Nineteen months in power is a long time to still be dwelling on how hard it is for people to get by.
But the NDP made the point with some success during the 2017 election campaign. They made it again in their first throne speech, outlining how the new government was going to put people first.
They made it again in the second throne speech and they hit that note again Tuesday in their third throne speech.
“Too many British Columbians feel that no matter how hard they work, they can’t get ahead. … The problems facing British Columbians today are hurting people and leaving communities behind.”
Beyond the obvious recognition that working people have to struggle, it’s also a dig at the previous B.C. Liberal government, for leaving people in that predicament. That makes the point irresistible to the NDP.
They can’t be expected to solve all the problems in barely a year-and-a-half. So the point will be made for a while longer. B.C. Liberals, after all, kept referring to the NDP’s 1990s terms in power as the dark decade of decline for years after it started making people roll their eyes.
At some point, though, they’ll have to stop brooding over it, for fear of looking useless.
“Many people are working two or three jobs, commuting farther for work and spending less time with their families, just to make ends meet,” said the speech.
“But no matter how hard they work, they cannot seem to get ahead.”
All of which raises the rude question: “What are you doing about it?”
Tuesday’s speech did claim some progress when it comes to giving people assorted breaks. The NDP has compiled a list of instances in which they have eased pressures on families, with medical-premium abolition leading the way.
Still, judging by the gloomy rhetoric, they have a long way to go before they’ll have to abandon the reminders of the bad old days.
A related point that made its third successive appearance in an NDP throne speech is an enthusiastic update on the poverty-reduction strategy.
The flagship project was hailed in the first throne speech, in September 2017. “For the first time in the history of this province, your government will work with citizens to create a legislated poverty-reduction plan. … This important work will get underway in coming weeks.”
It ran into complications and delays. The second throne speech, in February 2018, promised: “This year your government will deliver B.C.’s first-ever poverty-reduction strategy.”
They got legislation passed last fall that formalizes the basis for the strategy. It sets targets and timelines. But there’s still no explanation of exactly how it will work or how much it will cost.
The broad understanding of what’s involved is a variety of government investments to help low-income families by way of minimum-wage hikes, housing help, legal aid and skill training.
But it’s open to argument whether a law declaring the need for a strategy amounts to a strategy.
So Tuesday’s speech simply repeats last year’s promise almost verbatim.
“This year, B.C. will deliver its first-ever poverty-reduction strategy.”
There’s some expectation of real progress on releasing details of the strategy coming next month. But real progress on actually reducing poverty is a long-term project.
The speech suggests the government will keep chipping away at the affordability issue. Ferry fares on major routes that were frozen last year will stay frozen this year, which averts a one or two per cent hike.
And there are two new attention-grabbers that might or might not pan out. The government wants to improve the transparency of cellphone bills. It’s an open question how much jurisdiction a province has over the industry, so the fallback position is that B.C. will encourage Ottawa to deliver more affordable cellphone options.
As well, last year’s consultations on the ripoffs associated with concert tickets revealed a wide swath of resentment. So new rules are coming for live-ticket sales.
Just to keep things interesting, the government is going to bring forward measures related to the liquefied natural gas venture, which could test the confidence agreement with the Greens.
