Close X
Friday, November 22, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. election campaign starts Saturday; but Eby takes bus on test run, Rustad at UBCM

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Sep, 2024 09:53 AM
  • B.C. election campaign starts Saturday; but Eby takes bus on test run, Rustad at UBCM

A day before the official start, British Columbia's election campaign sees B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau speaking to municipal leaders, while NDP Leader David Eby is gearing up to get his campaign bus rolling.

Eby spoke to local politicians yesterday at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention, as they presented a laundry list of concerns for the provincial government at the meeting, from homelessness to the overdose crisis and more support funding.

Eby's speech to the municipal leaders focused on his recent announcement to implement plans to introduce involuntary care of people struggling with mental health and addiction issues.

He says several city governments have already indicated they are on board with having a "secure site" to house and treat severely mentally ill and drug addicted people.

The decriminalization of possession of small quantities of hard drugs and open drug use in public areas is expected to be a major issue in the Oct. 19 election, which officially starts Saturday.

Rustad, who has been highly critical of safe supply and decriminalization initiatives, says he supports involuntary care, including for children.

Of the three party leaders, only Furstenau has run in a provincial election for the premier's job.

Eby took over the job from former premier John Horgan almost two years ago, while Rustad was acclaimed as the leader of the B.C. Conservatives last year.

 

MORE National ARTICLES

NDP caving to Poilievre on carbon price, has no idea how to fight climate change: PM

NDP caving to Poilievre on carbon price, has no idea how to fight climate change: PM
The NDP is caving to political pressure from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre when it comes to its stance on the consumer carbon price, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. Speaking to reporters in Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., Trudeau blasted the NDP on its equivocation on the consumer carbon price while responding to a question about the upcoming byelection in Montreal.

NDP caving to Poilievre on carbon price, has no idea how to fight climate change: PM

B.C. accepts change for psychiatric care after alleged attack by mentally ill man

B.C. accepts change for psychiatric care after alleged attack by mentally ill man
The report, authored by former Abbotsford Police chief Bob Rich, says the suspect in the stabbing, Blair Donnelly, was on his 100th unescorted leave from the BC Forensic Psychiatric Hospital on Sept. 10, 2023, when he allegedly stabbed three festivalgoers at the Light Up Chinatown Festival. 

B.C. accepts change for psychiatric care after alleged attack by mentally ill man

CSC staff member assaulted in a prison

CSC staff member assaulted in a prison
Correctional Service Canada says a member of the staff was assaulted at the Kent Maximum Security Institution. The federal agency says the staff member was taken to an outside hospital to be treated and evaluated.

CSC staff member assaulted in a prison

BC 1st province to sign Pharmacare agreement

BC 1st province to sign Pharmacare agreement
British Columbia is becoming the first province in Canada to sign a pharmacare agreement with the federal government. The agreement means B-C is the first province to have the federal government help fund hormone replacement therapy and diabetes expenses.

BC 1st province to sign Pharmacare agreement

Pedestrian struck on Highway 97

Pedestrian struck on Highway 97
Kelowna R-C-M-P say it is investigating the death of a pedestrian along Highway 97. Emergency health services were called to a pedestrian who was struck by a vehicle along the highway and Burtch Road.

Pedestrian struck on Highway 97

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby
British Columbia Premier David Eby says his government would end the carbon tax on consumers if the federal government removed the legal requirement. Eby says B.C. residents are struggling with affordability, but the government would still ensure that big polluters pay a price for carbon to take action on climate change. 

B.C. to scrap carbon tax if federal government drops requirement: Eby