Tomorrow we vote and we decide who is the right fit to run our Province. We have many issues to contend with while the pandemic is in the foreground our province still has a laundry list of things that need to be fixed. Each party has made campaign promises to make a feel warm and fuzzy on the inside so we will cast a vote for them but how many of those promises have reality tied to them. The Liberal promised and 10 lane bridge like the Port Mann Bridge to replace the Massey Tunnel. The NDP stating that they can bring more jobs to BC with LNG. The Greens state they are going to revamp Mental Healthcare and make an improvement to how human rights are handled. Can these changes in policy be done in just four years, or are these just empty promises and bandaids to inspire us to vote for their party?
Let’s start with the Liberals with their two biggest promises replacing the Massey Tunnel with a bridge. This sounds good, and the Massey Tunnel is truly a mess during rush hour in fact they have nicknamed the tunnel the “Messy” Tunnel. Yes, traffic Infrastructure needs to be upgraded but should it be upgraded at the cost wildlife. The entire highway probably needs to widen, and that could mean that the eagles that live near the road could be disturbed. The people and farm would have to give up land for this same upgrade to Highway 99. A ten-lane bridge is not going to do any good without widening the road. There is still massive planning and discussion to be done before slapping a ten-lane bridge up to replace a tunnel. Looks like an empty promise. The issue of reducing taxes, especially the Spectator Tax on Real Estate and the stoppage of the PST. These two taxes are examples of helping large corporations find larger gains and being able to pocket more money so they can carry out of the province to other foreign countries. The Spectator Tax has actually helped slow the rise of already very expensive and unaffordable rents. Look at your last grocery receipt and think about how much money the temporary elimination Provincial Sale Tax. Halting this tax does nothing more than cause 10 billion dollar debt and shut down need programs. Programs that actually help the average person live. Take a look at the BC Budget to understand what kind of harm halting PST would have.
The NDP or current government in 2017 made promises to stop Site C and end the fracking operation in Kitimat BC. The current government stated in 2017 what a waste of money LNG was but in this campaign, they do a complete 180 and talk about how many jobs it is causing and much is the sale of LNG to China really is. In 3 years the environmental impact of fracking has not changed, there is still only one customer for the project, China. The entire situation has not changed except for the government. The NDP is now at the helm of the same project that they promised to end because they were not serving British Columbia. Empty campaign promises. The NDP did help the housing market with the new Real Estate Tax that took a bite out of owning a second property or a home that you are not living in. The same tax that the Liberals want to take away. The NDP failed to stop the TMX pipeline, in reality, all they managed to do was pass the buck and blame to the Federal Government (we can talk about that when the Federal Liberals seek re-election). The fact remains that they made promises in exchanges for votes that they might not intend to keep to unions, Indigenous People who have land rights and to the rest of us simple residents of BC.
The Greens have a plan to help the average or real residents of British Columbia. We can say we know what they stand for because of what they are asking for. They also have a list of campaign promises to help make us hope and dream about a better future. That future is one for our Grandchildren to better that we are now. They want to improve policy to help mental health and seniors the people we love and care who might have trouble caring for themselves. They want to help small business thrive and for employees to have a happier and short work week. They claim to want to include everyone and not increase the number exclusions. How will they perform when elected to office. Can they keep the promises made to increase clean jobs and electric transportation? Now is the time for a government that walks the talk and does what they say with transparency. Look at the platform and decide who to vote for.
Vote October 24 to find out where please got to https://elections.bc.ca/
