Call me a cynic.
It’s day 17 of the BC election campaign and the rhetoric, backstabbing and promises continue to plague us unabated.
All the parties are giving out goodies like free condoms in a sex education class.
The promises made are not because the party leaders care about us. They simply want our vote to stay in power, gain power, or be eligible for a lucrative pension.
Cynical, not me.
Now, if you are like me, you will get off the couch and vote this month because that is what we seniors do. W are responsible citizens with a conscience who care about having a voice in the democratic process.
Having recently returned from six Eastern European countries which were previously under Communist control, I am aware of how lucky we are. We are so privileged to have the right to vote freely.
I am sure many of you already know who you are going to vote for, but for the undecided out there, let me offer my unsolicited, unbiased view of the parties vying for your vote.
Premier David Eby, who, by the way, was never elected, wants to continue in the job of NDP leader and premier of our province.
Eby has an autocratic, ‘I know best’, imperious style and is not known as a team player. He inherited his role from John Horgan who stepped down and gave Eby the gift of a $6 billion surplus budget. Two years into his role, Eby has continued to spend money like a drunken sailor and has run up a deficit of $5 billion last year and a projected $9 billion in the current year.
No need to balance the budget.
I am thinking I should trade in my 10 year old Honda and buy a Ferrari. Of course, I can’t afford a Ferrari on my fixed income, but if Eby can do it, why can’t I?
And please remember, the money he is spending is my money, your money, our money.
I am not happy that I cannot have a pied-a-terre in downtown Vancouver, even if I could afford one, because Mr. Eby dictates I cannot have a second home unless I pay the speculation and vacancy tax.
My daughter bought her first home 4 years ago and in order to avoid the property transfer tax, bought a cheaper place than she wanted to avoid this archaic tax which was introduced 37 years ago to curb speculative buying. Houses were a lot cheaper then, Mr. Eby.
Get rid of that archaic tax if you want the vote of the millenials and Gen X.
What can I say about Sonia Furstenau, the leader of the Green Party. Sweet, unassuming and lacking in the funds to make attack ads. Her policy platform is reminiscent of an earlier NDP party and she is hoping to represent the balance of power. She wants to give everybody free public transit. I wonder what the CEO of BC Transit would say as they continue to hemorrhage money.
And now the Liberals. I mean the United Party. Oops, I mean the party that has gone the way of the dodo bird.
And who says a leopard can’t change its spots.
Many ex-Liberals are now Conservatives including John Rustad, their leader and a couple of our local MLAs.
Rustad made a profound election promise today. In light of housing unaffordability, hospital ER closures, the opioid and mental health crisis and violence in our streets, Mr. Rustad announced he will bring back plastic straws and single use plastic bags if elected.
Hope this has helped you decide.
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