New Democratic
On September 20, one day before the writ was dropped, the BC New Democratic Party unveiled their campaign bus in Surrey, which is home to some anticipated key ridings, marking the start of their campaign. [108]
On September 23, the BC NDP released a video of Rustad saying he regrets receiving the "so-called [COVID-19] vaccine", as well as claiming the vaccine mandates were about population control. [109] BC NDP leader David Eby criticized these statements, asserting that such beliefs are based on internet conspiracies and that Rustad could not be trusted on health policy. [109]
On September 25, Eby promised his party would provide 25,000 new homes while financing 40% of the purchase price for first-time home buyers, at an annual cost of $1.29 billion. [110] On September 27, he stated that the government would continue its focus on the use of prefabricated homes as a strategy to ease the housing crisis, with the government pre-approving designs for permits and developing skills training programs in consultation with the industry. [111]
Following the Conservative Party's tax rebate proposal, the New Democrats announced their tax relief plan on September 29. Eby announced that $10,000 of individual income will be exempted from annual tax, adding that 90% of taxpayers would save $1,000 per year. [112] [113]
On October 1, Bowinn Ma, NDP candidate in North Vancouver-Lonsdale, announced the party would connect West Vancouver and Metrotown, Burnaby with a Bus Rapid Transit line, which will be entirely separated from traffic. In short term, they would also guarantee the existing R2 RapidBus would be extended from Phibbs Exchange to Metrotown. [114]
On October 4, the NDP filed a petition with the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking to compel Elections BC to change the name of the Conservative Party on ballot papers from "Conservative Party" to "B.C. Conservative Party", on the grounds that Rustad was "pretending to be part of the federal Conservative Party". A court ruling in favour of the NDP would require all ballot papers to be reprinted. [115]
Conservative
On September 21, John Rustad chose to kick off the campaign in CRAB Park, a homeless encampment near Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. [116] In his speech, he emphasized the severity of the addiction issue, as well as the importance of removing the carbon tax and investing in healthcare. [116]
On September 22, Rustad announced that he would close all safe injection sites in the province, and replace them with mental health and addictions treatment centres. [117] [118] He referred to the sites as "drug dens", and pledged to end the decriminalization and safe supply policy introduced by the NDP government. [117] In response, NDP leader David Eby and Green leader Sonia Furstenau both condemned the platform, pointing out the closure of safe injection sites would push the drug addicts back on streets. [118] The following day, Elenore Sturko clarified that the party did not plan to immediately close all of the safe injection sites at once as implicated by Rustad, but transition them to treatment centres gradually. Sturko stated that "this is about transitioning people, not medicating them", and that "we need to make sure the model is supported medically". [119]
On September 23, Rustad revealed the Conservatives' plan for tax rebates to alleviate high housing costs, which he claimed would be the greatest tax cut in BC history. [120] The rebate would allow renters and homeowners with mortgage to exempt up to $3,000 per month from their provincial income tax. The program would start in 2026, where the exemption would begin with $1,500 per month, costing $900 million for the first year. The exemption amount would increase by $500 each year, and the final annual cost would be at $3.5 billion. [121] [122]
On September 25, Sturko requested an investigation by the Registrar of Lobbyists for BC against Ravi Kahlon, the incumbent Minister of Housing. She alleged the minister might be involved in a conflict of interest as his sister Parm Kahlon owns a government relations firm, where a client of the firm would be a potential partner in housing projects. [123] Kahlon has refuted the allegation and defended that the housing company does not do work with the government. [123]
On September 27, Rustad announced the housing platform for the Conservative Party. He committed to set deadlines for municipalities to issue rezoning, development and building permits. He also intended to repeal the BC's Step Code policy and Net-Zero mandate, which he claimed to have driven the construction cost up by 30–40%. On top of the NDP's transit-oriented policy, Rustad further assured they will amend the bill to require grocery stores and small businesses to be within walking distance of homes. [124]
On September 28, a few hours before the candidate nomination deadline, David Eby issued an open letter requesting that Rustad to drop candidates which he considered to have "dangerous and extremist views". Eby singled out five candidates who had perpetuated conspiracy theories regarding the results of the 2020 United States presidential election, Sheldon Clare for comparing gun control to Japanese internment camps, and Bryan Breguet for his "bigoted and sexist views". Rustad declined, and suggested in a reply that Eby investigate Ravi Kahlon. [125] The party released its agricultural plan the same day, including investments in agricultural development, financial support for yield-increasing measures and expanding the Buy BC program. Rustad also promised to review the Agricultural Land Commission. [126]
On October 14, the Conservative Party released their education plan, including ending the SOGI 123 program (a program of materials related to gender identity and sexual orientation, which Rustad considered to be indoctrination of children), reintroducing letter grades for grades 4 to 9, and reinstating provincial standardized tests for grades 10 and 12. [127] [128]
During a speech to his supporters on election night, Rustad pledged to make it "as difficult as possible" for the NDP if they formed a minority government, in order to prevent "any more destruction in the province". [129]
2020: electoral districts won identified by NDP (orange), Liberal (red) and Green (green).
2024: electoral districts won identified by NDP (orange), Conservative (blue) and Green (green)
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