NDP Leader David Eby released the party’s 2024 campaign platform called An Action Plan for You on Thursday.
Eby says his party is on the side of people who work hard and play by the rules and want to make sure they can get ahead and not just get by.
The platform contains new pledges of a $1,000-per-household grocery rebate and free off-peak transit for seniors, in addition to the previously unveiled middle-class tax cut.
It also states things have changed since the consumer carbon tax was introduced in 2008 and people are struggling with inflation and high interest rates, and if Ottawa removes its national requirement for a consumer carbon tax, the NDP will remove BC’s carbon tax on consumers while making big polluters pay their fair share.
The NPD promises to help people get affordable homes, improve health care by providing a family doctor or nurse practitioner for everyone and building new hospitals, making streets by supporting people who need help, helping prevent addiction with drug prevention education in schools, and giving police the tools they need, and creating good paying, sustainable jobs.
It will take steps to assist small business owners, cut red tape for BC restaurants, wineries, breweries and distilleries by modernizing liquor laws and licensing, and help build communities by investing in tourism, arts and cultural activities.
Other promises include cutting home heating and energy costs, freezing ICBC rates, expanding the public-school meals program, helping seniors live independently by increasing SAFER and the Seniors Supplement, expanding the Better at Home program, and building 5,400 long-term care beds.
On climate change, the NPD will continue to reduce carbon pollution through a cap on harmful emissions from the oil and gas sector, focus on protecting 30 per cent of provincial lands by 2030, preserve more old growth forests, and help communities prepare for climate-caused disasters like wildfires, floods, droughts and storms.
The platform contains $2.9 billion in new investments by 2027, while forecasting a drop in new revenue of $1.5 billion by 2027.
The BC Green Party formally announced its platform on Tuesday in Victoria and the BC Conservative Party plans to release its full 2024 election platform in the coming days.
For details of the BC NDP platform visit their website.
– with files from My Cowichan Valley Now staff
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