Close X
Wednesday, November 27, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. NDP Leader David Eby launches election campaign a day early in key battleground

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Sep, 2024 01:35 PM
  • B.C. NDP Leader David Eby launches election campaign a day early in key battleground

New Democrat Leader David Eby has launched his British Columbia election campaign a day early, making the key battle ground of Surrey his first stop. 

The fixed election date of Oct. 19 means the campaign doesn't officially start until Saturday. 

However, Eby boarded the bus on Friday with his youngest daughter, Gwen, in a baby carrier, accompanied by his wife, Cailey Lynch and their two other children. 

His NDP-orange campaign bus is covered in photos of people, with Eby standing in the centre, along with slogans that say, "action for you," "homes you can afford," and "better health care."

Both B.C. Conservative Leader John Rustad and Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau spoke to municipal leaders at the annual Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention Friday, just as Eby was launching his election campaign.

Rustad told delegates that he would get rid of the carbon tax and the low carbon fuel emissions standard, saying the moves would improve affordability.

"It's making us uncompetitive. It's a huge cost structure, and the Conservative Party of British Columbia is committed to getting rid of those costs and returning that money back to people to be able to deal with the affordability," he said.

His statement comes just a week after David Eby said that if Ottawa dropped the legal requirement for carbon pricing, then his New Democrat government would also drop the tax on consumers.

Furstenau told reporters after her speech that the other party leaders are offering "a lot of fear and a lot of anger and a lot of finger pointing."

She said a minority government would mean "built-in accountability" for the party in power.

"We have a real opportunity in British Columbia in this election to not give any party all of the power, to not have a winner-take-all outcome," she said. "We see when we have majority governments in this province, they do not deliver on what they promise, but they do a whole bunch of things that they didn't promise, and they do it without being able to be held accountable by the legislature or by the people of B.C."

Furstenau said there is a disconnect between what the other provincial leaders are promising on carbon pricing and what municipalities are experiencing.

"We hear from elected representatives about the ongoing and incredibly expensive impacts of climate change-driven events. We cannot at this point backtrack on the idea that carbon pollution doesn't cost us. It costs us enormously." 

Eby spoke to local politicians on Thursday, as they presented a laundry list of concerns for the provincial government at the meeting, from homelessness to the overdose crisis and more funding to support growing pressures on municipalities. 

MORE National ARTICLES

Help needed to solve BC cold case

Help needed to solve BC cold case
Mounties in West Kelowna are appealing to the public for new information that could help solve a double homicide in Peachland 20 years ago. Police say Dean Desimone and an unknown male suspect entered a home and got into a shootout with an occupant, Anthony Gorkoff, in April 2004.

Help needed to solve BC cold case

CBSA seizes drugs at YVR

CBSA seizes drugs at YVR
The Canada Border Services Agency says officers at the Vancouver International Airport seized nearly 25 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in passenger suitcases destined for Sydney, Australia, in two separate incidents last month. The agency says border officers used a detector dog to intercept 10 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in false compartments in two suitcases on July 27th.

CBSA seizes drugs at YVR

Calgarians do better on second day of water rationing as pipe repairs continue

Calgarians do better on second day of water rationing as pipe repairs continue
City officials say Calgarians are getting better at cutting down on their water use, but need to do more to stop the taps from potentially running dry. The city says 497 million litres of water were used on Tuesday.

Calgarians do better on second day of water rationing as pipe repairs continue

Opposition Leader Falcon ends BC United election campaign, backs BC Conservatives

Opposition Leader Falcon ends BC United election campaign, backs BC Conservatives
British Columbia Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon has announced that he is suspending BC United's election campaign and is encouraging supporters to instead back the rival BC Conservative Party.

Opposition Leader Falcon ends BC United election campaign, backs BC Conservatives

B.C. HandyDART workers prepare to strike after rejecting contract offer

B.C. HandyDART workers prepare to strike after rejecting contract offer
The president of the union local for B.C. HandyDART workers says a withdrawal of the transit service is "imminent" as it prepares to serve a 72-hour strike notice. Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1724 president Joe McCann says members voted down a final contract offer by employer Transdev Canada by an "overwhelming" margin.

B.C. HandyDART workers prepare to strike after rejecting contract offer

Daycare in central Alberta closed due to E. coli outbreak

Daycare in central Alberta closed due to E. coli outbreak
A daycare in central Alberta has been temporarily shut due to an E. coli outbreak.  Alberta Health says a child who attended the Aspen Lakes Discovery Centre in Blackfalds tested positive on Friday. 

Daycare in central Alberta closed due to E. coli outbreak