\u201cI\u2019m not saying we\u2019re going to run in and balance the budget \u2013 because we\u2019re not. We are going to run in and take care of people. We\u2019re going to make sure that services are extended. We\u2019re going to reduce costs. We are going to make sure that people come first and we get a recovery that includes everybody, not just a few.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"BC's](\"https:\/\/cortescurrents.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-13-at-7.21.45-AM-498x600.png\")
<\/a>Years where the debt was paid down are in green, those when it rose are in pink. Data taken from a\u00a0statement from the National Bank of Canada<\/a>, various online annual BC Government Accounts, and\u00a0the provincial debt chart on BC Tax Tips\u00a0<\/a>by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n While many frame this election as Liberal tax cuts vs\u00a0NDP<\/a>\u00a0incentives, the Liberals just announced \u2018the biggest infrastructure investment in B.C. history<\/a>.\u2019 They plan to spend almost $31 billion over the next three years on new highway and transit projects, schools, hospitals, and new housing all across B.C.<\/p>\n This is actually similar to the\u00a0NDP\u2019s new Recovery Investment Fund<\/a>, whose estimated cost is roughly the same.<\/p>\n (Professor Werner Antweiler<\/a>, from UBC Sauder School of Business, isn\u2019t convinced either plan would boost the economy, though they could stimulate voting.)<\/p>\n The Liberals also propose big tax cuts, including\u00a0$11 billion from the provincial sales tax over the next two years<\/a>.<\/p>\n Premier John Horgan<\/a>\u00a0claims it would be more effective to give low and middle income British Columbians a cheque and is\u00a0promising $1000 to families and $500 to singles<\/a>.<\/p>\n Unemployment data taken from Statistica<\/a> by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n NDP candidate\u00a0Michele Babchuk<\/a>\u00a0contrasted the previous Liberal administration with the current NDP government.<\/p>\n \u201cA John Horgan government is focused on a an economy that works for everyone, not just the people at the top. The old BC Liberal Government\u00a0took money from BC Hydro and ICBC to fund tax breaks for the rich<\/a>, then increased the rates that people had to pay. MSP doubled. ICBC went up 36%. Hydro went up 87%. Bridge tolls were in place and housing skyrocketed,\u201d she began.<\/p>\n \u201cWe introduced three balanced budgets, while improving services for people; got rid of MSP [fees]. We\u2019re turning around ICBC and reducing rates by 20%. wages went up 17% in three years.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen COVID 19 hit. We announced:<\/p>\n She concluded, \u201cWe are putting people at the centre of our recovery, let\u2019s keep going.\u201d<\/p>\n BC average wages taken from the British Columbia tab \u201cEmployee wages by industry, Statistics Canada<\/a>; minimum wage stats from various news reports by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div> Of course the\u00a0Liberal version of these events<\/a>\u00a0is very different. In a recent press release they state, \u201cUnder the NDP-Green coalition government, taxes have increased by over $5.7 billion since 2017 \u2013 that\u2019s an average of $3,025 per household for this year. They\u2019ve added 23 new or increased taxes, including sneaky taxes on soda and Netflix, that far outweigh the benefits of eliminating MSP premiums \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n They conclude, \u201cA BC Liberal government led by Andrew Wilkinson will restore BC\u2019s economic advantage by reducing the burden of taxes and red tape, making our province a global destination for technology and innovation where we attract and create the jobs of the future.\u201d<\/p>\n Green party candidate\u00a0Alexandra Morton<\/a>\u00a0suggested, \u201cIf the government forms a Ministry of Climate Action, and inventories what is required to pull us into a Green economy, companies could be invited to submit proposals.\u201d<\/p>\n Her voice grew more animated when Morton added that corporations are not leading the province\u2019s recovery.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat a champion the small businesses are, in job creation. It\u2019s not the big companies, that have been bullying all of us, it is the small companies [that are employing people],\u201d she said.<\/p>\n * Though a 6.3% increase was applied for it December 2018, it was not granted until the following month (i.e. \u2013 2019).\u00a0Data compiled from ICBC,\u00a0CHEK News\u00a0<\/a>,\u00a0\u201cDecline and Fall of ICBC, Fraser Institute<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Canadian Underwriter<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 by Roy L Hales<\/p><\/div><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n She continued, \u201cThe larger answer to your question is going to be highly individualized. I\u2019ve been talking to mayors and small businesses across my riding and I am so impressed at the initiatives that are underway in places like\u00a0Tahsis<\/a>,\u00a0Zeballos<\/a>\u00a0and here in\u00a0Sointula<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c \u2026 I am so impressed with the measures that are going on at the Strathcona Regional District and the\u00a0fibre optic cables<\/a>\u00a0that are being laid to bring high speed connectivity to communities \u2013 which everyone is asking for, it is so important.\u201d<\/p>\nThe Biggest infrastructure investments<\/h2>\n
Giving people money<\/h2>\n
![\"BC's](\"https:\/\/cortescurrents.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-13-at-7.22.13-AM-445x600.png\")
<\/a>Contrasting Liberal and NDP Governments<\/h2>\n
COVID<\/h2>\n
\n
![\"BC's](\"https:\/\/cortescurrents.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-13-at-7.22.38-AM-448x600.png\")
<\/a>The Liberal Account of these years<\/h2>\n
It\u2019s the small companies<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/canada-info.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Screen-Shot-2020-10-13-at-12.55.43-PM.png\")
<\/a>The larger answer<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cortescurrents.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/Candidates-800x361.png\")