TERESA Wat, MLA for Richmond North Centre, on Tuesday announced she is seeking re-election as a candidate for Richmond Bridgeport under the BC Conservative Party.
“This was not an easy decision, but one that I have been contemplating for many months,” said Wat. “After countless conversations with the constituents in my riding of Richmond North Centre, it became clear that the number one priority I hear all day, every day, is that the BC NDP must be defeated in the next election. The cost of having the NDP in government, to our economy and to our society, is too high. It has also become clear that the best party to defeat the NDP is the BC Conservative Party.”
She added: “I believe that a free enterprise coalition is what British Columbia needs to undo the harmful policies of the BC NDP. I believe that the BC Conservative Party under leader John Rustad is that party that will deliver common sense change and the way forward for British Columbia.”
Rustad said: “Teresa Wat is a dedicated and hardworking representative who has consistently put the needs of her constituents first. Her decision to join the BC Conservative Party is a testament to our shared vision for a prosperous and thriving British Columbia. Teresa’s experience and commitment to free enterprise principles will be invaluable as we work together to defeat the BC NDP and implement policies that support economic growth and individual freedoms. We are thrilled to have her on board and look forward to her contributions to our team.”
THE NDP slammed Wat, noting that that she was joining her longtime BC Liberal colleague Rustad in his BC Conservative Party. “It’s never been more clear that the BC Conservative record is the BC Liberal record,” the NDP noted.
It said that whatever name Rustad and Wat go by today, they’re the same people who:
- Cut healthcare
- Hiked costs like MSP fees, car insurance, and bridge tolls
- Let speculators run our housing market and let housing costs soar
The NDP alleged that Rustad’s agenda today is more of the same – planning even deeper cuts and higher costs than before:
- He wants to slash $4.1 billion/year from healthcare – a cut that will mean firing doctors and nurses, longer wait times for care, and risking new projects like the Richmond Hospital Tower.
- He says he’ll cancel Premier David Eby’s changes to ICBC – making people pay $500 more for car insurance.
- He opposes every step Eby has taken to tackle the housing crisis. He’ll end all of BC’s measures to get more housing built – that would make a lot of money for speculators but drive up costs for everyone else.
Linda Li, the NDP candidate for Richmond-Bridgeport, said: “Teresa Wat is going to have to explain to people in Richmond why she’s joining a party that is promising a $4.1 billion cut to healthcare. We’re taking action to make healthcare more available – building a new hospital tower and opening a new medical school to train more doctors. Rustad’s plan puts all that at risk of being cut. We can’t afford that.”
