leader David Eby was in Castlegar on Tuesday, pledging a re-elected New Democrat government would extend travel assistance to cover the mileage costs with upfront payment and extend employment protections for people with serious illnesses from eight days to 27 weeks.
But the party also took a swipe at Rustad, posting on social media a video from March 2023 of Rustad calling the current narrative on climate an "anti-human agenda."
The video shows a portion of the podcast hosted by former People's Party of Canada candidate Laura-Lynn Tyler Thompson, where Rustad said reducing nitrogen in fertilizer would create a significant global food shortage.
The post came days after Eby sent a letter to Rustad over the weekend, urging the Conservatives to remove several candidates in the election for what he described as public endorsement of "anti-democratic conspiracy theories" relating to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.
All three major party leaders are expected to come face-to-face in events in Vancouver on Wednesday, with a live debate on radio station CKNW, followed by an event hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade.
"Here's what I expect in the debate: I expect that John Rustad's handlers will have beaten him into submission about not talking about his crazy internet conspiracy theories," Eby said during his appearance in Castlegar.
"He only talks about these things when he's in a trusted environment with his pals like Jordan Peterson," Eby added, referring to the Canadian psychologist's podcast where Rustad both broached nuclear power as an option for B.C. and criticized educational materials designed for "indoctrination" of children.
Rustad, in response to the video release, said that his concern is about food security if the use of nitrogen-based fertilizer is reduced.
"Forty-per-cent of the world's food supply comes from using nitrogen-based fertilizer," Rustad said. "And I'm sorry I'm not interested in policies that are going to restrict our food supply and cause grief and potential food shortages for people in this province."
When asked about the back-and-forth between Eby and Rustad, Furstenau said she wanted her party to "lead by example" in getting away from the polarizing politics plaguing other countries and rising in B.C.
She said the Green platform is aimed at presenting a "vision" to take B.C. forward, and urged everyone to "all start voting for what we want" instead of compromising their expectations for an elected government.
"I'm so tired of our expectations being diminished with every election that goes by," Furstenau said. "I want our expectations to go up. We are releasing a platform that says to British Columbia, raise your expectations. Expect better."
— With files from Darryl Greer in Castlegar
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Non-binding Bloc motion seeking money to boost seniors' benefits passes without Liberal support
A non-binding motion from the Bloc Quebecois seeking money to boost seniors' benefits passed with the support of the other opposition parties on Wednesday.
DEVELOPING Israel battles militants on two fronts and reports 8 combat deaths as fears of a wider war mount
Israel's ground incursion into Lebanon to battle Hezbollah militants left eight Israeli soldiers dead Wednesday, while the region braced for further escalation as Israel vowed to retaliate for Iran's ballistic missile attack a day earlier.
'Dream scenario' for Poilievre as Conservatives open up 20-point lead with NDP, Liberals tied
The latest Nanos numbers show Pierre Poilievre and the federal Conservative Party have opened up a significant lead, and Justin Trudeau’s Liberals have fallen back into a statistical tie with the NDP.
Canadian figure skater Sorensen suspended at least 6 years for 'sexual maltreatment'
Canadian figure skater Nikolaj Sorensen has been suspended for at least six years for 'sexual maltreatment,' the Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner announced Wednesday.
Driver spotted going 234 km/h on Hwy. 174 in Ottawa's east end
A 27-year-old man is facing several charges after police observed a vehicle travelling 134 km/h over the speed limit on Highway 174 in Ottawa's east end.
Doctor who helped supply Matthew Perry ketamine pleads guilty to drug charge
A San Diego doctor charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s fatal overdose pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiring to distribute the surgical anesthetic ketamine.
Couple in a severe Uber crash can't sue because of an Uber Eats order
A married New Jersey couple that was in a severe accident during an Uber ride can’t sue the company because they and their daughter agreed to arbitration when they accepted the terms of service for a separate Uber Eats order, a court has ruled.
Ontario man shocked when engine not covered under warranty due to 'over revving'
A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.
Israel has a right to defend itself, but wider war must be avoided: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Iran's missile attack on Israel Wednesday, but said the international community must do everything it can to help avoid a bigger regional war.