Image: The cost of gas is hitting the family budget hard. / File / Pattison Media

By Trevor Halford, MLA for Surrey-White Rock

OPINION

YOUR PERSPECTIVE: NDP’s failed affordability policies are harming British Columbians

May 29, 2024 | 8:00 AM

After seven years under the NDP government, more British Columbians are struggling to afford everyday essentials. Rising costs and shrinking paychecks have hit people in every corner of the province as B.C. has become the least affordable province in Canada.

And as if that wasn’t bad enough, we also face the most unaffordable housing in North America, the highest rental costs in Canada, and the highest gas prices and gas taxes in North America — not a record to be proud of.

One of the biggest challenges people face is the skyrocketing cost of grocery prices. This issue is a common topic everywhere from family kitchen tables to construction sites, to conversations with strangers. It’s what’s led to a nearly 60 percent increase in food bank usage with 62,000 children relying on these services every month.

Additionally, Food Banks Canada has given B.C. a failing grade for its overall poverty reduction efforts. The report highlights that 45 percent of British Columbians feel worse off this year than last — a dismal outcome from a government that promised to improve lives, not make them harder.

British Columbia’s 127 food banks reported nearly 196,000 visits in 2023, which is a 57.1 percent increase from 2019. Despite months of warning, Restaurant Canada now warns that the cost of chicken could rise by about 10 percent. Already, B.C. pays higher retail prices for chicken than any other province. These consistent price hikes are unsustainable for families.

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B.C.’s cost-of-living crisis stems directly from David Eby’s NDP failed policies, which have led to increased spending with little to show for it. For instance, the NDP’s CleanBC plan has been a complete failure. Not only has it failed to lower B.C.’s carbon emissions, but experts predict it will eliminate 200,000 jobs and shrink B.C.’s economy by $28 billion over the next decade. That’s $11,000 per family every single year.

Despite numerous calls from BC United and concerned British Columbians, David Eby stubbornly went ahead with his most recent carbon tax hike on April 1, 2024. At a time when people are struggling to make ends meet, government should be taking less from them, not more. Yet, this NDP government continues to increase taxes as the results get worse.

If that wasn’t bad enough, B.C. received two credit downgrades in April. This means that for generations to come, our kids and grandchildren will be paying off David Eby’s debt. After seven years of failed NDP policies, it’s time for a new approach.

A Kevin Falcon-led BC United government, will increase cost savings and lower the price of everyday essentials. We plan to scrap the NDP’s CleanBC scheme and cancel David Eby’s planned carbon tax hikes. We will remove the carbon tax on on-farm fuel use to lower operating costs for farmers, making groceries more affordable. We’ll also eliminate the provincial fuel tax, saving families up to 15 cents per litre every time they fill up.

These are just a few of the ways BC United intends to restore trust in government and ensure that future generations aren’t burdened by the NDP’s reckless spending. By prioritizing fiscal responsibility and practical solutions, BC United will work to make life more affordable for all British Columbians.

United, we will fix it.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of Fraser Valley Today or Pattison Media.