00:32:35.380We have a conservative party who is yet again being divided, ripped up from the inside with candidates making abhorrent comments and an interim leader.
00:32:50.100And we see the same failing status quo, a managed decline under David Eby.
00:32:54.440And I think British Columbians are finally ready to see this province move forward.
00:33:00.480And that is why the B.C. Greens are proposing a vision that believes in better.
00:33:04.740OK, thank you. It is now time for us to move on to another big section, the economy and government spending.
00:33:11.280B.C. is facing a record never seen before.
00:33:14.140$13.8 billion deficit is it is a massive swing from the nearly $6 billion surplus from four years ago.
00:33:22.660The cost of servicing B.C. debt is now the fourth largest expense in the B.C. budget.
00:33:29.200Our first question goes to Mr. Dirksen.
00:33:31.820You've criticized the NDP's fiscal management, promised a thousand dollar tax cut and ruled out new taxes.
00:33:40.160You also say British Columbians will continue to receive the same levels of service they've had.
00:33:46.240There's no way in the short term that simply growing the economy can possibly cover it all.
00:33:51.140This is your opportunity, Mr. Dirksen, to tell British Columbians straight up, what exactly are you going to cut?
00:33:57.640Well, thank you very much, Shaachi, for the question.
00:34:01.480I will fully fund, and I want to be clear about this because there has been some misleading information.
00:34:07.200I will fully fund health care in this province.
00:40:46.320This is a new attack on doctors, and certainly that's not just us saying that.
00:40:50.840The reality is we're here to talk about revenue.
00:40:54.080We're here to talk about how we will grow our business in British Columbia and fund the things that you're talking about.
00:41:00.400And simply put, you cannot fund that on the taxation of the people of British Columbia.
00:41:05.620There's been 40 new taxes. That's not helping. It's not solving the problem.
00:41:09.380And Mr. Eby, you promised a $7 billion deficit just a few years ago. It's at $14 billion.
00:41:17.100The reality is that doesn't account for the things that you promised.
00:41:20.260so while you challenge my thoughts on growing an economy and trust me when I
00:41:26.080say this British Columbians will see a fulsome plan before they go to the polls
00:41:30.520but the problem is Mr. Eby is you cannot continue to attack the residents of
00:41:35.680British Columbia through taxation that is not going to solve the problem.
00:41:39.400Okay let's address the tax issue Lauren and let's talk facts. British Columbia has the lowest income tax for people who earn under
00:41:44.800$150,000 in all of Canada. We have the second lowest tax for people who earn $200,000. Individuals
00:41:51.740who earn $200,000 in all of Canada. Well, I'll tell you what, if you go ask a single mother right now if that matters to her, the answer is that it doesn't matter.
00:41:58.680Let me finish this thought, Lauren. This is important. The people at home deserve to know because we have been frank about how we're going to pay for the health care they need, how we're going to pay for the new CAT scan machine at Surrey.
00:42:07.180By asking the wealthiest... $225 million isn't going... That is a rounding error.
00:42:11.360My thought across here at some point. Thanks. Well, you have been. If you like to finish it,
00:42:15.600obviously the space is yours. Thanks. So we're telling British Columbia, we're telling you at
00:42:20.680home, we're giving you the clear path to fund additional health care. Now, the Conservatives
00:42:29.200have shown up to this debate with $5 billion in promises and a commission to study weightless.
00:42:35.020The history is clear. When they have uncosted promises, they cut like crazy. We've seen this
00:42:40.100before in British Columbia, forget an emergency room that's temporarily closed. They closed whole
00:42:44.240rural hospitals. Seniors care, they didn't meet the minimum standards of one bath a week in nine
00:42:49.360out of 10 care homes. Ms. Lohan, you were trying to come in and then to you, Mr. Jerkson, Ms. Lohan,
00:42:53.100and then Mr. Jerkson. My biggest issue with your plan, Mr. Eby, is that you are taxing work and not
00:43:00.340wealth. And that is going to take the biggest toll on people like health professionals, doctors,
00:43:05.500professors, that is where the vast majority of this very minuscule revenue is coming from.
00:43:11.400You know, you are reporting that in the next year, that revenue would generate $225 million.
00:43:16.920Our plan would generate $22.2 billion. And that difference is simply because you're unwilling
00:43:23.460to stand up to the ultra wealthy and ask them to pay their fair share.
00:43:28.300The challenge that I think British Columbians have is that you continue to refer to a decade ago.
00:43:34.120The reality is, Mr. Eby, you've been running this province for a decade, and nothing is better than it was years ago.
00:43:42.160And the reality is, we absolutely must commit to growing our economy in this province.
00:43:50.000On to our next section, there are government finances, and then there is the cost of living, getting to school and work, running your household, and feeding your family.
00:43:58.720Ms. Lowen, first to you, your party is promising free transit, more $10 a day child care, more non-market housing and higher assistance rates.
00:44:10.520And that may all sound very appealing to voters. How are you going to pay for it?
00:44:16.580So we would look at this one-time tax on BC's ultra wealthy. And so that starts at $50 million.
00:44:24.580dollars if you have a fortune of 50 million dollars and up you would pay a five percent tax
00:44:30.180on on that wealth once and it would be retroactive to the tax year to ensure that there would be
00:44:36.740minimal wealth shifting this has been baked into our model we would follow that up with a marginal
00:44:43.140annual tax and that would generate 5.4 billion dollars a year you know this is the kind of
00:44:50.180ambition that we need and this plan has been endorsed by amazing renowned international
00:44:55.940economists such as berkeley's and dr emmanuel sayez and you know this is exactly what we need
00:45:03.940to rein in bc's deficit to reduce wealth inequality and to ensure that we can actually
00:45:10.500bring in universal child care fast free and frequent transit and the social housing we so
00:45:17.220desperately need thank you ms low and follow up to you you've proposed a one-time wealth tax not only
00:45:24.100not on income but on assets for anyone with a net worth of over 50 million dollars here is my
00:45:30.260question what happens to the bc economy when those ultra wealthy individuals not only move themselves
00:45:36.580but also their money out of the province so we've seen this play out in several other jurisdictions
00:45:44.500we we've seen it in in spain and in sweden and as well as other you know in in the us and in
00:45:51.860massachusetts and you know the ultra wealthy in some ways they're just like us and you know they're
00:45:59.220they're tied to to place we have family we have their their their industries here uh and and what
00:46:05.780we see is that uh the the ultra wealthy don't tend to leave they are just an invested in in this
00:46:13.220province and you know there's there's a lot of fear-mongering that we do here in in the media
00:46:19.140about about capital flight but what i'm most concerned about is the 70 000 workers that are
00:46:25.380leaving bc every year because of the crushing cost of living crisis you know i i think we need to look
00:46:31.380at these facts straight in the eye and and balance these risks um and as i said when you look around
00:46:37.620the world. The ultra-wealthy often feel that they have to pay back into their industries and their
00:46:44.420workers to ensure that everyone can live a safe and dignified life. Thank you, Ms. Lohan. Mr. Eby,
00:46:51.600now to you. Ten years after it was first announced, your government still has not delivered on
00:46:57.620universal $10 a day child care. It's a program your own family has access to. More than that,
00:47:07.620that you've paused the program's expansion.
00:47:10.860What is your message tonight to parents who are asking
00:47:14.120why they are still waiting while the Premier's family is not?
00:47:19.500Thanks, Saatchi, and thanks for the chance
00:57:34.600We've approved nine mines since we, in the last 18 months or so, since we set up the Ministry of Critical Minerals and Mining.
00:57:42.460Eight of those are under construction right now.
00:57:46.200And so growing the economy, working in partnership with the Prime Minister with the Prosperity Agreement to build our ports, our roads, ensure our goods get to market.
00:57:54.820That's how we're going to address these issues.
01:00:33.180I know David will certainly have some comments there.
01:00:36.020But the reality is that this is all builders that are faced with this.
01:00:40.100I talked to somebody in Comox the other day that's been waiting for a year for permits to build their home.
01:00:46.000It is shocking to me that we can't seem to get past this bureaucratic nightmare in this province, not just with housing, but everything else.
01:00:54.740And the reality is we have to improve the relationship with our municipalities.
01:00:59.220There is no way that David Eby or anybody else in Victoria should be demanding what municipalities build, where and how.
01:01:09.960Ms. Loewen, to you, some British Columbians want housing prices to come down, but others are
01:01:15.480counting on their home, their largest asset, to set themselves and their families up for the future.
01:01:21.460You talk about decommodifying housing, but what about those who have stretched and scrimped and
01:01:27.620saved to afford their home? Whose investments are you prepared to devalue?
01:01:33.160I think the issue with buying a home is that many people in my generation can't even imagine
01:01:43.380that possibility. And we see home ownership as a lottery system rather than a possible pathway
01:01:54.380that we can frugally scrimp and save towards. And I find that really heartbreaking. People should
01:02:01.680feel like they're they're safe and that they have uh genuine home ownership and i want to make that
01:02:07.920more available to to every british colombian but we also see a third of british colombians are
01:02:14.800our renters and neither party on this stage are prepared to to stand up and support renters with
01:02:21.360things like vacancy control that was brought in by the dave barrett government in in the 1970s
01:02:27.200an NDP government that would protect tenants against profit hikes in between vacancies.
01:02:38.400Things like this would also support small businesses, but critically we need to restart
01:02:43.040the community housing fund and get back into the business of building social housing.
01:02:48.000Thank you, Ms. Lohan. Mr. Eby, to you, for a decade your government pushed density and ever
01:02:53.840increasing supply even as mentioned against the wishes of many communities worried they couldn't
01:02:59.760absorb it now there are thousands of new condos in bc sitting unsold because they don't suit buyers
01:03:06.800needs instead of allowing the market to correct you offered to bail out the developers my question
01:03:13.120is who have you really been listening to on this file british colombians or real estate executives
01:03:18.400yeah wow uh shachi that's not correct and i'm happy for the opportunity to set the record
01:03:22.400straight it's hard to think of something more important for British Columbians than a home
01:03:26.320you know if you're looking for a young person looking to set up your life
01:03:30.720if you're a senior you've paid your dues you want a safe place to live housing is fundamental
01:03:35.840and I'll admit a bit of a housing nerd I really believe that we can address housing issues and
01:03:44.160ensure the British Columbians get those homes and in fact we're seeing that I know not every British
01:03:48.320columbians feeling it yet but 24 months in a row rents have been decreasing year over year in
01:03:53.680british columbia that's because we have built so much rental housing sometimes in partnership with
01:03:58.240developers uh sometimes directly we've also asked communities to take on more homes shachi you're
01:04:04.320absolutely right about that and our our argument was when we build more homes to buy prices will
01:04:11.280come down for british columbians but what we've seen is now 5 000 vacant brand new condos behind
01:04:16.880locked doors with the developers who built them thanks to our rule changes refusing to make them
01:04:22.720available at the price british columbians want to pay we'll make sure that they release those homes
01:04:27.600give them a year to sell them and if they don't we'll put an additional tax on just like we did
01:04:31.600with the vacant homes that people are holding as investments and it opened up 10 000 homes
01:04:36.160for rent for british columbians thank you mr eby we are moving on to open debate
01:04:40.800Ms. Lohan, we start with you. This is Open Debate.
01:04:45.400So in budget 2026, Mr. Evie, you canceled the $1.4 billion community housing fund.
01:04:53.860And I have spent the months since traveling to those projects, the thousands of units,
01:05:00.360shovel-ready units that have now been completely frozen by this decision.
01:05:04.380You know, I just struggle to imagine a world in which if I was premier, that would be my first to cut.
01:05:13.460You know, you have ruined the partnerships with these housing nonprofits.
01:05:17.540And it is just it's abundantly clear to me that B.C. needs to get back into the business of building social housing at scale.
01:05:25.180The B.C. Greens would have we would build 26, build and protect 26,000 units of genuinely affordable housing.
01:05:33.060You know, your government has been more responsive to luxury condo developers than average renters, people like my family who can't afford these market rate units.
01:05:43.760So, you know, how do you possibly justify the cancellation of the community housing fund when you left, you know, billions, three billions of dollars on the table that LNG corporations have just walked off with in resource royalties?
01:05:58.560Okay, thanks. You raised an important issue. And look, the fiscal situation in the province is challenging. It's not just here. It's across Canada. It's around the world. Governments are grappling with these things. We have to make decisions, just like families, about where to allocate money. We've got 4,000 social housing units that are either going to start or complete this year. The idea that we've canceled social housing is simply not the situation. I'd love to build more. I'd love to do more social housing.
01:06:22.920But the reality is that we have to build social housing as well as market housing for people.
01:06:28.960And the more we build, the more successful we'll be as we have been in rental housing and bringing down those.
01:06:33.920Did you commit to restarting the community housing fund? Is that reading between the lines?
01:06:36.940We'll have a housing announcement about increasing the construction of social housing, absolutely.
01:06:42.860But shouldn't that be in your platform already?
01:06:45.400It is. It's in our cost of platform we released today when we also pointed out that you did not.
01:06:50.720you did not release. And where is the revenue to fully fund this? You know, this is,
01:06:56.740you know, ideally should be a $3 billion fund. And yet, you know, your government record has
01:07:02.960been marred with broken promises. You know, this year's election bribes are next year's
01:07:08.140broken promises. This has been the consistent trend for your government.
01:07:12.020That is a consistent problem. The Green Leader and I have very consistent values on this.
01:07:16.980And the goal is to deliver as much housing as possible. Now, Lorna, I don't understand.
01:07:20.720your argument that we need to build more housing, faster, get rid of red tape,
01:07:24.520and then simultaneously send everybody back to endless hearings at City Hall
01:07:29.060about whether or not to build a townhouse.
01:07:31.100You know, we've got to build housing that's affordable for families in this province.
01:07:34.260And you're tying housing back up in red tape.
01:07:37.600Mr. Eby, the red tape you have created is astounding in this province.
01:07:42.860The reality is you have no right telling the people of Penticton or Terrace or wherever
01:07:47.700how to build what to build you can certainly not dictate that that's number one number two
01:07:52.700the problem is that the relationship with a number of the housing projects that that I've
01:07:58.540seen in communities is that you've built these these these facilities that are not managed in
01:08:04.960any way you've got open drug use in some of them communities are pushing back on that
01:08:09.500there's no security in these facilities it's shocking but what really is most frustrating
01:08:14.780about the housing program is that we have an opportunity in British Columbia to allow seniors
01:08:20.980to age in place and stay in their home, and you attack that as well through yet another punitive
01:08:26.680tax against our senior citizens. In addition to abandoning housing targets, sending builders back
01:08:31.480to City Hall, you also want to welcome foreign buyers back into the market, Lorne. You're committed
01:08:35.220to getting rid of the foreign buyers tax. You're committed to getting rid of the speculation and
01:08:39.060vacancy tax. This is people who held vacant homes as an investment, refused to rent them out,
01:08:44.780I try to understand why you continually mislead British Columbians on this topic or any other topic.
01:08:56.200Regularly rail against the taxes the NDP government has brought in, speculation vacancy tax, the foreign buyer tax.
01:09:03.000It has been the position of the Conservative Party that you would repeal that again and again in the legislature.
01:09:07.140And now, the moment the cameras are on, and I ask you to explain to British Columbians at home
01:09:12.480who are wondering why you would make them compete with foreign investors to buy a home,
01:09:17.200and suddenly you say, I've changed my mind.
01:09:19.560I can appreciate why you don't want to talk.
01:09:22.960I can appreciate that you do not want to talk about your record,
01:09:26.680but your record is that we had an opportunity to help seniors in British Columbia to age in place.
01:09:31.880And most seniors that I speak to, they have spent their lives paying for their home,
01:10:32.320Of those three, which would you prioritize and why?
01:10:38.440Primary health care, because two years ago in 2024, Mr. Eby, you stood on this stage and you promised British Columbians that everyone would have access to a family doctor.
01:10:51.7001.2 million individuals do not have access to a family doctor today.
01:11:00.280And, you know, the BC Greens are the only party with a credible plan to bring community-based, team-based, preventative health care into every riding in this province.
01:11:11.880It is in our platform that we would bring in community health care centers into every riding.
01:11:19.780And that would mean that you could walk in into your neighborhood and you would have access to a physician, a nurse practitioner, and imaging all under the same roof.
01:11:30.280You know, it gets rid of the bureaucratic bloat that we saw under the urgent primary care model.
01:11:38.440And I think it is exactly what we've seen work here in a fledgling stage and around the world.
01:11:46.340But this government is clearly not interested in delivering that essential care to British Columbians.
01:11:53.220Thank you, Ms. Lohan. Now to you, Mr. Eby, you've more than doubled the health care budget in recent years.
01:11:58.780Despite this, we continue to see ER closures.
01:12:02.200Ms. Lowen mentioned the broken promise on family doctors or nurse practitioners for those who wanted one by the end of 2025.
01:12:10.160And just last week, you yourself called BC wait times for surgeries, and I quote, totally unacceptable.
01:12:16.960So, sir, how can this be interpreted as anything other than a failed track record on health care?
01:12:23.240If there's an issue that I lie awake about at night, it's that issue of health care.
01:12:28.100we have an aging population. People are showing up at emergency rooms sicker than ever. We have
01:12:33.220a growing population and the miraculous cures that are being offered are wildly expensive.
01:12:40.260Healthcare sustainability is a crucial issue for our province. The big challenge we face is
01:12:44.020the shortage of healthcare workers. There were 300,000 people on the registry for a family
01:12:49.620doctor. We connected 450,000 people with a family doctor and then the registry filled up again.
01:14:59.640They just simply changed the sign on the front of the hospital.
01:15:02.880It's shocking to me to see what's happening.
01:15:05.580And, you know, Shachi, so many British Columbians are up at night, just like David Eby might be concerned about this.
01:15:12.560our British Columbians are up at night worried that their hospital is closed when they need it
01:15:17.760most. All right, thank you, Mr. Dirksen. Okay, leaders, I'm going to ask each of you the same
01:15:22.560question. You are each going to have equal time to answer, and it's there on your clock. I'm going
01:15:28.380to ask and start this question to you first, Ms. Lowen. Long-term care capacity isn't keeping up
01:15:35.140with a growing population of BC seniors. The current government hasn't built several promised
01:15:41.200long-term care projects. Meantime, those who stay at home have no choice, who want to stay at home
01:15:47.560and age in place have no choice but to increasingly rely on family members who are at risk of burning
01:15:54.280out. So to each of you, one at a time, what is your plan to alleviate the pressure on seniors
01:16:01.640and family caregivers in this province? Thank you for the question. This is a real,
01:16:11.200hitting just a crisis point in in our province you know I've talked to many family doctors ER
01:16:17.840doctors who see the gap in in our ER systems where we're not bringing in the long-term care
01:16:26.340beds and this is something that that the NDP has also removed funding for in their last budget
01:16:32.040and those long-term care beds are so important to to triage in in the ER and we've we've seen
01:16:39.280doctors actually walk off the walk off their shifts because they feel that they are operating
01:16:45.360in under such unsafe conditions and we have you know just our seniors are living receiving care
01:16:54.280their first point point of care is is the emergency room oftentimes they don't have access to a family
01:17:00.240doctor and they're being treated in hallways that is undignified and it is completely unacceptable
01:17:06.360You know, we need to ensure that we have wraparound supports for seniors to age in their homes with safety, care and dignity.
01:17:14.840And that's exactly what the B.C. Greens will deliver.
01:17:18.000Thank you, Ms. Lohan. Same question to you, Mr. Eby.
01:17:20.680I agree with the leader of the Green Party. Seniors deserve a dignified place.
01:17:26.340And for many seniors, that could be their own home.
01:17:31.420Under a plan where we ask the wealthiest to pay a little bit more,
01:17:34.060It means 5,600 seniors, 5,600 will be able to receive hospital-like services in the comfort of their own home.
01:17:44.400Now, we did have some long-term care centers that were wildly over budget.
01:17:49.080We had to rein in the health authorities.
01:17:51.240We had to stop the projects, work with Providence Healthcare that was delivering beds at way below the cost the health authorities were telling us that they could do.
01:17:58.400and now because of standardization we're able to bring the cost down so we can do even more
01:18:03.560including the oak bay lodge in oak bay gordon head seniors deserve long-term care if they can
01:18:10.460stay home in their own home that's where we want you to be but let's not forget what happened under
01:18:17.200the previous conservative government back then they were called bc liberals nine out of ten
01:18:22.120government stand nine out of ten care homes long-term care homes in the province didn't
01:18:26.800meet government standards for a bath for a senior. What was that standard? One bath a week
01:18:32.560and they didn't meet the standard. It will happen again under Lauren Dirksen's cuts. Thank you Mr.
01:18:39.300Eby. To you Mr. Dirksen same question. Talk about fear-mongering Mr. Eby. The reality is you refuse
01:18:46.340to talk about your own record in this province which is one of devastation. It doesn't matter
01:18:52.020what we talk about, whether it's health care, forestry, it's not going to matter.
01:18:56.440Your mismanagement of this province has been devastating.
01:19:00.140The reality is, is that there was an opportunity in your plan to help seniors stay and age in place,
01:27:20.780Certainly there are some Indigenous leaders that have suggested that potentially this might not be the best legislation for British Columbians.
01:27:28.360And the reality is that DRIPA has to be repealed in this province.
01:27:32.960I'm committed to doing that for a number of reasons.
01:27:35.340First off, it has not helped British Columbia.
01:27:39.160It has created more division on the landscape than I have ever seen in my life.
01:28:32.280Thank you, Mr. Dirksen. Ms. Lowen, is there any change to DRIPA the BC Greens would support, or for you and your party, is this an issue on which there is no room to compromise?
01:28:45.260Certainly, we take the advice of First Nations leaders on this issue, and they've been unequivocal in saying that we must do the work of implementing DRIPA.
01:28:55.800And frankly, when we talk about certainty, the uncertainty that has been sown over the last year has been from a premier who can't seem to make up his mind.
01:29:07.720And it's been from a conservative party that is constantly pushing misinformation and blatant fear mongering.
01:29:15.220You know, we've seen from both parties, you know, just a willingness to engage on this bad faith argument.
01:29:22.120DRIPA has no bearing on private property it sets out the rules for government to to go ahead do
01:29:30.220their homework and bring up our legislation in alignment with BC laws and and the minimum
01:29:38.320standards set out by the UN on human rights of indigenous people you know with the Gagatla case
01:29:45.460for instance you know that is the most arcane outdated piece of legislation and I believe
01:29:51.860that the Gitgatla did a great service to us,
01:29:54.600but it was the government who wasn't coming to the table.
01:29:58.400And we need a government that is actually willing
01:30:01.960and prepared to do the hard work of reconciliation.
01:30:16.260believes you are best to navigate this.
01:30:18.480Mr. Dirksen, we start with you, and why?
01:30:20.600Well, thank you very much. I will agree with a few points that Ms. Lowen has introduced with respect to the chaos that has been created by Mr. Eby on this subject.
01:30:31.540And the reason that I say that is that we have had an opportunity to have this conversation yet again in the fall session of our legislature where Mr. Eby made promises to all British Columbians that he may amend or he might change or we would be allowed to debate.
01:30:48.780The reality is we haven't had that opportunity and the division that has been created by this government and by the NDP is staggering.
01:30:57.740And with respect to people on the landscape, I can give absolute examples.
01:31:01.880In fact, I have given them in the legislature with respect to people that have lost livelihoods over very serious situations and very serious conflict that have seen themselves in courts.
01:31:13.440And that challenge is real for British Columbians.
01:31:16.420And I know you make your living in the legislature, David.
01:31:19.660You were elected as conservatives attacking residential school survivors,
01:31:22.920the most divisive, unbelievable, hateful rhetoric coming from your colleagues.
01:35:33.180I mean, some of the infrastructure is there.
01:35:35.380We've talked a little bit this evening about housing projects that exist, but they're managed poorly.
01:35:39.920We have people that are unhoused throughout this entire province, and the reality is that what is missing from this equation is a robust treatment plan for individuals that are dealing with challenges that, frankly, many cannot even fully understand.
01:35:57.000I want to support our residents that are dealing with these challenges through treatment, through the housing that some of it we already have, and certainly I would commit to wanting to build more.
01:36:08.660But also, we have to protect our residents, Shaqi.
01:37:01.700For the folks at home, you need to feel safe in your community.
01:37:04.700And that's not just in relation to violent crime, just the sense of safety that you have in your community when you're walking down the street.
01:39:14.820And if we provided the harm reduction needed, treated this like a public health emergency, as your public health officer recommended, you know, we would see fewer deaths, we would see fewer crimes, and we would also ensure that we have full recovery pathways.
01:39:33.380If people are housed, if people have their rights protected, if people have
01:39:38.260reliable access to social services, no we just aren't going to see this same
01:39:44.340rise in this crisis. Okay, thank you Ms. Lowen, it is time for open debate. Mr.
01:39:49.780Eby, we start with you. Do you want to respond to that? Sure, well I'd actually
01:39:53.140like to respond to something the Conservative leader said a couple of
01:39:56.660times. He's raised concerns about various social housing sites in the province
01:40:00.420where he's concerned about the conduct of people who live there.
01:40:20.120And with the closure of Riverview, which took place under the BC Liberals,
01:40:24.120we've been trying to recover ever since.
01:40:26.640Opening this involuntary care, it's not a jail cell.
01:40:29.800In some cases, it's in a jail because people have already been arrested.
01:40:33.260But the work that we're doing is to provide the dignified care
01:40:37.340so that people are not lying half naked in a gutter,
01:40:39.960that they're actually getting the care and can rebuild their lives.
01:40:42.560And many people do rebuild their lives.
01:40:44.800It was a tough court decision that we received,
01:40:47.260but we can address that decision and we can ensure that people get the care that they need.
01:40:51.920I think it's non-negotiable and I think it's what British Columbians deserve.
01:40:55.480Mr. Eby, with respect to housing projects in this province,
01:40:58.920I have witnessed this firsthand, where we've seen individuals that live in a hotel, for lack of a better description.
01:41:09.900The problem is, is that for some bizarre reason, and I've asked all of this in estimates and questions of your ministers,
01:41:16.880why on earth those poor folks are kicked out at 7.30 in the morning and then have to come back and reapply for their housing that night.
01:41:24.920Those individuals are put out into the streets.
01:41:27.460these are hotels that you're renting all of them but that wasn't that wasn't that wasn't
01:41:34.340uh acceptable to your government so you shut that project down and you went to a more open
01:41:39.540air shelter in my community which is shocking to me because these individuals definitely needed
01:41:46.580help they needed your support and the reality is i actually don't know absolutely i'm committed to
01:41:51.940But I think people do need dignified housing and care, but you haven't set aside any resources to deliver that, despite spending $5 billion that you still haven't told British Londonians how you're going to spend.
01:42:05.600Mr. Ruby, you haven't showed how you will pay off with this tax increase, the deficit that you've created, which is now double from 2024.
01:42:16.840So I'd be very interested in hearing that.
01:42:18.580But we are talking about housing, but we are talking about housing, and you haven't been clear on this topic, and if you could have solved this, if you could have solved this, if you could have solved this, Mr. E.B.
01:42:33.660Let's tell families at home, it won't be on your back, our work to balance the budget.
01:42:38.540We're going to grow the economy, we're going to reduce wasteful administrative spending wherever we can.
01:42:43.300But if we're going to do things like deliver the health care that you and your family deserve,
01:42:47.140we do have to ask the people who have the most in the province to pay a little bit more
01:42:50.820to be able to deliver that care for you.
01:42:53.600And that is, I think, treats families like yours with respect to tell you both what we need
01:43:01.940And as Mr. Dirksen says, there are two sides to that ledger.
01:43:04.920He's just forgotten to bring one of them here tonight.
01:43:06.800Or we could grow our economy, Shaachi,
01:43:09.500and we could fund the things that we so desperately need in this province.
01:43:13.500But I think the real question is, is that this appears to be another David E.B. promise.
01:43:17.920I guess the question here tonight for all British Columbians is, will you keep this promise?
01:43:23.840Because the reality is, you've had an opportunity for the last two years.
01:43:27.880BC housing is a catastrophic mess under your leadership,
01:43:31.360and we've seen that in so many sites throughout this province.
01:43:35.400So why didn't you do all of this in the last two years?
01:43:38.860you've certainly had time. Well, Lauren, you may remember the 13 occasions when you tried to bring
01:43:43.640down the government, or maybe do you remember voting that we should be debating whether or not
01:43:49.200we should repeal the Human Rights Act? What is your government doing to address voluntary care and the necessary supports that people need to live a dignified life? Because all I see, your government, is reaching as the first resort
01:44:07.460on involuntary care, which has been proven to be costly and ineffective.
01:44:12.340Our candidate for Saanich South, Lisa LaPointe, who is the former chief coroner in this government
01:44:18.540for 13 years, her and your public health officer, Bonnie Henry, have both supported our plan
01:46:21.500To you now, Mr. Dirksen, in the political equivalent of a shotgun wedding
01:46:26.040under the threat of an election, your party hastily brought back members of your caucus
01:46:32.600who were divided along fiscal and social conservative lines.
01:46:37.820Conservatives could not stay together in opposition.
01:46:41.500How can voters trust that you can stay together if you form government?
01:46:46.140Saatchi, this is a great opportunity to talk about the unification of our party.
01:46:51.360We have focused on bringing our group back together.
01:46:54.440we have some incredible candidates. And with respect to working with other parties, I will
01:46:59.960tell you that no matter the challenges that Mr. Eby might have in his caucus, and he has a
01:47:07.640significant amount of challenges, I will absolutely do everything I can to represent British Columbia
01:47:13.320well, if given that opportunity. But we are completely unified, and I am completely committed
01:47:19.520to leading with an absolute abundance of respect to British Columbians
01:47:24.800and an absolute abundance of dignified conversation.
01:47:30.680We have to do it at every single level.
01:47:33.240First Nations, everyone, the folks that are dealing with issues in our province
01:47:37.460that need our help, we have to work with every single British Columbian,
01:47:41.980no matter what, and I'm absolutely committed to doing that,
01:47:45.160And I will commit to working very hard in the legislature with other parties as well to bring all of that forward for the betterment of British Columbians.
01:47:54.140Thank you, Mr. Dirksen. Now to you, Ms. Lowen.
01:47:56.380In the last election, the Conservatives won at least nine ridings where the combined Green and NDP vote exceeded the Conservative total.
01:48:06.620So what do you say to those who argue that a vote for a Green candidate ultimately results in more B.C. Conservatives being elected?
01:48:13.820this is the challenge of our two-party system and this is why the bc greens have been pushing
01:48:21.560for proportional representation for many years and you know when we saw the the 2017 referendum
01:48:29.940that mr evie wrote himself he deployed complex legalese and an example that had never been
01:48:37.460practiced anywhere in the world and still it narrowly failed it is clear that british colombians
01:48:43.180want to believe in better. We don't want to be stuck between two lesser evils. And I think our
01:48:49.600best governments have come from green minority governments. And I have to say, the last time we
01:48:55.160were in a surplus, it was in a green coalition. And I think it is just essential that political
01:49:02.280parties do the hard work of inspiring voters. And instead of, you know, fear mongering about
01:49:10.180lesser evils you know that that is the bedrock of our democracy and that is exactly what the
01:49:16.180bc greens are delivering you know we are inspiring thousands of new people into our party
01:49:22.080on under the promise that we can deliver a life you can afford and care you can count on okay
01:49:29.140thank you ms dirksen now before we move on to the last open debate of the evening all night we've
01:49:35.980been hearing from these three leaders whose parties met the debate criteria. Two other parties,
01:49:42.840Centre BC and 1BC, did not run enough candidates to be here tonight. However, depending on where
01:49:49.520you live, many of you will see those other parties' candidates on your ballots. So here
01:49:55.840are Centre BC leader Eleanor Sturko and 1BC leader Dallas Brody explaining what role they hope to
01:50:03.680play in this election. I'm not asking British Columbians to pretend that Center BC will form
01:50:09.440government. I'm asking them a different question. Who will hold the next government accountable?
01:50:15.660Center BC is a socially progressive, environmentally pragmatic, and fiscally
01:50:20.240responsible party. Divisiveness and extremes on the left and on the right aren't helping
01:50:25.840British Columbians. Electing Center BC will ensure there's a strong centrist voice in Victoria.
01:50:32.020We'll support strong ideas and bring accountability back to the legislature.
01:50:37.6201BC is needed in the legislature to fight for prosperity for all British Columbians.
01:50:42.400We will push for a 25% income tax cut for both individuals and corporations,
01:50:47.780and we will push for a 2% cut in the PST.
01:50:51.940As well, we will fight against these land-backed giveaways that are being done by the current government.
01:50:57.000We will read the treaties and let you know what is going on.
01:50:59.700We will stop the greed and corruption of the reconciliation industry in British Columbia and put BC back in the hands of British Columbians.
01:51:09.680So voters have heard from them. Leaders, you have heard from them.
01:51:15.740Mr. Dirksen, you may open our last debate, but first, I have to apologize.
01:51:20.000You are not Ms. Dirksen. You are Ms. Lowen.
01:51:23.280Oh, goodness. All right. To you, Mr. Dirksen.
01:51:48.840Eggs, chicken, milk, the basics that you need.
01:51:52.200That's not where the excess profits should be taken by these giant grocery chains.
01:51:56.220We're going to bring down your cost of food by allowing competition.
01:51:58.440smaller stores to be close to the big boys to keep the costs down for you and your families.
01:52:03.560I can't believe we haven't been talking about cost of living for the whole debate. I know it's the
01:52:07.480number one issue for you and your family and we have practical measures to drive down the cost of
01:52:12.120fuel at the pump and your groceries. And in addition to make sure that we're going to deliver
01:52:16.920the health care that you and your family deserve by asking those who have the most to pay a little
01:52:21.000bit more. None of which have been really explained here tonight and the reality is all I hear is
01:52:25.800about control and taxation i will continue to absolutely commit to the fact that we have to
01:52:32.360supercharge british columbia's economy for charge british columbians mr eby we have to get back to
01:52:38.040growing our economy and if that happens through a multitude of different ways there's been no support
01:52:43.640um you know for the forest you committed to the industry you have damaged
01:52:48.040forestry beyond recognition this was once a thriving uh opportunity for so many british
01:52:57.000columbians there are six or seven milling operations in the downtown core of my community
01:53:01.880what do you plan to do on the cost of living oh i'll tell you right now we've offered up a number
01:53:07.880of savings for people in the lowest lowest tax brackets in this province but those individuals
01:53:14.040so many of them want jobs they want to work and be productive in this province and the reality is
01:53:19.48042 000 people 42 000 people have lost their jobs in the last two months and i guarantee you they're
01:53:29.640sitting at home watching this debate looking for some kind of hope in british columbia and from
01:53:34.520what i've heard here tonight there is not hope there is an opportunity to tax our residents more
01:53:40.120but i haven't heard a lot of conversation about how our economy will grow in this province and
01:53:45.720that is what british communities are looking for right now can you imagine 42 000 people that are
01:53:51.080in harm's way right now of of paying their mortgage paying the taxes that you continue to
01:53:56.920charge them i mean these individuals are leaving a province every year because of the cost of living
01:54:02.440crisis and it's because we're in this cycle of broken promises and election pledges that never
01:54:08.040come to fruition. We saw that, Mr. Eby, with your $1,000 grocery rebate check that never came.
01:54:15.420You know, there's constant band-aids, temporary price caps. You know, we need to see real lasting
01:54:21.940solutions. And that's why the BC Greens are bringing in 20 public grocery stores that are
01:54:27.580going to bring down the costs on Staples and are going to support a resilient food supply chain
01:54:34.460supporting local farmers. And, you know, we've also, of course, the stalled and frozen promises
01:54:41.800on childcare. How long do British Columbians have to wait on these desperate, urgent cost
01:54:47.840of living issues? I share a lot of values with Emily on these critical issues on the cost of
01:54:52.820groceries. It shouldn't depend on whether or not your community has one of the Green Party's public
01:54:58.320stores. You already have a grocery store. We're going to rein in the excess profits on those
01:55:02.320groceries cost control and taxes cost control and taxes we've offered a tax break for people
01:55:08.620making under $32,000 in this province will not pay provincial tax at all and that affects people
01:55:15.580that are working in those that affects people that are working in those very grocery stores
01:55:20.880that you're talking about that might be making minimum wage and the reality is this will also
01:55:26.720extend to senior citizens in this province we have to give some relief in this province to the
01:55:31.600residents that are working so hard. And we have to bolster our industries in this province to grow
01:55:37.620some good paying jobs for all British Columbia. And that extends from rural BC into the city
01:55:43.120and all throughout this province. I've seen you for about 10 minutes in action, Mr. Dirksen,
01:55:49.020and they've already seen you write a secret letter to insiders, the trial lawyers and private
01:55:52.500insurance companies, committing to double their car insurance. Neither have you have the courage
01:55:57.440to stand up to big grocery and it shows leaders i'm going to stop you there we are now out of time
01:56:03.360it's time to go to closing statements so each one of you will have one minute according to the draw
01:56:09.920to make your closing statement ms lowen you are up first
01:56:16.640frankly i'm exhausted by the status quo and i know you are too i'm exhausted
01:56:23.280by a party that is constantly bribing you with election promises and failing to deliver we see
01:56:30.320that in the ndp in the conservatives we see opacity and unwillingness to report you know
01:56:37.840where the cuts are coming from you know this is not good governance the bc greens believe in better
01:56:45.200we believe that we can tax the the extreme wealth in this province to deliver on the services we
01:56:52.160so desperately need you know that looks like universal child care that looks like fast free
01:56:57.840and frequent transit and that looks like social housing you know i i just don't see genuine
01:57:04.720courage in this room i see old ideas that are being recycled and i think it's time that we have
01:57:10.800a minority government with the greens to hold these actors to account thank you ms low and
01:57:15.520mr eby to you oh thanks uh thank you shachi uh thank you to the green leader to the conservative
01:57:20.800leader, thanks to the team here who's put on this debate, it's crucial for British Columbians to know
01:57:26.480what the proposals are in front of them. Look, I know that I haven't been perfect,
01:57:32.640our government hasn't been perfect, but we have always been and we always will be committed to
01:57:38.800fight for you on groceries, to drop the cost on the basics for you and your family by reining in
01:57:45.200the excess profits in big grocery stores. On car insurance, a three-year freeze on your
01:57:50.320car insurance with uncertain plans from the Conservatives that will double your rates.
01:57:54.880And on fuel to rein in the gouging by the oil and gas companies. Look, I love this province.
01:58:03.040I love Canada. I know we can be incredible together. We're going to stand shoulder to
01:58:07.600shoulder with leaders across the country to build up this country and this province
01:58:11.840at a crucial time. Thank you, Mr. Eby. To you, Mr. Dirksen, one minute.
01:58:16.240Well, thank you very much, Shachi. I know that people in this province sat at their dining room tables last weekend thinking about what the path forward is for them. 42,000 of them, in fact, don't have jobs over the last two months.
01:58:33.780Nothing is better under the NDP in this province.