Two party leaders tried in Tuesday’s debate to break the polling stalemate in the B.C. election campaign while the third hopes it lasts through to Oct. 19 voting day.
B.C. NDP Leader David Eby and Conservative Party of B.C. Leader John Rustad are neck-and-neck in many polls, so both were keen to make a break-out move as advance voting begins this week. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is keen for the near-deadlock to hold, as it could open minority government possibilities.
Asked how they differentiate themselves, Furstenau said Greens are “focused on the future B.C. could have.
“We focus on recognizing what’s gotten us here, understanding the complex challenges we face … and then we propose solutions that are actually going to get us out of these crises.”
Rustad said he saw an overdose fatality on his way to the debate. “This is the B.C. that David Eby has created,” Rustad said.
He cited tent cities, the affordability crisis and housing problems as proof that “a common-sense plan to deliver for everyone” is what’s needed.
“B.C. has all the potential you could ever want. We have all the resources that we could ever want … but we’re hopelessly managed.”
Conservatives will “get government out of the way and make sure that people can once again be proud to be British Columbians.”
Eby said there are huge challenges not unique to B.C. but his government is starting to turn the corner on them. As an example, at the current pace, everyone will have a family doctor by 2025, he said.
Furstenau took on both front-runners early on, saying Eby acknowledges people need help right now, but is paying government workers $40 an hour to deny $40 credits to people who need emergency groceries.
After Rustad said he was “laser-focused” on people, she wondered “which people he is talking about, because it’s certainly not people who are struggling.” His vision is rooted in 1957 or so, she said.
“We have the largest, probably most violent hurricane off the coast of Florida and we have two leaders retreating from climate action in this province.”
On whether the government or the private sector should lead the way on housing, Eby said “you can’t choose just one,” it requires action on all fronts.
Rustad said the question after seven NDP years is: “Has anything gotten better? Is housing improved?”
He said housing starts are down and Conservatives will “unleash the potential of the private sector to build that housing.”
On health care, Eby said NDP policy is driven by results, not ideology. He cited the practice of sending some patients to Bellingham in order to cut wait times and said B.C. leads the country in recruiting health care workers.
But Rustad said it’s in permanent crisis with emergency rooms regularly closing all over the province.
The two clashed on vaccinations, with Eby saying Rustad’s supporters backed the anti-vax movement and the Conservative leader expressed regret about getting the shots.
Rustad said he’s triple-dosed and promoted shots for all.
“I am not anti-vax, I’m anti-mandate.” (The requirement for health workers to get shots.)
Eby admitted failure on decriminalization of drugs, saying it was once an “unimaginable option” but was recommended by experts. “So we tried it, and it didn’t produce the results that anybody wanted. … People felt like they could use drugs anywhere. … So we had to change course. It’s a hard problem.”
Rustad, who promises to rescind the ban on plastic straws, cited a meme showing two lines of cocaine and a plastic straw under the heading: “one of these is illegal in B.C.”
Three dynamics dominated the night. Furstenau stressed policies, some of them radical, and the benefits of minority government.
Rustad stressed the ineffectiveness of the NDP over seven years and the need for change.
And Eby defended his government while stressing Conservatives’ penchant for controversial stances on Indigenous issues, sexual orientation and climate change at every opportunity.
It will take a while to see if the debate changed the race.
The biggest game-changing debate in recent times was in 2013.
Then-NDP leader Adrian Dix, universally expected to win, was determined not to go negative on then-premier Christy Clark. But he looked miserable doing so, while the scrappy Clark came off as cheerfully optimistic.
She later credited her astonishing victory mostly to the debate.
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