The Discourse asked readers what issues are important to them in the provincial election ending on Oct. 19 and affordability ranked third with 64 per cent of respondents in Nanaimo identifying it as a priority.
What are the parties saying?
The Conservative Party of BC’s platform promises to scrap the carbon tax, implement a tax rebate for rent and mortgage interest and strata cots, fund new infrastructure for housing projects and cancel the PST on used cars. It also makes promises for an “economic boom” after cutting “NDP red tape.”
The BC Greens platform does not have a section for affordability but its section on poverty promise to raise social assistance and disability assistance rates to $2,400 a month for someone who is single, $2,900 for a single parent and child or up to $3,450 for a person with a spouse (with a child or without one). The Greens also promise to increase and safeguard affordable housing.
The BC NDP platform promises a middle-class tax cut of $1,000 for 90 per cent of families as a tax rebate. It promises affordable before-and-after school care for children up to 12 years of age, building new childcare spaces, freezing ICBC premiums, free transit for seniors, an energy rebate program and expanding the school meals program. It promises to support people with disabilities by increasing Community Living BC home share rates, ensuring people keep all of the new Canada Disability Benefit, and “adjusting the spousal rule to help lift more people out of poverty.”
Editor’s note Oct. 17, 2024 This story has been updated with answers from Conservative candidates Dale Parker (Nanaimo-Gabriola Island) and Gwen O’Mahony (Nanaimo-Lantzville). Some of the answers for the NDP candidates are nearly identical, that is how they were submitted and is not an error. All answers have been lightly edited for style and length for fairness, as candidates were given 100-word limits for their responses.
Q. What can the BC government do to make food more affordable?
Nanaimo-Gabriola Island candidates’ answers
Shirley Lambrecht, BC Green Party, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
We will invest in local non-industrial farms to supply healthy, nutritious food. Currently, land affordability is a barrier to farmers desiring to enter the agriculture sector while many farmers are aging out of farming and their fields lie fallow. We will support initiatives such as land matching, agricultural education and business incubation programs to support a new generation of farmers. We will work with hydrologists to manage local water resources to ensure farmers are able to water their crops without prohibitive costs associated with water usage. We will ensure Agricultural Land Reserve lands are producing food as intended.
Sheila Malcolmson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
Everyone wants B.C. to be a place where people can get ahead and feel secure. Where your paycheck helps you save a little each month. Where everyone can afford a good home.
Global inflation and high interest rates are hiking costs, and bad actors are taking advantage of the market. We are saving families money on groceries by expanding the public school meals program and proving relief of up to $1,000 a year for the most families. And we are committed to strengthening consumer protection for people in B.C.
Dale Parker, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
Removing the carbon tax will help with food costs since it is added to our prices. The Conservative Party will unlock BC’s agricultural potential, support our farmers, and ensure British Columbians can access affordable, locally-produced food. We will get BC growing again by investing in our farmers, expanding access to local markets and cutting the unnecessary red tape that is holding them back.
Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates’ answers
George Anderson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Lantzville
We know times are challenging right now. Too many people are living paycheck to paycheck. That’s why the BC NDP invested in food security initiatives throughout BC, expanding local food programs in schools, and our Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program to ensure lower-income people and families have access to fresh and nutritious food from local farmers’ markets. Here in Nanaimo, we invested $7 million to support the work of Loaves and Fishes to provide more reliable access to food, while dramatically reducing food waste in the region. We will continue to work with community partners to build and strengthen food security.
Gwen O’Mahony, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Lantzville
Axing the tax is the most effective action we can take to reduce food costs. When the carbon tax is gone, fuel costs will be greatly reduced for starters. But doubling food production in the province is a far-sighted action that will reduce the cost of food and also make the province more food independent.
Lia Versaevel, BC Greens, Nanaimo-Lantzville
By encouraging local food producers, and working with cities and municipalities to change zoning laws, more people would be able to grow their own food, keep poultry and improve rainwater and greywater harvesting to grow vegetables at home. Encouraging food co-operatives, organizations that are gleaning harvests and teaching food preservation techniques will help all communities, particularly marginalized persons, including elders and those on subsistence living conditions.
Q. Will you raise the support rates for persons with disabilities and income assistance immediately and significantly? If not, why? If yes, when?
Nanaimo-Gabriola Island candidates’ answers
Shirley Lambrecht, BC Green Party, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
As BC Greens, we are committed to immediately virtually doubling social assistance and PWD payments to provide a guaranteed livable income. Guaranteed livable income pilot projects, such as the one undertaken in Dauphin, Man., provide evidence that individuals on these programs are careful with their money and plan how they will spend it. By providing a guaranteed liveable income, recipients are able to live with dignity and have greater autonomy while contributing to the local economy. This income continues to cycle through the economy. Evidence provided by these pilot projects dispel many of the myths perpetuated by critics.
Sheila Malcolmson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
Rising costs and global inflation have been especially hard on people who were already struggling. We’re taking new action by giving $500 in immediate support per adult in 2025, up to $1,000 per household. We’ll also continue to ensure that people can keep their entire Canadian Disability Benefit without clawbacks, and we’re adjusting the spousal income cap so families can keep more money in their pockets. Rustad’s government froze income and disability assistance and gutted programming the last time he was in government. He did it once, and he’ll do it again.
Dale Parker, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
Yes, costs have risen across the board, and support rates for persons with disabilities and income assistance have not been increased to reflect that. People are struggling. This should be done immediately.
Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates’ answers
George Anderson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Lantzville
People living with fixed incomes face immense challenges. Rising costs and global inflation have been especially hard on people who were already struggling. We’re taking new action by giving $500 in immediate support per adult in 2025, up to $1,000 per household. We’ll also continue to ensure that people can keep their entire Canadian Disability Benefit without clawbacks and we’re adjusting the spousal income cap so families can keep more money in their pockets. Rustad’s government froze income and disability assistance and gutted programming the last time he was in government. He did it once, and he’ll do it again.
Gwen O’Mahony, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Lantzville
O’Mahony did not respond to this question.
Lia Versaevel, BC Greens, Nanaimo-Lantzville
Yes, an immediate increase needs to be given to people receiving income assistance as well as those on PWD rates. Life is unaffordable even for people with minimum wage employment, and is exponentially more unaffordable for people on IA or PWD
Q. How will you improve affordability for the middle class?
Nanaimo-Gabriola Island candidates’ answers
Shirley Lambrecht, BC Green Party, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
We will provide financial incentives to purchase electric vehicles, heat pumps and energy retrofits which all have the added benefit of stimulating the local economy. We will attract local investment in next-generation renewable energy industry and offer educational supports such as bursaries to those seeking higher education in fields in demand such as health care and construction trades.
By tackling the climate crisis directly, we will mitigate many of the perils that are driving costs up such as insurance, food and the tax burden created by disaster relief such as rehoming, wildfire suppression, emergency response due to drought, flooding and mudslides.
Sheila Malcolmson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
Too many people are living paycheck to paycheck. It’s tough to get ahead. Our housing Action Plan will create 300,000 additional middle-class homes. We are bringing in a new flipping tax so families trying to buy a home don’t have to compete with house flippers, and [are] restricting short-term rentals like AirBnBs, turning thousands of units into long-term homes.
If re-elected, the BC NDP will deliver a $1,000 tax cut for the average family – every year. This builds other measures like cutting ICBC rates by $500 a year, eliminating MSP premiums, and cutting childcare costs in half, saving families up to $900/month per child.
Dale Parker, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Gabriola Island
By eliminating the carbon tax, the PST and other taxes, we will drive down many costs for British Columbians. The Rustad Rebate allows renters and homeowners to exempt up to $3,000 per month of their rent or mortgage interest costs from provincial income taxes. The program is set to start with a $1,500 per month exemption in 2026 and gradually increase to the total amount.
Nanaimo-Lantzville candidates’ answers
George Anderson, BC NDP, Nanaimo-Lantzville
B.C. is a great place to live, but it is becoming increasingly expensive. That’s why we’ve reduced ICBC rates by $500 a year before freezing them, eliminated MSP premiums, cut childcare costs in half to save families up to $900 per month per child and are introducing a $1,000 middle-class income tax cut to put more money back in your pocket. Rustad’s history of doubling premiums and hiking rates means that people would struggle even more financially, and instead, the BC NDP [will] find ways to keep supporting the middle class, not destroying it.
Gwen O’Mahony, Conservative Party of BC, Nanaimo-Lantzville
From axing the carbon tax to doubling the input of domestic food, to the Rustad Rebate on rental and mortgage expenditures, the CPBC is committed to affordability for BC people. But it’s clear that axing the carbon tax will greatly reduce financial stress on BC households.
Lia Versaevel, BC Greens, Nanaimo-Lantzville
Educating people about the benefits of more sustainable lifestyles will help curb the frenzied consumption ideals many have acquired. Liveable, walkable communities will rely less on long-distance commutes, time away from home and family and the reliance on vehicles.
