SURREY, B.C. — British Columbia NDP Leader David Eby is set to roll out the party's complete election platform as Conservative Leader John Rustad says his government would end the provincial insurance corporation's monopoly on basic vehicle insurance.
Eby has a news conference scheduled in Surrey as the province nears the midway point of the election campaign ahead of the Oct. 19 election day.
The New Democrats have already announced many components of the platform, including recent promises for an annual tax cut worth $1,000 for the average family starting next year, and a plan to fast-track factory-built homes.
Rustad, meanwhile, told a news conference in Vancouver that his party would end the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia's monopoly on basic auto insurance, a plan he says would bring in competition, drive down costs and improve services.
"Any time you've got competition, you're going to get the best prices," he said.
Rustad said ICBC has "lost its edge," but he still believed it could be competitive.
"(That's) why we want to build ... competition and let ICBC be able to structure itself as competitively as possible so that we are seeing the best rates we can."
The Conservatives had already pledged to exempt people who suffer life-altering injuries in crashes from ICBC's no-fault insurance model, saying it's unfair to accident victims to curtail opportunities to sue for damages.
An equivalent to no-fault would remain in place for minor injuries, Rustad said.
"For major injuries, we will allow ... an individual to have somebody to represent them and to fight for what they need to be able to recover fully," he said.
The Conservatives have also released a series of pledges related to infrastructure, transit and boosting the economy, including Rustad's promise to reintroduce a minister responsible for "red tape reduction."
"The key is we need to get to better management in this province. We need to be able to make sure that we unleash our potential," he told reporters on Thursday.
A statement from the Conservatives says they would eliminate B.C.'s nearly $9-billion deficit within two terms of government and require voter approval of any new taxes, through referendum or an election.
"There are times when government does need to go back to the taxpayer and ask for resources for specific things, but when that time comes, they should actually ask the taxpayer, the people in this province, for permission to be able to do that."
Rustad said the Conservatives would be rolling out announcements over the coming days and the party's complete platform would follow.
"If anybody could give me an accurate number of … what the NDP's deficit (is), I think that would be a great help in terms of how we could actually make sure it was fully and properly costed in terms of what we're doing," he added.
B.C. Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau is set to make an announcement related to the cost of living and support for working parents in West Vancouver.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.
