B.C. Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson, NDP leader David Eby and CenterBC leader Elenore Sturko made campaign announcements on health care, seniors and manufacturing as the election enters its final weeks.
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Ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, B.C. political leaders continued their campaign messaging as the time to get their platforms out winds down.
Conservative leader Lorne Doerkson made his pitch to the province’s seniors, saying the NDP has “taxed more on less” and left people “nowhere to go when they need care.” He said the Conservatives are promising a series of measures that include reversing the NDP’s changes to the property-tax deferment program, building more long-term-care beds, and supporting aging at home.
NDP leader David Eby was in Surrey for a health care-focused announcement, saying it involves “getting you faster access to the care that you and your family need.” If re-elected, Eby said his government would open 20 new primary care clinics, fast-track international medical graduates living in B.C., and open training spaces for 1,000 more health-care workers.
CenterBC leader Elenore Sturko held her first rally of the campaign on Friday, saying the party would boost manufacturing funding. She pointed to B.C.’s existing fund for manufacturers and said CenterBC would double the Manufacturing Jobs Fund and CenterBC commitment to $60 million a year.
The Green Party also announced campaign plans that include free transit passes for youth under 25 and seniors over 65, along with a plan to develop passenger rail and expand ferry services. Green Party leader Emily Lowan said B.C. has “rail corridors” and “the capacity to run more ferries,” but that “due to consistent delays and unsustainable funding, these essential services have been neglected.”
In the home stretch after the long weekend, the leaders’ campaign activity includes an election debate scheduled for Wednesday in a close race, with the campaign framed by some commentators as potentially intensifying toward the finish.
The NDP have continued to cast doubt on Doerkson’s credibility, including plans to reform ICBC, according to campaign commentary cited during the report.
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