Wednesday November 27, 2024 – 2 pm | VICTORIA, BC [Last update 5:10 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
NDP Premier David Eby held his first cabinet meeting of the 43rd BC Parliament today in Victoria.
He addressed media at noon, after the meeting.
He will also be participating in a Zoom call with Canada’s Premiers (Council of the Federation) together with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at 2 pm (Pacific Time) today, to discuss Canada-USA cross-border issues.
Today’s media scrum:
None of the press gallery questions asked anything to the effect of ‘what did you discuss with your new cabinet’, but jumped right into a variety of otherwise important issues.
“We’ve got to stick together, and we will,” said Eby about Canada’s Premiers expecting the federal government to stand up effectively to protect Canadian jobs and the economy. Eby says that border security issues need discussion (as he’s already tried with the federal government — with a letter and other expressions of concern), probably not assisted by twinning that with a threat of tariffs.
As for here at home, Eby will recall the BC Legislature for February 18, 2025. There will be a Throne Speech and a budget “that reflects the priorities of British Columbians”, he declared to media today. There will be “lots of time to debate the budget”.
Eby reiterated that BC will drop the carbon tax if the federal government cancels their backstop on that. Eby spoke favourably about BC’s carbon tax that he says has reduced emissions while supporting economic growth.
Eby said he’s frustrated with yet another federal attempt to help with affordability that “disproportionately benefits other provinces”, itemizing the areas of economic development, health-care investment, and now the proposed GST tax holiday for Dec 14/24 to Feb 15/25.
Eby reiterated that BC Ferries receives government funding as part of trying to keep rates affordable for British Columbian residents and businesses. Yesterday BC Hydro CEO told some Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce breakfast attendees that he expects to see fares go up 30% by 2038.
“The fair treatment of British Columbians is my priority,” said Eby today, as an overall guide to how he will carry out his government over the next four years.
He reiterated about the $1,000 tax credit as promised during the September/October election campaign. The BC Conservatives call that a ‘so-called income tax cut that will barely scratch the surface of what families are facing’, even while the BC Conservatives complain there is too much government debt.
===== RELATED:
- GST winter tax holiday misses political mark, frustrates businesses, and fails many families (November 23, 2024)
- GST consumer tax holiday to start Dec 14 (November 21, 2024)
- Eby’s fulsome NDP cabinet challenged by BC Conservatives but supported by BC Greens (November 20, 2024)
- BC Conservatives announce their shadow cabinet (November 20, 2024)
- Premier Eby appoints his cabinet for the 43rd BC Parliament (November 18, 2024)
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