November 27, 2023 | VICTORIA, BC
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Today in the BC Legislative Assembly, Premier David Eby has repeated his wish that the federal government would provide home heating support.
That was in reference to the fact that people heating with home heating oil in Atlantic Canada were given a break on the climate action tax in that region, without extending the benefit to all Canadians dealing with the cost of home heating.
“People need support right now,” said Eby.
The Premier repeated his comment from last week that more needs to be done about affordability in BC. “We’ve got to do more. Ministers have to find more ways to support people with affordability.”
“We’ve got to ensure affordability for British Columbians and economic opportunity across the province,” said Eby related to challenges from the official opposition that BC doesn’t have enough electricity production (at this time).
Affordability in BC is clearly going to be a high-profile issue in the next provincial election (scheduled for October 2024). Premier says there is “only one party in this house” that prioritizes affordability for people in the province, and that’s the NDP, he said.
Electricity production is “going to be for the benefit of British Columbians for generations to come”, said Eby. “Affordability first” while building the economy, said Eby today in the house.
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POLITICS | HOUSING | BC ELECTION 2024
===== ABOUT ISLAND SOCIAL TRENDS:
Island Social Trends follows the news of south Vancouver Island and BC through a political and socioeconomic lens, with an eye to national politics impacts on life here on Vancouver Island. News is posted daily at IslandSocialTrends.ca .
Editor Mary P Brooke has been providing news coverage leadership in the west shore and region since 2008, as the founding publisher and editor of MapleLine Magazine (2008-2010), Sooke Voice News (2011-2013), West Shore Voice News (2014-2020), and Island Social Trends (since mid-2020).