BC Liberal candidate Ellis Ross recently dressed down a Surrey voter for “thinking about yourself” for voting for Premier John Horgan for promising to get rid of tolls, says the NDP.
At a virtual town hall held just 12 days ago, Ross said: “Why did you vote NDP? ‘Well, because I cross that bridge two times a day.’ Man, that is so shortsighted. That is not thinking about BC. That’s not thinking about your kids’ future, your grandkids’ future. That’s thinking about yourself.” (Video)
In 2017, John Horgan made good on his promise to eliminate tolls on the Port Mann and Golden Ears Bridges, saving daily commuters up to $1,500 per year.
The BC Liberals also nominated pro-toll candidate George Affleck in Vancouver-Fairview today. In 2019, Affleck criticized government’s increased tax revenue (mostly from increasing taxes on the richest British Columbians) and noted that the money went “To cover the cancellation of tolls for one. Ugh.”
In 2017, Port-Moody Coquitlam candidate James Robertson called the elimination of tolls “a gong show.”
Garry Begg, BC NDP candidate for Surrey-Guildford, said on Tuesday: “Under Andrew Wilkinson, the BC Liberals still don’t understand the challenges people face. $1,500 a year might not mean much to the BC Liberals, but it has made a real difference for people. Now, Andrew Wilkinson wants to give tax breaks to the wealthiest British Columbians while making British Columbians pay more again. We can’t afford that.”
Transcript of Ross’ comments: “I had a band member who was on my council the last couple of years before we approved LNG. And he lived in Surrey. He knew the value of LNG not only to my band, but he knew the value of LNG to B.C. And Canada. The biggest project ever to come along from the private sector. He voted NDP. And I couldn’t believe it. So, I went through the timeline and told him all the benefits that has come to Kitimat, to Terrace, to B.C. Why did you vote NDP? ‘Well, because I cross that bridge two times a day.’ Man, that is so short sighted. That is not thinking about B.C. That’s not thinking about your kids’ future, your grandkids future. That’s thinking about yourself.”
