In a throne speech that in many ways marks the beginning of the end for their government, the B.C. Liberals have proposed dozens of new ideas that were not included in their election platform.
If it can maintain the confidence of the B.C. Legislature, which is an extremely large "if", the party says it will commit to wide-ranging investments in everything from education to transit to housing affordability.
"The May election delivered a divided result. Your government has listened to that result and brings forward this agenda to gain this House's confidence and, in doing so, the confidence of the people of British Columbia," read Lieutenant Governor Judith Guichon, who presented the speech.
"It is submitted with humility and openness to change."
Here is a breakdown of what the BC Liberals promised during their throne speech:
Children:
- Basic income support for youth 18 to 24-years-old who are aging out of care.
- Free post-secondary tuition for children in care.
- 25 per cent increase in legal aid funding for families in need.
- $1-billion over four years for 60,000 new child care spaces and early childcare education.
- Implementation of recommendations from Grand Chief Ed John’s report on Indigenous child welfare.
Seniors:
- Tax Credit for families caring for people with disabilities.
- Doubling the Home Renovation Tax Credit for families making changes to care for elderly family members.
- Increasing the number of residential care beds by 500.
Health:
- The addition of a Minister of State for Mental Health, Addiction, and Recovery.
- Speeding up MRI services, access to hip and knee surgery, and establish wait time guarantees.
- New centre for mental health and additions in Surrey.
Poverty reduction strategy:
- To increase social assistance by $100 per month, the same amount as promised in the NDP platform.
- Expansion of the Single Parent Employment program.
Education:
- New Royal Commission in Education to look at how B.C. trains teachers, fund schools, keep tests and standards high.
- Review of funding formula for school districts.
Politics:
- Promising to ban corporate, union, and third party donations, along with a maximum donation limit.
- Promise to ban foreign donations.
- A third referendum on electoral reform.
Transportation:
- Elimination of Port Mann tolls – adding this would be done as soon as possible.
- Elimination of Golden Ears tolls, in conjunction with TransLink.
- Accelerating the replacement of the Pattullo Bridge, also in conjunction with TransLink.
- Feasibility studies for expanded transit, possibly light rail/rapid transit.
- Continuing to pursue light rail on South Island and Nanaimo – Vancouver light.
- Restating the repeal of the long-standing requirement for a referendum for new transit funding options.
Housing Affordability:
- Working with the private sector to build 50,000 new rent-to-own housing units over 10-years in B.C. for middle-class families, monthly rent goes into building equity for the home.
- Stopping landlords from avoiding rent protections with long-term leases.
Mines and Agriculture:
- Opening eight new mines by 2022.
- Having 91,000 more hectares of agricultural land for food production.
- Replacement of farmland lost to Site-C replaced in other areas of B.C.
Clean Energy:
- Making Metro Vancouver non-commercial vehicles emission-free by 2035 – the previous goal was 2050.
Carbon Tax:
- Raising carbon tax by $5 per tonne per year starting in 2019 to meet Clean Growth and Climate Change target of $50 per tonne by 2022
