With any election campaign comes a wave of guarantees.
Global News is taking a look at the most important guarantees from each major political party ahead of the B.C. election on May 9.
FULL COVERAGE: B.C. election 2017
Skip to the guarantees made by the:
The incumbent BC Liberals have promised some recent spending — over and above what has already been outlined within the government’s three-year fiscal plan that was tabled with this yr’s budget.
BC Liberal Party
Listed below are a couple of of the BC Liberals’ campaign guarantees:
May 2, 2017 – Guarantees to level a carbon tax on U.S. thermal coal that’s shipped through B.C.’s ports.
April 24, 2017 – Guarantees to put aside future revenue from legalization of marijuana to pay for programs to assist those hooked on opioids and other drugs.
April 21, 2017 – Leading the province to a softwood agreement with American producers.
April 13, 2017 – Creating jobs in communities like Kitimat, Terrace and Prince Rupert to further expand B.C.’s growing LNG industry. Still have a plan to get more LNG projects approved.
April 12, 2017 – Tax breaks for brand new corporations and more seats in science and technology teaching programs (already announced within the budget).
April 10 , 2017 – Work with the federal government on their recent plan to expand the variety of childcare spaces in British Columbia by increasing investment in childcare by $352.5 million, creating 5,000 recent child care spaces in 2017, with a goal of as much as 13,000 spaces by 2020, investing greater than $90 million towards operating expenses to maintain childcare costs cheaper and investing $120 million every year for the Child Care Subsidy program.
April 10, 2017: Reduce MSP premiums for middle-class residents (a family earning between $45,000 and $120,000 a yr) by 50 per cent in January, which might be step one towards eliminating MSP completely.
WATCH: B.C. election campaign gets nasty:
April 10, 2017 – Invest $2.6 billion in capital spending by post-secondary institutions for brand new buildings and renewal of infrastructure at campuses across B.C.
April 10, 2017 – Investing $217 million for as much as 5,200 recent student seats within the Surrey school districts.
April 10, 2017 – Working with the Coastal First Nations towards the elimination of the grizzly bear hunt within the Great Bear Rainforest, continuing with the science based approach to the bear hunt elsewhere within the province.
April 10, 2017 – Invest $27 million to support an enhanced provincial caribou recovery program to make sure caribou maintain self-sustaining populations.
April 10, 2017 – Proceed to strengthen the mussel defense program to maintain quagga and zebra mussels out of B.C. Also invest $1.8 million for 31 grants to regional invasive species committees, local governments and the Invasive Species Council of British Columbia to assist control the spread of invasive plants.
April 10, 2017 – Invest greater than $70 million per yr in prevention and intervention programs and services that profit victims of domestic violence and other crimes.
April 10, 2017 – Work with police departments to develop a legitimate marijuana screening device to make sure drug impaired drivers are kept off BC roads.
April 10, 2017 – Invest $225 million over three years to cut back surgical wait times for elective surgeries. As well as, increase the B.C. tobacco tax by 10 percent and dedicate all increased revenues to fund cancer research and treatment.
April 10, 2017 – Fund an extra 250 mental health and problematic substance use beds by 2022.
April 10, 2017 – Dedicate $165 million for youth mental health needs and substance abuse issues.
April 10, 2017 – Recent tax credits to assist seniors, including a tax credit for those caring for seniors or members of the family with disabilities, and doubling a tax credit for seniors who renovate their homes. As well as, introduce a Respite Tax Credit of as much as $2,500 for people caring for seniors or members of the family with disabilities.
April 10, 2017 – $10 million to extend the worth of charitable tax credits
April 10, 2017 – $15 million from hunting licence fees will go towards the creation of a recent wildlife society
April 10, 2017 – Constructing an earthquake early warning system for schools, hospitals and emergency command centres and $10 million to extend the worth of charitable tax credits. Also create a $3,000 tax credit for volunteer firefighters and search and rescue staff.
April 9, 2017 – A cap on bridge tolls and a recent tax break for people living in ferry-dependent communities.
Feb. 14, 2017 – 4 consecutive balanced budgets to eliminate the province’s operating debt by 2021.
Feb. 14, 2017 – A four-year freeze on personal income taxes, and no change to the carbon tax until 2021.
BC NDP
To view their full platform, go here.
April 25, 2017 – Promising to construct a recent hospital in Burnaby, B.C. with a price tag within the range of $1.2 billion. Horgan said the cash would come from a five-year, $10 billion capital investment plan that is an element of the party’s platform. The brand new hospital would come with a family urgent care centre, which Horgan said would scale back pressure on the hospital’s emergency room.
April 25, 2017 – John Horgan guarantees to go to Washington State throughout the first 30 days of being elected to fight for B.C.’s interests within the U.S.
April 17, 2017: BC NDP leader John Horgan is promising to enhance mental health and addictions services by making a Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions; implementing an “ask once, get help fast” approach, re-opening facilities at Riverview; supporting students in the varsity system and taking motion to deal with the overdose crisis.
April 17, 2017: Guarantees to construct urgent care centres; which might have more services than a walk-in clinic but not at the extent of a hospital. Horgan didn’t outline a selected number but as a substitute said they’d start with a “handful” and go from there.
April 16, 2017: The party would eliminate bridge tolls on the Port Man and Golden Ears bridges completely.
April 13, 2017: Increase welfare rates by $100/month.
April 13, 2017: Increase income exemption by $200/month.
April 13, 2017: Will provide no-interest loans for post-secondary students and every will get a $1,000 grant for graduating.
WATCH: The B.C. NDP unveils its platform on Day 3 of Decision BC
April 13, 2017: Restore a tax bracket for incomes over $150,000, which was brought in temporarily in 2014 and 2015 by the Liberal government but was eliminated for 2016.
April 13, 2017: Increase the final corporate income tax by a percentage point from 11 to 12 per cent.
April 13, 2017: Add a recent tax on real estate speculation, which could be a two per cent tax on the worth of homes owned by individuals who don’t otherwise pay taxes in B.C.
April 13, 2017: Will construct 114,000 recent rental and co-op homes across the province and create 96,000 jobs.
April 13, 2017: Reduce the small business tax rate to 2 per cent, down from 2.5 per cent.
April 13, 2017: Bring back the seniors’ BC Ferries discount on weekdays.
April 13, 2017: Provide recent funding for classroom supplies and equipment in elementary and high schools.
April 13, 2017: The NDP government will spend $7-billion on capital projects over five years; which could be added to the provincial debt.
April 12, 2017: Introduce a $400 annual rebate for renters and make other changes to the Residential Tenancy Act, including accessibility and ‘renovictions’. The $400 grant could be per unit and all renters in B.C. could be eligible, no matter income.
March 15, 2017: The minimum wage might be raised to $15 per hour.
Feb. 3, 2017: Rebate cheques to offset increases in the price of the province’s carbon tax. Rebates would start in lower than three years to minimize the impact of increases within the carbon tax from $30 per tonne to $50 a tonne. Horgan is pledging to concentrate on things like transit, tougher regulations, solar panels, energy-friendly buildings and more.
Nov. 24, 2016: Ban the contentious practice of grizzly bear trophy hunting in B.C. Horgan said the hunt doesn’t make economical or environmental sense.
Sept. 15, 2016: Get Metro Vancouver commuters moving again by increasing the provincial share of funding for public transportation improvements to 40 per cent and creating 1000’s of jobs over the following decade.
BC Green Party
April 24, 2017: Bring deficits within the second and third years of a four-year mandate with a $216-million surplus in the ultimate fiscal yr. Overhaul provincial taxes, which incorporates upping the company tax rate to 12 per cent. Make the tax system more progressive by raising rates on those that earn greater than about $108,000 a yr and rolling medical services premiums into payroll and income taxes.
April 20, 2017: Provide an extra $25 million per yr of funding for public transit. Invest an extra $152 million in capital expenditures. Develop a recent 10-year, integrated transportation plan focused on inexpensive, clean transportation. Bring B.C. Ferries back into government as a crown corporation and conduct a full review of B.C. Ferries operations.
April 19, 2017: Work with industrial sectors affected by climate change to assist them preserve their long-term economic and environmental sustainability, and promote best practices; in addition to develop a list of old-growth forests to find out reserves and protect them.
April 18, 2017: Establish a ministry answerable for mental health and addictions. Allocate $80 million to fund early intervention, youth mental health initiatives, supervised injection sites and community based centres for mental health and rehabilitation. Invest $35 million over 4 years in home care to enable seniors and other individuals who need assistance to remain in their very own homes. Invest an extra $100 million over for years to reinforce child protection services.
April 17, 2017: Establish a public watchdog to oversee government promoting and communications, block cabinet ministers from engaging in partisan fundraising, ban corporate, union and out-of-province donations and place limits on individual contributions that will be in step with current federal limits. The Greens banned big money in September.
WATCH: B.C. Green Party campaigns on Vancouver Island:
April 12, 2017: Increase disability rates by 10 per cent effective Oct. 1, 2017, rising to 50 per cent above the present level on April 1, 2020. Introduce a basic income support for youth aged 18 to 24, who’re transitioning out of foster care, at an estimated cost of $60 million per yr. Strike an independent “fair-wages commission” that might be tasked with establishing a recent minimum wage and overseeing regular rate reviews. Roll Medical Service Plan (MSP) premiums into the payroll tax and private income tax to make sure that they’re administered in a more equitable and progressive manner.
April 11, 2017: Double the foreign buyers’ tax (to 30 per cent) and expand it across B.C. Invest as much as $750 million to construct 4,000 recent units of inexpensive housing per yr. Enhance the provisions of the Residential Tenancy Act to regulate rent increases and to guard tenants from tenure termination that can lead to the lack of inexpensive accommodation.
April 5, 2017: Provide free daycare for working parents with children under three.
March 30, 2017: Progressively increase the carbon tax by $10 per yr for 4 years starting January 2018 (up from $30 per yr at once). An investment of $29 million over 4 years to reinforce the scientific understanding of the consequences of climate change on B.C. Introduce recent laws to reinforce the protection of agricultural land, and to extend the proportion of ALR land in use for agricultural purposes.
March 29, 2017: Invest $30 million to reinforce the long run viability of the agricultural sector.
March 22, 2017: Invest $120 million over 4 years in partnerships with the industry, academic institutions and government to support research, development and commercialization of climate friendly technologies and arrange an emerging economy task force to deal with the changing nature of business over the following 10 to 25 years.
