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BC ELECTION: NDP platform would be transformative for our area

For the past four years, working on your behalf as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, I have shown that even in Opposition, I can help get things done for our constituency.
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For the past four years, working on your behalf as MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, I have shown that even in Opposition, I can help get things done for our constituency.

I worked with parents to get funding to replace Bayside Middle School’s leaking roof, with First Nations to protect Grace Islet, and with residents of Reay Creek to ensure federal restoration. I secured funding for the first ever housing needs assessment on the Saanich peninsula, now being used by proponents to secure millions in funding for affordable housing projects here. The Province will contribute $1 million to the pedestrian walkway over the Pat Bay Highway in Sidney, and new paving has been completed on Lochside and West Saanich Roads.

This election is also about replacing an arrogant Christy Clark government that has imposed huge increases in a whole range of regressive taxes while cutting services and violating contracts, a government that cares more about the interests of its corporate and wealthy backers than the public interest.

I look forward to collaborating with our communities to implement a bold, progressive NDP platform that will address affordability, restore services, create good jobs and transform politics for the better.

Imagine the affordable housing that could be built here as part of the BC NDP’s commitment to construct over 40,000 units of affordable housing of all types, in its first term. Or the improvements in public transit, pedestrian and cycling paths, and highway infrastructure that would be funded by reinvestment of the carbon tax and our $10 billion infrastructure program.

We will use government procurement policy to purchase information technology and manufactured goods from businesses based here in BC, build ferries here, and require hospitals to buy local foods.

Our infrastructure program will also help fund community clinics staffed by a range of practitioners, as well as expanded home care and residential care. We will pursue a National Marine Conservation Area, co-managed by First Nations, rather than risky industrial projects such as Kinder Morgan and Steelhead LNG.

Our comprehensive affordability and poverty reduction strategy includes $10-a-day childcare, eliminating MSP premiums, reducing ferry fares and freezing ICBC and Hydro rates, increasing social assistance and disability pensions, and providing an annual renter’s grant.

All of these measures will increase disposable incomes and jobs for all businesses and residents in this constituency. As an economist, I know we will all be better off if we make our province and community a fairer place.

The budget for our platform (see bcndp.ca/platform) is based on the same economic assumptions and contingencies used in the 2017-18 Provincial budget. We will balance our budgets, and our $10 billion infrastructure program will still leave BC with the lowest debt to GDP ratio in Canada. We will make the top 2% of income earners, large corporations and non-BC property owners pay a little more, and reinvest the $500 million so-called LNG Prosperity fund. We will find cost savings auditing BC Ferries, ICBC and BC Hydro, and cut spending on government advertising and communications.

A BC NDP government will transform politics in B.C. by banning big money donations from unions and corporations and bringing in a fairer, proportional representation voting system. The only way all these changes can happen is to elect an NDP government, and that is within reach with your support here in Saanich North and the Islands.

Gary Holman is the NDP candidate in Stanch North and the Islands

(This is the eighth op/ed contributed by a local candidate in the May 9 provincial election. The PNR has offered space to each of the declared candidates.)