DAVID Eby on Sunday urged progressive voters to stand together in this election – saying too much is at stake to risk a Conservative government that would cut services, threaten public health care, and set B.C. back.
Eby said the BC NDP shares many values with Green voters, but the choice in the election is between two people who can become premier – and whoever gets that job will choose the cabinet that makes decisions impacting every British Columbian.
“If you voted Green in the past, I’m inviting you to join us in this election. There is too much at stake. I don’t want any British Columbian to wake up on October 25 and wonder how someone who wants to cut and privatize health care and shares bizarre anti-vaccine views with RFK Jr. could become our next health minister,” said Eby.
“I called this election because I believe at this existential moment we need a government with a mandate to take big swings. To strengthen public health care, take on powerful interests to protect you from rising costs, and build an economy that’s less reliant on the United States. We can stop Conservative cuts and build B.C. strong – but only if we stand together.”
Eby says his plan includes taking on big oil and grocery giants to protect families from rising costs and asking the wealthiest British Columbians to chip in a bit more to strengthen health care.
The BC NDP says that the BC Conservative health critic, Anna Kindy, supports two-tier healthcare, saying, “They pay from their own pockets… that’s great, right?” She has also received disciplinary letters from the College of Physicians and Surgeons for claiming that COVID vaccines are “leaky” and that it’s better to get sick than get vaccinated. Lorne Doerkson has refused to rule out Kindy as health minister, if elected premier.
The BC NDP pointed out the kinds of people who could sit around the cabinet table if Doerkson were premier:
- Threatening health care: Tony Luck said health care will “take the brunt” of their cuts. Mark Macdonald thinks Privatization is “the only solution” to B.C.’s health care challenges.
- Rolling over for Trump: Heather Maahs said “Eby needs to comply,” after Trump announced his tariffs. Ward Stamer told the Trump administration Conservatives would put American booze back on B.C. shelves. David Williams promoted a map of western Canada as a protectorate of the United States.
- Conspiracy theorists: Bryan Tepper has promoted far-right Trump conspiracies, including about the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Sharon Hartwell called anti-vaccine Freedom Convoy organizer Tamara Lich an “inspiration,” twice. Anna Kindy donated to the anti-vaccine Freedom Convoy.
- Climate change deniers: Dave Johnston has posted or amplified climate change conspiracies at least a dozen times online. Johnston joins other climate change deniers and skeptics on the Conservative team, including Sheldon Clare, who said “I’m just not seeing it. I’m seeing cold weather,” and Bruce Banman, who “needs more information.”
- The BC NDP said its following actions would be placed at risk:
- Achieving “30 by 30” nature protection
- Climate action including slashing harmful methane emissions
- Safeguarding water and electricity from AI data centres
- Expanding the Youth Climate Corps.
- Installing more heat pumps in homes.
- Reducing Hydro bills with balcony solar.
- Building out the EV charging network.
Photo: BC Green Party
HOWEVER, BC Green Leader Emily Lowan slammed Eby, saying: “David Eby called this snap election two years early. Now he’s trying to scare British Columbians into voting for him.”
She added: “He says the differences between us are small. Tell that to the families waiting on the $10-a-day child care he froze, the seniors waiting on the seven long-term care homes he delayed, and the renters still waiting for housing they can actually afford. Tell it to the nurses I stood with on the picket line this summer, to the First Nations who watched him try to suspend parts of DRIPA, and to everyone still waiting for the climate action he ran away from.
“That’s why longtime New Democrats like Svend Robinson and Harold Steves are standing with BC Greens, and why more join us every day. They’re welcome in a party that truly stands up for working people.
“Premier Eby says he hasn’t been perfect. British Columbians aren’t asking for perfect. They’re asking for a government that keeps its word, makes life affordable, and makes sure care is there when they need it. Last night, Vancouver showed that people are ready for Green leadership. British Columbians can send that same Green message across the province on election day.”
